What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sr. Mechanical Engineer position at ManpowerGroup?
Lead / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
North Carolina – Garner/Raleigh or Battleboro
Custom Automation & Packaging Machinery
I’m supporting a North Carolina manufacturer that designs, engineers, and builds fully custom automation and packaging systems in-house. They are hiring a Lead / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to take full ownership of machine development — from concept and prototyping through final testing and customer delivery.
This is not a task-taking role. Their VP and Director want a true technical leader who can drive mechanical development, make decisions, and guide projects without micromanagement.
Location Options
This role can sit at either:
What You Will Lead
North Carolina – Garner/Raleigh or Battleboro
Custom Automation & Packaging Machinery
I’m supporting a North Carolina manufacturer that designs, engineers, and builds fully custom automation and packaging systems in-house. They are hiring a Lead / Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to take full ownership of machine development — from concept and prototyping through final testing and customer delivery.
This is not a task-taking role. Their VP and Director want a true technical leader who can drive mechanical development, make decisions, and guide projects without micromanagement.
Location Options
This role can sit at either:
- Raleigh, NC
What You Will Lead
- Full lifecycle mechanical design of custom and standard automation/packaging machinery using SolidWorks and structured Engineering Development / Stage-Gate processes.
- Technical ownership of projects: schedule and run design reviews, coordinate with manufacturing, and control the mechanical development path.
- Prototype & build leadership: Work with machinists, fabricators, and assembly technicians to validate, refine, and improve designs.
- Cross-functional integration: Collaborate closely with Controls Engineering, Product Line Managers, R&D, and Service to ensure designs are reliable, manufacturable, and field-supportable.
- R&D pipeline execution: Provide senior horsepower needed to launch new machine concepts waiting for development bandwidth.
- Mentorship & influence: Coach mid-level engineers, elevate design standards, and set the benchmark for mechanical engineering excellence.
- Create and manage 3D CAD models, layouts, BOMs, and detailed drawings.
- Apply strong understanding of motors, actuators, pneumatics, sensors, drives, and automation components to guide mechanical decisions.
- Lead prototype builds, debugging, and final machine testing.
- Ensure project compliance with documentation, safety standards, design reviews, and Stage-Gate requirements.
- Drive continuous improvement across design processes, tools, engineering workflows, and product quality.
- Participate in assembly testing, competitive product evaluations, and process ECNs.
- You own machines from concept → customer delivery
- Zero red tape — fast decisions and high engineering autonomy
- Deep in-house capability: full machine shop, fabrication, assembly, controls, and testing
- Large R&D runway for next-gen machines
- High visibility with VP, Director, and Engineering leadership
- Hands-on, technical leadership role—not management overhead
- 7 years mechanical design experience in packaging machinery, industrial automation, or capital equipment.
- Strong proficiency in SolidWorks and PDM/data management.
- Proven success driving projects through formal engineering processes (Stage Gate, VA/VE, NPD, etc.).
- Strong understanding of machine controls components (motors, drives, sensors, pneumatics, HMIs, PLC interfaces).
- Hands-on experience with machining, fabrication, assembly, and DFM.
- Ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
- Deep mechanical systems knowledge and machine/tooling design experience.
- Strong computer skills (CAD Microsoft Office).
- Independent, decisive, and able to work with minimal oversight.
- GD&T
- Simulation / stress / material analysis
- MRP/ERP systems, multi-level BOMs
- Strong engineering discipline and design standards
- Desire to be hands-on with machinery and testing
- Competitive compensation relocation package sign-on bonus
- Benefits active Day 1 (medical, dental, life insurance, PTO, 401(k) with match)
- Clear technical career advancement
- Highly collaborative environment where innovation is implemented quickly
- Stability, growth, and long-term engineering career potential