What are the responsibilities and job description for the Mechanical Engineer II position at Animax Designs, Inc.?
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Join a creative, fast-paced team designing industry-leading animatronic and puppet characters for the themed entertainment industry. As a Mechanical Engineer II, you’ll apply skills from industrial/manufacturing engineering, machine design, and R&D—emphasizing reliability, precision, and documentation—to bring imaginative concepts to life through mechanical innovation.
This position blends creative problem-solving with rigorous engineering across the full project lifecycle, from concept to fabrication and on-site commissioning. You’ll design custom mechanisms for multiple complex characters at once, balancing lifelike motion, durability, and manufacturability within tight timelines. Finished designs are effectively limited-run prototypes that must function flawlessly within highly constrained, organic forms for decades—always supporting storytelling while remaining invisible to the audience.
We Build Amazing. Join us and help imagination come alive!
Key Responsibilities:
- Design, validate, and document custom electromechanical systems (linkage-driven, actuated, etc.) using SolidWorks.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with creatives, engineers, and clients.
- Develop 3D models, detailed assemblies, and fabrication drawings.
- Integrate mechanical designs with controls, figure finish, and maintenance considerations.
- Perform mathematical, structural, and dynamic analyses (FEA, RBD, etc)
- Manage documentation, BOMs, and vendor coordination.
- Navigate complex customer restrictions concerning design aspects (i.e., materials, hardware, allowed approaches, etc)
- Develop FAR and SLHA assessments.
- Support installation and commissioning of characters on-site.
- Work with Legacy designs to bring them up to present-day standard.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of design practices.
Requirements:
- B.S. in Mechanical Engineering (ABET-accredited or equivalent).
- 5–10 years of relevant engineering experience; themed entertainment preferred.
- Proficiency in SolidWorks and PDM systems.
- Strong understanding of mechanical systems, GD&T, and modern manufacturing.
- Excellent communication, multitasking, and collaboration skills.
- Must submit a portfolio demonstrating relevant work applicable to animatronics and/or the Themed Entertainment industry
Travel: Minimal
Work Environment: Work is performed in a warehouse/shop environment with exposure to typical industrial conditions, including noise and the operation of machinery and equipment.