Applications Mechanical Engineer

Applications Mechanical Engineer

Location: Chesterfield, VA
Job Type: Full-Time
Starting Salary: $95,000/year, higher depending on experience
Schedule: 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off
Travel: Approximately 10%

Position Overview

We are hiring aMechanical Engineer to design, develop, and support heavy equipment used for railroad emergency response, lifting, and specialized maintenance operations.

This is a hands-on engineering position covering the full product lifecycle—from initial design and engineering calculations through manufacturing, field testing, customer support, and ongoing equipment improvements. The engineer will also work directly with customers and contribute to project planning and execution.

What You'll Do

Design & Engineering

• • Develop mechanical designs for crane systems, heavy equipment, and specialized machinery.
  • Modify, redesign, and reverse-engineer existing components and equipment.
  • Create and evaluate designs usingSolidWorks or equivalent parametric CAD software.
  • Perform engineering calculations,FEA, prototyping, and field testing to validate designs.
  • Improve equipment performance, reliability, serviceability, manufacturability, and cost.
  • Maintain standard equipment designs and engineering documentation.
  • Ensure designs meet applicable engineering standards, safety requirements, and customer specifications.

  Project & Manufacturing Support

  • • Take ownership of engineering projects from concept through manufacturing, testing, field implementation, and lifecycle support.
    • Support crane rebuild and refurbishment projects, including inspections, repair planning, upgrades, testing, and final delivery.
    • Coordinate with manufacturing, operations, vendors, suppliers, and other engineering teams.
    • Track multiple projects and priorities while maintaining schedules and project requirements.
    • Provide technical assistance during production, equipment testing, and product releases.

    Customer & Field Support

    • • Communicate directly with customers regarding technical requirements, equipment performance, and engineering solutions.
      • Provide troubleshooting and technical support through field inspections, on-site visits, and emergency response activities.
      • Assist with customer projects and coordinate technical requirements through completion.
      • Travel to customer sites, vendor locations, field operations, and the Richmond-area facility as needed.
      • Support emergency operations outside normal business hours when required.

      Quality & Continuous Improvement

      • • Maintain accurate drawings, calculations, bills of materials, engineering records, and design documentation.
        • Support quality assurance, product standardization, and continuous improvement programs.
        • Apply engineering judgment and problem-solving to complex equipment and manufacturing challenges.
        • Stay current with company products, industry standards, and engineering practices.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree inMechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
• Proficiency withSolidWorks or comparable parametric CAD software.
• Working knowledge ofFinite Element Analysis (FEA) and ability to verify results with engineering calculations.
• Understanding of mechanical design principles, manufacturing methods, and engineering documentation.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage several projects and priorities simultaneously.
• Comfortable working independently and with cross-functional teams.
• Strong customer-facing communication skills.
• Valid driver's license.
• Willingness to travel approximately 10%.
• Commitment to safe engineering and manufacturing practices.

Preferred Experience

• Engineer-in-Training (EIT) orProfessional Engineer (PE) certification.
• CSWA or CSWP SolidWorks certification.
• Experience designing or supportingheavy equipment, cranes, mobile equipment, or industrial machinery.
• Knowledge ofhydraulic and electrical systems.
• Experience taking products from engineering through manufacturing and field deployment.
• Familiarity withOSHA, ASME, AWS, AAR, or other applicable engineering standards.
• Experience providing technical guidance or mentoring to less-experienced engineers.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off.
• Primarily based in Chesterfield, VA, with occasional work at facilities, customer sites, vendor locations, and field operations.
• Combination of office and industrial work environments.
• Ability to sit, stand, walk, and communicate throughout the workday.
• Ability to climb on equipment during inspections, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to occasionally lift tools, components, and equipment up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to work extended hours and participate in emergency response when required.