What are the responsibilities and job description for the SENIOR DESIGN ENGINEER position at Align Production Systems?
Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
Location: St. Louis, MO
Type: Full-Time
About Align Production Systems
At Align Production Systems, we engineer solutions that most companies can’t imagine — and then we build them. We specialize in custom-engineered material handling systems for demanding industrial applications, where no two projects are the same and every challenge is an opportunity to design something that’s never existed before.
We are an Engineer-to-Order organization at our core. Our engineers don’t sit behind a desk producing repetitive drawings — they lead complex projects from blank-page concept through fabrication, commissioning, and customer handoff. If you want to see your designs come to life on a real shop floor and in real facilities, Align is where that happens.
What You Bring
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related field
- 6–8 years of hands-on engineering experience in an Engineer-to-Order or custom-build environment — this is a firm requirement, not a preference
- Strong proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable CAD platform
- Deep familiarity with manufacturing processes, mechanical assemblies, and heavy industrial equipment
- Proven ability to lead projects independently and make sound engineering decisions with incomplete information
The Opportunity
We’re looking for a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to bring deep technical expertise and project leadership to our St. Louis team. This isn’t a role for someone who wants to refine existing designs or follow templates. You’ll be the technical driver on custom heavy material handling systems — partnering directly with manufacturing, controls, and customers to deliver engineered solutions that work in the real world.
If you’ve spent your career in engineered-to-order environments and you’re energized by complexity and ambiguity, this role was written for you.
What You’ll Own
End-to-End Project Leadership
- Lead engineering projects from initial concept through fabrication, testing, and field commissioning
- Serve as the technical authority on complex, one-of-a-kind systems with competing constraints
- Balance performance, cost, and schedule without sacrificing design integrity
Hands-On Engineering
- Work directly alongside technicians and fabricators to ensure designs translate cleanly from drawing to build
- Debug, iterate, and problem-solve in real time
- Drive continuous improvement in design practices, build efficiency, and system performance
Cross-Functional & Customer Collaboration
- Partner with manufacturing, controls, and sales teams to develop solutions that meet customer requirements and Align’s delivery standards
- Engage directly with customers to clarify technical scope, manage expectations, and build confidence in our solutions
- Work closely with suppliers to source and develop optimal components within design constraints
Technical Documentation & Mentorship
- Maintain rigorous engineering documentation, drawings, and revision histories
- Mentor junior engineers and contribute to building best practices across the engineering team
Who Thrives Here
- Engineers who take ownership and drive projects forward without waiting to be told what to do next
- People who find satisfaction in seeing a concept they created running on a production floor
- Senior contributors who can mentor others while still doing the technical work themselves
- Practical problem-solvers who know how to balance engineering ideals with real-world constraints
Salary : $95,000 - $115,000