Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer

Location: 1450 Lakeside Drive, Waukegan, IL 60085

Duration: 6 Months

Pay Rate: $50/hr on W2 (including all benefits)

Shift: M-F, 8am-4pm

Job Summary:

Powervar is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for a 6-month contract assignment supporting new product development and ongoing engineering projects at our Waukegan, Illinois facility.

The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years of hands-on mechanical design experience and be proficient with both SolidWorks and PTC Creo . This position will work closely with electrical engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and other members of the engineering team to develop and release mechanical designs for power-quality and power-distribution products.

We are looking for an engineer who can quickly become productive, take ownership of mechanical design tasks, and move designs from concept through prototype and production release.

Key Responsibilities:

" Develop 3D mechanical designs and assemblies using SolidWorks and PTC Creo

" Create and maintain detailed engineering drawings in accordance with company drafting standards

" Design sheet-metal parts, brackets, panels, chassis, enclosures, and mechanical assemblies

" Develop mechanical packaging solutions for electrical and electronic components

" Apply GD&T, tolerance analysis, and sound mechanical design practices

" Create and maintain engineering Bills of Materials (BOMs)

" Support prototype builds, fit checks, testing, and design verification

" Work with electrical engineers to integrate PCBs, wiring, connectors, transformers, contactors, breakers, fans, and other components into mechanical assemblies

" Work directly with manufacturing to resolve design and assembly issues

" Collaborate with suppliers on fabricated and purchased components

" Participate in design reviews and recommend improvements for manufacturability, cost, quality, and reliability

" Update existing products, drawings, and CAD models as required

" Support engineering changes and documentation through the product release process

Minimum Qualifications:

" Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or closely related engineering discipline

" 3-5 years of professional mechanical design experience

" Strong proficiency with SolidWorks

" Working experience with PTC Creo

" Experience creating production-level 3D models, assemblies, and 2D engineering drawings

" Experience with sheet-metal design and fabrication

" Working knowledge of GD&T and engineering drawing practices

" Understanding of manufacturing processes and Design for Manufacturability (DFM)

" Ability to work independently and manage multiple engineering tasks

" Strong problem-solving and communication skills

" Ability to work effectively with engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and other cross-functional teams

Desired Qualifications:

" Experience designing electrical enclosures, power electronics, industrial equipment, UPS/PDU equipment, or similar electromechanical products

" Experience packaging electrical and electronic components within mechanical assemblies

" Experience with prototype fabrication and hands-on product development

" Experience with thermal management, including fans and component airflow

" Experience with cable routing, wire harnesses, and connector packaging

" Experience with PLM/PDM systems and formal engineering change processes

" Familiarity with UL-listed industrial or electrical equipment is a plus

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands-on mechanical engineer who is comfortable moving between CAD design, drawings, prototype hardware, manufacturing, and the engineering lab . This individual should be able to take a mechanical design assignment, understand the requirements, develop a practical solution, and work with the broader engineering team to bring the design through release.