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Salary: USD 60,000 - 80,000 / annual
Distro is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to develop mechanical parts and complex assemblies from initial concept through released production designs. You will work primarily in SolidWorks, creating detailed engineering drawings, bills of materials, and specifications ready for fabrication and assembly.
Key responsibilities include selecting appropriate materials, hardware, fits, and tolerances based on load, operating environment, manufacturing method, and service conditions. You will translate engineering objectives into practical mechanical concepts, evaluate design trade-offs, and make sound, defensible engineering decisions. Close collaboration with fabricators, suppliers, technicians, and production personnel is central to the role—you will support hands-on fit checks and integration activities on vessels and the shop floor.
You will identify and resolve fit, manufacturability, fabrication, and assembly issues discovered during prototype and production builds, incorporate as-built feedback, and maintain design revisions to ensure released engineering information accurately reflects the product being built. Clear communication of technical progress, dependencies, design decisions, and risks is essential. The role also involves supporting continuous improvement of mechanical designs based on build, test, and operational feedback.
Success in this position means taking ownership of complete mechanical designs rather than isolated CAD tasks. You will move confidently from engineering objective to practical design, create fabrication-ready documentation, work directly with the people building the product, and make sensible engineering decisions when real-world build conditions require changes. You combine strong CAD capability with practical engineering judgment and understand that a successful design must work not only on screen, but also on the shop floor and in the field.
REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering
• 3–6 years of relevant mechanical design experience
• Strong hands-on experience with SolidWorks (part modeling, complex/large assemblies, drawing creation, design modifications)
• Practical knowledge of engineering drawings, dimensioning and tolerancing, materials, fasteners, machining, sheet metal, and general fabrication methods
• Experience taking mechanical designs through prototype and/or production builds
• Experience resolving real-world fit, fabrication, assembly, or manufacturability issues in collaboration with technicians or shop personnel
• Ability to work effectively with limited oversight, take ownership of objectives, manage ambiguity, and deliver complete designs
• Strong organizational skills, clear technical communication, and reliable follow-through
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
• Mechanical design experience within marine or small-craft industry
• Vessel integration or mechanical systems integration experience
• Experience designing equipment for harsh or demanding operating environments
• Understanding of corrosion-aware material selection
• Practical familiarity with machining operations and fabrication processes
• Experience working directly with technicians, machinists, welders, fabricators, or production teams
