Lead Design Engineer

Sterling Engineering, Inc.

Plymouth, MN

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
$100,000–$110,000 Per Year
LOCATION
Plymouth, MN
POSTED
30+ days ago
Our client is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to serve as a senior-level technical leader within their packaging design organization. This role combines advanced mechanical design responsibilities with technical mentorship and design leadership, supporting a team of engineers while remaining hands-on in product and tooling development.

The Lead Mechanical Engineer will help drive design standards, mentor junior and mid-level engineers, and act as a technical bridge between engineering, manufacturing, and leadership—while contributing directly to high-impact packaging programs.

Salary: 100-110K

Key Responsibilities
  • Lead the design and development of complex thermoformed packaging solutions and tooling
  • Provide technical direction and mentorship to other mechanical/design engineers
  • Review and approve designs, drawings, and engineering documentation
  • Guide best practices for CAD modeling, DFM, and design standards
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, sales, and customers
  • Support new product introductions, process improvements, and equipment integration
  • Assist in troubleshooting production and field issues from a design perspective
  • Champion sustainability, quality, and continuous improvement initiatives

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
  • Senior-level mechanical design experience with demonstrated technical leadership
  • Strong background in plastics, packaging, or high-volume manufacturing environments
  • Advanced CAD proficiency and experience setting design standards
  • Proven ability to mentor engineers and influence without direct authority
  • Comfortable balancing hands-on design work with leadership responsibilities

Why This Role Stands Out:

  • True lead engineer role with influence over design direction and standards
  • Opportunity to mentor and shape a growing engineering team
  • Work on innovative, sustainable packaging solutions in regulated markets
  • Long-term stability with a well-established manufacturer investing in growth and technology

About the Company

S

Sterling Engineering, Inc.

Sterling Engineering has been a trusted partner for engineering, project management, and staffing solutions for over five decades. We provide exceptional engineering/technical recruitment and engineering project services to clients nationwide:

 

  • Engineering & Technical Recruitment - With our focus on engineering, technical, and IT, Sterling has the in-depth knowledge, industry expertise, and robust employee pipeline it takes to rapidly find talent for even the most difficult to fill positions. Sterling’s extensive recruitment methodology allows us to engage the most talented employees in the marketplace. We offer exciting work and career-building opportunities for our candidates, along with expert support at every step of the process.

 

  • Engineering Project Services – Our experienced, multi-disciplined team of project managers, engineers, and designers, led by licensed Professional Engineers (PE), provide project management, engineering, design, and Commissioning, Qualification, and Validation (CQV) to manufacturing, OEM, and R&D customers. We work on complex, highly technical projects across a number of industry sectors, and our ability to scale and seamlessly integrate at multiple levels of your organization is what differentiates us.

 

Sterling offers a unique combination of engineering solutions and Best of Staffing level service to help our clients and talent achieve their goals.

COMPANY SIZE
500 to 999 employees
INDUSTRY
Staffing/Employment Agencies
FOUNDED
1969
WEBSITE
http://www.sterling-engineering.com