An industry-leading manufacturer of automated packaging equipment is seeking a Mechanical Engineer II to join its engineering team in Sarasota, Florida. This position is ideal for a hands-on, driven engineer who thrives in a fast-paced OEM environment and enjoys designing highly customized automated machinery from concept through production.
This role will focus on the design and development of complex packaging equipment, mechanical assemblies, pneumatic systems, and automation-related machinery used by customers across the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, personal care, and industrial manufacturing sectors.
The ideal candidate is an energetic, accountable engineer who takes ownership of projects, collaborates effectively across functions, and is eager to contribute to innovative machinery solutions.
Location: Sarasota, FL (Onsite)
Relocation Assistance Available
Salary: $115,000 - $135,000
Key Responsibilities
- Design and develop automated packaging machinery and mechanical systems from concept through production release.
- Create detailed 3D models, assemblies, and engineering drawings using Inventor, SolidWorks, and AutoCAD.
- Generate and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs), fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and technical documentation.
- Design sheet metal, machined components, mechanical assemblies, and pneumatic systems.
- Support new product development initiatives and continuous improvement projects.
- Coordinate with manufacturing, purchasing, service, and sales teams to ensure successful project execution.
- Process and implement Engineering Change Orders (ECOs).
- Conduct root cause analysis and implement engineering solutions to improve equipment performance and reliability.
- Support prototype development, testing, and validation activities.
- Review vendor proposals and technical quotations for components and assemblies.
- Ensure designs meet customer requirements, regulatory standards, and company engineering specifications.
- Maintain drawing databases and documentation control systems.
- Interface directly with customers, suppliers, and external partners when required.
Required Qualifications
- 4-6+ years of mechanical engineering experience designing manufacturing machinery in an OEM environment.
- Strong experience designing custom machinery, automation equipment, or packaging systems.
- Proficiency with Inventor and/or SolidWorks.
- Strong AutoCAD skills and experience creating detailed engineering documentation.
- Experience generating BOMs, fabrication drawings, and assembly documentation.
- Ability to independently manage complex mechanical design projects with minimal supervision.
- Strong understanding of mechanical systems, pneumatics, fabrication methods, and manufacturing processes.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME).
- Experience designing complex automated packaging or material handling equipment.
- Background supporting machinery from concept through manufacturing and field deployment.
- Experience coordinating across engineering, manufacturing, service, and supply chain functions.
- Knowledge of machine design best practices, reliability improvements, and design-for-manufacturing principles.
- Exposure to pouching, cartoning, flexible packaging, thermoforming, or other packaging machinery applications.
Travel & Schedule
- Primarily onsite in Sarasota, Florida.
- Occasional travel may be required to support customer installations, testing, or project activities.
- Typical business hours with flexibility based on project demands and deadlines.
Why Consider This Opportunity?
- Join a growing engineering organization that designs highly customized automation and packaging equipment.
- Work on complex machinery projects from concept through final production.
- Gain exposure to advanced mechanical systems, automation technologies, and new product development initiatives.
- Collaborate with experienced engineering leaders and cross-functional teams.
- Stable, long-term opportunity with a market-leading manufacturer serving essential industries.
- Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement savings plan with company match, and generous paid time off.
- Benefits eligible on day one of employment.
Ideal Backgrounds
Candidates coming from OEM machinery manufacturers, packaging automation companies, material handling equipment manufacturers, or custom industrial equipment builders will be especially attractive. Experience with equipment such as cartoners, pouching systems, form-fill-seal machinery, case packers, robotic automation, thermoforming equipment, or other high-speed packaging systems is highly preferred.
Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.
