Design Engineer Location Decatur, IL Department Engineering Reports To Engineering Lead Type Full-Time, Exempt
About Align Production Systems Align Production Systems (APS) is a growing engineer-to-order and core products capital equipment manufacturer specializing in automated guided vehicles, transporters, welding positioners, turntables, and material handling solutions. We build complex, high-value equipment for demanding industrial customers and support that equipment through its full lifecycle. The Role The Design Engineer is an individual contributor on the Align engineering team, responsible for design and release cycle of custom-engineered material handling equipment in an engineer-to-order environment. Every project is unique, and you will own it through release to the Decatur manufacturing floor. In addition to project-level design ownership, this role carries specific technical accountability for hydraulic system design and oversight of laser nesting operations - two areas that directly affect build quality, material yield, and manufacturing efficiency. You will work closely with the manufacturing team, and the expectation is that your designs are practical, buildable, and thoroughly documented before they reach the floor. What You Bring Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
- Design engineering experience in an engineer-to-order or custom manufacturing environment is highly preferred
- Demonstrated hydraulic system design experience: circuit design, component selection, schematic development, and field troubleshooting
- Proficiency in SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD platform
- Experience with engineering release processes - drawings, BOMs, and documentation to manufacturing-ready standards
- Working knowledge of fabrication processes including laser cutting, forming, welding, and machining
- Ability to read and interpret hydraulic schematics and mechanical assembly drawings
- Strong written and verbal communication skills - comfortable working directly with manufacturing teams
Preferred
- Familiarity with AGVs, transporters, positioners, or heavy material handling equipment
- Experience with Acumatica ERP or similar manufacturing ERP platforms
- Prior experience in a split-campus or multi-site engineering environment
What You Will Do
Design Engineering & Project Ownership
- Mechanical design on assigned projects through release to manufacturing
- Develop complete engineering packages: 3D models, fabrication drawings, assembly drawings, and bill of materials
- Ensure designs meet performance, cost, and timeline requirements while remaining practical and buildable
- Participate in design reviews and incorporate feedback from engineering, manufacturing, and customer stakeholders
- Manage design changes and revisions through the full change control process
Engineering Release to Manufacturing
- Manage detailer and drafting teams to complete engineering projects and release packages to manufacturing
- Release process for all assigned projects - drawings, BOMs, and documentation must be complete and build-ready before they reach the floor
- Coordinate directly with the Decatur manufacturing team to resolve pre-release questions and ensure a clean handoff
- Identify and resolve release quality issues before they become production problems
- Maintain accurate and current engineering documentation throughout the project lifecycle
Hydraulic System Design
- Design and develop hydraulic systems for custom material handling equipment including circuit layout, component selection, and system specification
- Select and specify hydraulic components: valves, cylinders, pumps, manifolds, and hose assemblies
- Develop hydraulic schematics and integrate hydraulic systems into mechanical assemblies
- Support troubleshooting and validation of hydraulic systems during build and testing phases
Collaboration & Continuous Improvement
- Work directly alongside engineering leadership to ensure designs translate cleanly from drawing to build
- Participate in floor-level problem solving, in-process engineering decisions, and technical investigations
- Contribute to engineering standards, design best practices, and continuous improvement initiatives
- Support the engineering team through design reviews and technical guidance
- Manage and cooperate with remote workforce in Cebu Philippines and other engineering teams
- Work with Project Manager, customer, and plant operations to coordinate delivery and installation activities at customer site
Who Thrives Here
- Engineers who own their projects and take pride in seeing their designs built and running
- Technically sharp contributors who can make good decisions under schedule pressure and with incomplete information
- Detail-oriented engineers who understand that a clean release is as important as a good design
- Experienced professionals ready to be the technical authority in their areas, not wait for one
