Mechanical Engineer – Heavy Equipment & Crane Systems

Job description

### Mechanical Engineer – Heavy Equipment & Crane Systems **Location:** Richmond, VA **Job Type:** Direct Hire **Starting Salary:** $95,000/year; higher salary available based on experience **Schedule:** 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off **Travel:** Approximately 10% ### Position Overview Seeking a **Mechanical Engineer** to design, develop, and support specialized heavy equipment and crane systems used in railroad emergency response, lifting, maintenance, and field operations. This hands-on role covers the full equipment lifecycle—from concept and **CAD design** through engineering analysis, manufacturing, testing, field deployment, and product improvement. The primary work location is in **Chesterfield, VA**, with occasional work at a Richmond facility, vendor locations, customer sites, and field operations. Emergency response activities outside normal business hours may be required. ### What You'll Do **Design & Engineering** - Develop new mechanical designs for **heavy equipment and crane systems**. - Modify existing equipment to improve performance and capabilities. - Reverse engineer components and create updated mechanical solutions. - Use **SolidWorks, CAD modeling, FEA, engineering calculations, prototyping, and field testing**. - Evaluate designs for manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, safety, performance, and cost. - Maintain equipment designs and related engineering documentation. - Apply applicable engineering standards, customer requirements, and safety regulations. **Projects & Manufacturing** - Manage engineering projects from concept through manufacturing, testing, field implementation, and lifecycle support. - Lead **crane rebuild and refurbishment projects**, including inspections, repair planning, upgrades, testing, and delivery. - Coordinate with manufacturing, operations, vendors, suppliers, leadership, and other teams to meet project and production needs. - Provide technical support for troubleshooting, inspections, testing, field activities, and emergency response. - Support product releases and verify equipment meets required specifications. **Documentation & Improvement** - Prepare and maintain **engineering drawings, calculations, bills of materials (BOMs), design records**, and technical documentation. - Apply engineering judgment and creative problem-solving to complex mechanical issues. - Communicate technical information to customers, vendors, manufacturing teams, and internal departments. - Support quality assurance, equipment standardization, and continuous improvement. - Manage multiple projects and adjust priorities as operational needs change. ### Required Qualifications - **Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.** - Proficiency with **SolidWorks or equivalent parametric CAD software**. - Working knowledge of **Finite Element Analysis (FEA)** and ability to validate results with engineering calculations. - Understanding of mechanical design, manufacturing processes, and engineering documentation. - Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and time management skills. - Excellent written and verbal communication. - Ability to work independently and with cross-functional teams. - Commitment to safety and engineering quality. - Valid driver's license. - Willingness to travel approximately **10%** for inspections, field activities, and customer support. ### Preferred Qualifications - **Engineer-in-Training (EIT) or Professional Engineer (PE)** certification. - **CSWA or CSWP SolidWorks** certification. - Experience with **heavy equipment, cranes, mobile equipment, or industrial machinery**. - Knowledge of **hydraulic and electrical systems**. - Experience supporting equipment from design through manufacturing and field deployment. - Familiarity with **OSHA, ASME, AWS, AAR**, or other applicable engineering standards. ### Physical & Work Requirements - Ability to sit, stand, walk, and communicate throughout the workday. - Ability to climb onto equipment for inspections, testing, and troubleshooting. - Ability to occasionally lift tools, components, or equipment up to **50 lbs.** - Ability to work extended hours and respond to emergency situations when required. - Ability to work safely in both office and industrial environments.