Mechanical Engineer - Material Processing Systems

Job Description: Mechanical Engineer – Material Processing Systems

Company Overview

We are an innovative IT asset disposition firm developing next-generation recycling technologies to tackle the global electronic waste challenge. Our mission is to recover critical materials from consumer electronics safely, efficiently, and sustainably. We are looking for a hands-on, forward-thinking Mechanical Engineer to lead the development of cutting-edge material processing and automated separation systems.

Position Summary

As a Mechanical Engineer, you will design, prototype, and scale proprietary equipment for electronic waste processing and material recovery. You will be responsible for developing custom machinery capable of processing diverse electronic assets, managing thermal and mechanical stresses, and transitioning initial material sorting workflows into advanced, semi-automated, and fully automated multi-stream separation systems powered by intelligent sorting technologies.

Key Responsibilities

1. Machine Design & Thermal Systems Integration

· Design and develop core mechanical processing equipment, incorporating thermal conditioning methods to handle complex material properties.

· Integrate and program controlled mechanical force mechanisms, such as servo-driven actuators or presses, ensuring structural integrity and precise application of force.

· Conduct structural and thermal analyses (FEA/CFD) to ensure equipment longevity, structural stability, and safety under demanding operating conditions.

2. Materials Handling & Automation Scaling

· Develop material layouts, feeding mechanisms, and workflows to separate processed outputs into material streams.

· Design systems with a modular evolution in mind: transitioning from manual sorting methods to semi-automated and fully automated production lines that utilize AI-driven vision and robotic sorting.

· Partner with automation vendors to integrate mechanical components with AI models and sensor networks for real-time material classification and routing.

· Select, specify, and integrate standard mechanical components, sensors, actuators, and pneumatic/hydraulic systems.

3. Prototyping, Testing, & Safety

· Build, test, and troubleshoot physical prototypes in a hands-on shop environment.

· Establish strict safety protocols regarding high-force mechanics, specialized fluid/gas handling, and the management of potentially hazardous components.

· Collaborate with electrical, controls, and software engineers to seamlessly integrate mechanical hardware with PLC, PC-based, and AI-enabled control architectures.

Qualifications & Skills

Required:

· Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME) or an equivalent engineering discipline.

· Experience: 3 to 10 years of proven experience in industrial machine design, custom automation, or system integration.

· Technical Skillset: Proficient in 3D CAD modeling (SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, or similar) and generating detailed manufacturing drawing packages.

· Hands-on Capability: Comfortable working in a lab/shop environment assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems.

· Travel: Willingness and ability to travel (e.g., 15-25%) for vendor visits, equipment procurement, site integration, and testing.

Preferred (Nice-to-Have):

· Experience with specialized environmental chambers, fluid handling, or thermal management systems.

· Familiarity with servo-driven motion control, industrial conveyor networks, or automated bulk material handling.

· Exposure to AI-powered vision systems, machine learning sortation equipment, or industrial robotics used in automated classification.

· Understanding of safety standards associated with bulk material handling and hazardous waste management.

· Familiarity with machine shop practices

What We Offer

· Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

· The opportunity to build a groundbreaking, environmentally impactful system from the ground up.

· A dynamic, collaborative, and highly entrepreneurial engineering culture.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications.

Pay: $130,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person