Mechanical Designer

About the role

The Mechanical Designer will contribute to the design and engineering of heavy industrial equipment and systems, working under the guidance of project and engineering leadership. The role focuses on creating detailed 3D and 2D mechanical designs for tanks, piping systems, conveyor lines, and structural platforms while ensuring that all contractual and technical requirements are met. The designer will collaborate closely with customers, internal fabrication and sales teams, and support the development of standard parts and pre‑bid concept drawings. This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Wausau, WI, fully onsite. The designer will join a small, close‑knit design team that includes one senior designer; the organization develops custom, end‑to‑end equipment and process solutions for a wide range of industries worldwide, including wastewater treatment and highly regulated water systems for sectors such as pharmaceuticals. The work environment emphasizes long‑term partnerships, integrity, and a practical, relationship‑based approach to business, with shared core principles, pride in work, and a strong connection to the local community. Day‑to‑day work involves using SOLIDWORKS and AutoCAD, collaborating with engineering, fabrication, and sales teams, and contributing to high‑quality equipment engineering and automation technologies in a heavy industrial setting.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with project managers and engineering leadership to understand project requirements and translate them into accurate mechanical designs.
• Communicate directly with customers, including occasional travel to customer facilities for meetings, information gathering, and taking precise dimensional measurements to support design work.
• Perform basic engineering calculations, including volume sizing, tank venting, and stress/deflection analyses to properly size beams, columns, and support legs under the guidance of a Mechanical Engineer.
• Assist Mechanical Engineers in specifying power transmission components, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, and related mechanical equipment, and prepare requisitions to support purchasing of these components.
• Design mechanical assemblies and parts using SOLIDWORKS 3D software, checking for interference, motion, and proper part mating to ensure robust and functional designs.
• Generate detailed 2D fabrication drawings from 3D models, including appropriate weld symbols, notes, dimensions, and tolerances in accordance with established drafting standards.
• Create detailed drawings for tanks, skidded piping systems, conveyor lines, shafts, frames, structural platforms, and other mechanical components used in heavy industrial applications.
• Ensure that all mechanical designs comply with the contractual scope and specified technical requirements for each project.
• Maintain and update the standard OEM parts library, and create new standard parts as required to support ongoing and future projects.
• Provide support to the fabrication department by clarifying drawing details, part information, and design intent to facilitate accurate and efficient manufacturing.
• Support sales and estimating teams by preparing pre‑bid concept layouts and