Overview
As a Mechanical Designer at Kadant Johnson, you will turn concepts into practical designs that support manufacturing, project delivery, and customer needs. Your work will span mechanical equipment, components, assemblies, steam and condensate equipment modules, and industrial piping systems.
Working closely with engineers, project managers, manufacturing, and customers, you will develop detailed models and drawings that connect design intent with fabrication and installation requirements. You will support projects from initial concepts and field measurements through design reviews, production, and installation.
We are seeking someone who enjoys technical problem-solving, takes pride in accurate work, and wants to continue developing their design capabilities. This role is well suited for a collaborative, detail-oriented designer who can manage changing priorities and translate project information into clear, manufacturable designs.
Responsibilities
- Create and revise detailed 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, fabrication and installation drawings, and layouts for mechanical equipment, components, and assemblies.
- Develop practical equipment and piping solutions for steam and condensate systems, including equipment arrangements, piping routes, connections, and supports. Partner with engineers and project managers to address project specifications, field conditions, fabrication, and installation needs.
- Support sound design decisions by applying stress analysis principles, performing or assisting with piping stress calculations as appropriate, and preparing models for finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
- Keep project information accurate and organized, including bills of materials, engineering changes, drawing files, equipment records, and technical documentation. Help maintain drawing standards, procedures, templates, and electronic databases.
- Contribute to innovation by collaborating with Engineering and R&D on new products, test equipment, design concepts, and product improvements.
- Deliver assigned design work that meets project schedules, customer requirements, and established standards, working under the supporting project engineer’s technical direction and day-to-day guidance.
- Collaborate across teams and with customers to gather requirements, present design details, coordinate projects, and resolve technical questions. Help manufacturing and field personnel address drawing interpretation, fabrication, piping installation, and design changes.
- Connect designs to real-world conditions by traveling to customer and job sites to collect measurements, gather project information, support installation and start-up, and help resolve field issues.
- Support customer-facing solutions by developing sales models and contributing technical input to quotations, marketing literature, and other sales materials.
Qualifications
- An associate degree or completion of a minimum two-year technical program in mechanical design, drafting, engineering technology, or a related field.
- Proficiency in 3D CAD software; SolidWorks experience is preferred. AutoCAD experience is desirable, particularly for equipment layouts and piping systems.
- Working knowledge of machining, welding, fabrication, and assembly processes.
- Familiarity with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), industry drafting standards, bills of materials, and engineering change processes.
- A working understanding of stress analysis principles and the ability to support engineers in preparing models for analysis.
- Strong organization, attention to detail, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments and work collaboratively.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications and a willingness to learn new design tools and practices.
- Experience with industrial equipment, steam and condensate systems, piping design, pipe-support fundamentals, or field-based engineering projects is preferred.
- Willingness to travel domestically up to 25%, depending on project needs, and work safely in manufacturing and industrial customer environments.
Why This Role Matters
Accurate, practical designs help our teams build equipment, coordinate installations, and deliver quality solutions to customers. In this role, you will connect engineering concepts with manufacturing and field requirements while expanding your knowledge of mechanical equiptment and steam condensate systems.
