Mechanical Engineer

Founded in 1958 in Rockford, Illinois, Rapid Air Corporation began as a tool and die and precision stamping company. In 1959, the company developed its first pneumatic press feed, establishing the Rapid-Air brand and launching a long history of innovation in the stamping industry.

Today, Rapid Air is headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, where we design and manufacture a variety of coil handling and material handling equipment used by customers throughout the world. We are committed to helping manufacturers produce higher-quality products more efficiently through innovative, reliable solutions.

At Rapid Air, we value safety, integrity, teamwork, respect, and continuous improvement. We offer competitive compensation and benefits while fostering a collaborative environment where employees can contribute, grow, and be part of a winning team.

We are seeking a talented and motivated Mechanical Engineer to join our engineering team. This position will design, develop, test, and improve mechanical systems and coil handling equipment. The Mechanical Engineer will collaborate with manufacturing, sales, and controls engineering and provide technical troubleshooting support to customers and distributors in the field.

**Key Responsibilities

**

• Design and develop mechanical components, assemblies, equipment, and systems.

• Create and maintain detailed engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.

• Develop 3D CAD models using Autodesk Inventor and perform design modifications as needed.

• Support prototype development, testing, validation, and troubleshooting.

• Identify design issues and develop effective engineering solutions.

• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on product performance, reliability, quality, and cost reduction.

**Required Qualifications

**

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.

• 2 years of mechanical engineering experience preferred; relevant experience may be considered in lieu of education.

• Proficiency with CAD software such as Inventor and AutoCAD.

• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, materials, manufacturing processes, and engineering fundamentals.

• Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings and technical specifications.

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

**Preferred Qualifications

**

• Machine design experience (coil handling equipment of stamping equipment a plus)

• Experience with design for manufacturability and assembly.

• Experience with GD&T and tolerance stack-up analysis.

• Familiarity with FEA or other engineering simulation tools.

• Experience with prototyping, testing, and product validation.

**Work Environment

**

This position may involve a combination of office, laboratory, manufacturing, and field environments. The engineer may occasionally be required to inspect equipment, participate in testing, or support manufacturing and installation activities.