Mechanical Engineer

Project Engineer — Paint Circulation & Fluid Delivery Systems Complete Automation, a division of The Complete Companies | Lake Orion, MI | Full-time, on-site

About us The Complete Companies has been designing and building automated industrial systems since 1984. Our Complete Automation division specializes in paint circulation, fluid delivery, and dispense systems for automotive OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and finishing operations around the globe. We're a tight, employee-owned-feeling team headquartered in Lake Orion, Michigan, and our mantra — One Team Creating Complete Solutions — means our engineers stay with a project from concept all the way through site startup.

About the role As Project Engineer, you'll own the mechanical design and execution of customer paint and fluid delivery systems — turning a customer's process requirements into a fully-engineered, fabricated, and commissioned installation. You'll work side-by-side with our electrical, controls, designers, and project-management teams, and you'll see your designs come to life on plant floors during commissioning trips. It's a hands-on role with real ownership: your name is on the P&ID, the BOM, and the startup.

What you'll do

• Design Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs) and develop detailed Bills of Material for customer paint and fluid delivery systems
• Perform fluid flow and pressure-loss calculations to size system headers, drops, and equipment
• Review and red-line manufacturing drawings before they are released to the shop floor
• Lead customer meetings to lock down system requirements and ensure compliance with project specs
• Collaborate with electrical engineers, controls engineers, designers, and project managers to deliver complete systems
• Commission systems on-site at customer facilities and provide startup support
• Troubleshoot current and legacy installations alongside our service team
• Write Sequence-of-Operation manuals and partner with designers to build complete installation packages
• Coordinate with Field Supervisors on installation questions and bill-of-material kits going to site
• Contribute to R&D and continuous-improvement projects — your ideas are heard here

What you'll bring

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering/technical field
• 2–5 years of experience in fluid delivery system design, the automotive paint industry, or comparable engineering work
• Working knowledge of fluid mechanics and pneumatic systems
• Comfortable reading, marking up, and authoring P&IDs and flow schematics
• Proficiency with AutoCAD (we use AutoCAD LT day-to-day)
• Strong mechanical aptitude and a problem-solver's mindset — you enjoy figuring out why something isn't working
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable in front of customers
• Willingness to travel ~20% to customer sites for design reviews and commissioning

Bonus points if you have

• Experience with automotive OEM paint shops or 2K dispense, electrocoat, or sealer systems
• Exposure to PLC/HMI environments (you won't be programming, but understanding the controls side helps)
• Knowledge of ASME B31.3 process piping or sanitary/CIP design
• Prior field commissioning experience at automotive assembly plants

What we offer

• Competitive base salary: $85,000 – $100,000 depending on experience
• Performance bonus eligibility
• Full medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development support (PE licensure, conferences, training)
• A culture where engineers are trusted to own their projects from concept to commissioning — not pigeonholed
• Direct mentorship from senior engineers with 20 years in the paint and fluid delivery industry

Logistics

• Location: Lake Orion, Michigan (on-site)
• Travel: ~20%, primarily to North American automotive assembly plants
• Schedule: Monday–Friday, with occasional travel weeks
• Reports to: Director of Mechanical Engineering

How to apply Apply through this posting with your resume. A cover letter is welcome but not required — if you include one, tell us about a system you've designed end-to-end and what you'd do differently next time.

• The Complete Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.