Mechanical Engineering Manager - Material Handling Equipment (MHE)

KPI Solutions is looking for a Mechanical Engineering Manager to lead our mechanical design team in developing material handling equipment and systems. Our portfolio includes [conveyors, sortation systems, AS/RS, cranes and hoists, lift tables, AGVs/AMRs, racking, and custom automation.

You will lead a team of mechanical engineers and designers through the full product lifecycle, from concept and quotation support to detailed design, manufacturing release, installation, and field support. You will also build the team's technical capability, set engineering standards, and make sure our equipment is safe, reliable, cost-effective, and compliant with industry codes.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership and Management
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of [X] mechanical engineers, designers, and drafters, including hiring, performance reviews, and career development.
• Assign and balance workloads across concurrent customer projects and new product development programs.
• Build a culture of technical excellence, accountability, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Engineering and Design Oversight
• Direct the mechanical design of material handling equipment, including structures, drive systems, power transmission, bearings, chains, belts, rollers, lifting mechanisms, and guarding.
• Review and approve designs, calculations, 3D models, drawings, and BOMs before release to manufacturing.
• Make sure structural, load, fatigue, and deflection analyses (hand calculations and FEA) are done to an appropriate standard.
• Lead design reviews (concept, preliminary, critical) and DFMEA activities.
• Drive design for manufacturability, assembly, serviceability, and cost (DFM/DFA/DTC).
• Standards, Safety, and Compliance
• Ensure designs comply with applicable codes and standards, such as ASME B20.1, ASME B30 series, CMAA 70/74, ANSI MH series, CEMA, OSHA 1910, ANSI/ITSDF B56, ISO 12100, and EU Machinery Regulation/CE marking where applicable.
• Oversee risk assessments, guarding design, and safety documentation.
• Maintain and improve engineering standards, design guidelines, and component libraries.
• Project and Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work with sales and applications engineering on customer requirements, layouts, technical proposals, and cost estimates.
• Coordinate with controls/electrical engineering, manufacturing, procurement, quality, and field service to deliver integrated systems on time and on budget.
• Manage engineering schedules, budgets, and resource forecasts for multiple projects.
• Support supplier selection and technical evaluation of purchased components (motors, gearboxes, bearings, actuators, etc.).
• Help resolve manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and field issues through root cause analysis (8D, 5-Why, fishbone).
• Process and Continuous Improvement
• Own engineering change management (ECR/ECN) and drawing/document control in the PDM/PLM system.
• Drive product standardization and modular design to cut lead times and engineering hours.
• Track and report engineering KPIs such as on-time drawing release, engineering hours vs. budget, design errors, and warranty claims.
• Assess new technologies and contribute to the product roadmap.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Required
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
• [10+] years of mechanical design experience in material handling, industrial machinery, or automation equipment.
• [3–5+] years of experience leading engineering teams, either as a direct manager or as a technical/team lead.
• Strong command of machine design principles: statics, dynamics, strength of materials, power transmission, and structural steel design.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD ([SolidWorks / Autodesk Inventor / Creo]) and PDM/PLM systems.
• Working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5) and drawing standards.
• Familiarity with relevant MHE codes and safety standards.
• Experience in an engineer-to-order (ETO) and/or configure-to-order environment.
• Excellent communication skills, including presenting to customers and senior management.
• Preferred
• Master's degree in mechanical engineering or an MBA.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with FEA tools such as ANSYS, SolidWorks Simulation, or similar.
• Exposure to warehouse automation, intralogistics, AS/RS, or AGV/AMR systems.
• Knowledge of fabrication processes (welding, sheet metal, machining) and cost drivers.
• Lean, Six Sigma, or formal project management (PMP) certification.
• Familiarity with ERP systems ([SAP / Oracle / NetSuite / Epicor]).
• Key Competencies
• Technical leadership and sound engineering judgment
• People development and coaching
• Balancing multiple project priorities
• Problem-solving and root cause analysis
• Customer focus and commercial awareness
• A safety-first mindset
• Working Conditions
• Mainly office-based, with regular time on the manufacturing floor.
• Travel of about [10–20%] to customer sites, installations, and suppliers.
• Occasional work in warehouse or industrial environments that require PPE.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: [$140,000 – $155,000], plus performance bonus
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and certification support