Job Description

Overview

The Associate Mechanical Engineer (Mechanical Engineer I) - Structures supports the design, development, analysis, testing, and documentation of mechanical components, assemblies, and equipment while developing technical skills under the guidance of senior engineering staff. This role contributes to product development, sustaining engineering, cost reduction initiatives, manufacturing support, and continuous improvement activities.

Responsibilities

  • Assist in the design and development of mechanical components, systems, and assemblies.
  • Create and revise engineering drawings, models, and documentation using CAD software.
  • Support engineering change notices (ECNs), design releases, and configuration management processes.
  • Perform basic engineering calculations and analyses to support product design and validation.
  • Assist with prototype development, testing, troubleshooting, and root cause investigations.
  • Participate in product improvement, cost reduction, quality improvement, and standardization initiatives.
  • Work with manufacturing, sourcing, quality, service, and other cross-functional teams to support product development and production activities.
  • Develop bills of material (BOMs) and maintain engineering documentation within company systems.
  • Support validation and verification activities, including test planning, execution, and reporting.
  • Ensure designs comply with applicable company standards, safety requirements, and engineering specifications.
  • Prepare technical reports, presentations, and project documentation as required.
  • Protect organizational value by maintaining confidentiality of proprietary information.
  • Ensure compliance with all safety, health, and environmental regulations, policies, and procedures with a goal of zero incidents and injuries.
  • Perform special projects and other duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Bachelors degree in applicable engineering field from an accredited institution.
  • Internship, co-op, senior design project, or other practical engineering experience preferred.
  • Basic understanding of mechanical engineering principles, machine design, manufacturing processes, and mechanical systems.
  • Ability to interpret engineering drawings, specifications, and technical documentation.
  • Familiarity with engineering calculations and analysis methods.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
  • Experience with 3D CAD software such as Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, Creo, or similar platforms.
  • Familiarity with ERP, PDM, or PLM systems is beneficial.

Benefits

  • 401k
  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • Up to 20% travel required to support testing, product validation, supplier visits, or customer support activities.
  • Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Benefits

401k
Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO

How this job compares in Hazel Crest, IL

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs across Illinois currently run a median of $32/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $27–$43/hr across 252 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Hazel Crest, IL

Hazel Crest, IL currently has 3 other active welding openings besides this one, spread across 1 employer. 1 of them was added in the last week. Across Illinois as a whole we're tracking 342 other active welding openings from 207 employers. That's enough local activity to be worth comparing two or three offers before committing. Browse every welding job in Hazel Crest, or widen the search to Illinois.

Lanco Group of Companies currently has 3 other openings live in Illinois, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Illinois at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Gerber Collision & Glass (16), S&C Electric Company (10), and Crash Champions (9). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Illinois, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Chicago at $38/hr, Downers Grove at $36/hr, and Elk Grove Village at $34/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Hazel Crest, IL

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Associate Mechanical Engineer- Structures figures were last recalculated when this page was built.