Lead Engineer

Job Responsibilities

The Lead Engineer – Hard Automation & Special Purpose Machines role recognizes expanded responsibility in translating customer requirements into concept development, leading the design and validation of complex welding automation systems, and ensuring manufacturing-ready execution with delivery accountability. The position extends beyond individual contribution to include technical leadership, cross-functional coordination, project ownership, and team capability development for special purpose welding automation systems. This role places strong emphasis on mentoring and developing junior engineers, providing day-to-day technical guidance, design direction, and best-practice coaching.

Scope

1. Lead hard automation projects by setting technical direction from customer requirements through concept and execution, applying welding system expertise, and mentoring engineers to deliver consistent, high‑quality designs and owing project execution.
2. Ensure designs emphasize manufacturability, assembly accessibility, and long‑term serviceability by applying DFMA principles, while working closely with manufacturing engineers to resolve fabrication challenges and mentor junior engineers on shop‑floor best practices.
3. Perform and review structural and static finite element analysis (FEA) to validate safety, stiffness, and load capacity, and mentor junior engineers on analytical methods and interpretation of results.
4. Own engineering deliverables with accountability for technical quality, cost targets, and on-time delivery, setting execution standards for the team.
5. Perform detailed mechanical calculations and system sizing to support welding automation equipment design, including selection and specification of gearboxes, electric motors, servo systems, pneumatics, and hydraulics. This includes load and torque calculations, duty cycle assessment, inertia matching, safety factors, thermal considerations, and validation of selections against performance, reliability, and cost targets, while coordinating with controls, electrical, and manufacturing teams to ensure robust machinery execution.

Job Requirements

1. Builds engineering capability through mentoring, technical leadership, and strong design–manufacturing integration.
2. Reduces rework and late-stage changes through early manufacturability and serviceability focus, reinforced via design reviews.
3. Improves schedule adherence and execution quality by combining technical ownership with proactive guidance of junior engineers.
4. Develops creative and robust mechanical design solutions and performs engineering calculations to support equipment sizing, component selection, and overall system performance.
5. Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with 10–12 years of experience in hard automation and/or welding automation equipment design.
6. Strong experience in manufacturing-driven design, including conducting DFMA reviews, with a proven ability to design manufacturable and serviceable mechanical systems with an on time and on quality focus.
7. Working knowledge of submerged arc welding applications, particularly for pipes, pressure vessels, and growing lines, with the ability to translate application understanding into design concepts.