Mechanical Design Engineer(R&D/NPD)

Mechanical Design Engineer (R&D/NPD)

Position Overview

We are looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer with strong hands-on experience in New Product Development (NPD) and R&D, ideally from a Special Purpose Machine (SPM) design background. This role goes beyond CAD modeling. We need someone who can independently think through mechanism design, select the right materials, run engineering calculations, and take a concept from idea to a validated, working product.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design of new products / special purpose machines from concept to prototype to production, as part of NPD/R&D projects.
• Perform mechanism design and kinematic analysis (linkages, cams, gears, actuation systems, etc.) to meet functional requirements.
• Carry out engineering calculations strength, stress, load, deflection, fatigue, motor/actuator sizing, tolerance stack-up, etc. to validate design decisions.
• Select appropriate materials based on mechanical properties, cost, manufacturability, and application environment.
• Apply GD&T principles correctly on drawings to ensure manufacturability, assembly, and inspection feasibility.
• Design for manufacturability (DFM) and assembly (DFA), keeping machining, sheet metal, casting, or fabrication processes in mind.
• Create and review 3D models, assemblies, and detailed drawings using CAD tools (SolidWorks / Autodesk Inventor).
• Work closely with cross-functional teams (electrical, automation, production, quality) during product development.
• Build/support prototypes, run trials, and troubleshoot design issues during testing.
• Travel to customer sites for on-site product validation/commissioning, and to vendor/internal factories for product/process verification.
• Maintain design documentation, BOMs, design calculation sheets, and revision history.

Required Skills & Experience

• 3 to 5 years of experience in mechanical design, with a proven track record in new product development / R&D (not only sustaining/CAD conversion work).
• Prior experience in Special Purpose Machine (SPM) design or similar equipment/machine-building industry strongly preferred.
• Strong fundamentals in mechanical engineering principles: strength of materials, machine design, kinematics/dynamics, thermal basics.
• Practical knowledge of material selection (metals, plastics, composites) based on application, load, and environment.
• Working knowledge of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing) as per ASME Y14.5 or ISO standards.
• Hands-on proficiency in SolidWorks and/or Autodesk Inventor (mandatory), including assemblies, sheet metal, and drawing generation.
• Ability to independently do mechanism design and justify design choices with calculations (hand calculations and/or simulation tools).
• Exposure to manufacturing processes (machining, welding, sheet metal, casting) and DFM/DFA thinking.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for site validation and factory visits.

Good to Have

• Experience with FEA/simulation tools (ANSYS, SolidWorks Simulation, etc.)
• Exposure to automation/pneumatics/hydraulics in machine design.
• Knowledge of relevant industry standards/codes.
• Prior experience mentoring junior design engineers or CAD engineers.