Job Description
We are seeking a highly skilled Mechanical Design Engineer to develop innovative equipment and mechanical systems that support railroad emergency response, heavy lifting, and specialized maintenance operations. This position is responsible for designing new products, improving existing equipment, and supporting products throughout their lifecycle—from concept and engineering through manufacturing, field deployment, and continuous improvement.
The ideal candidate is a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, collaborating across disciplines, and seeing their designs perform in real-world environments. This individual will work closely with engineering, manufacturing, operations, vendors, and customers to deliver reliable, safe, and maintainable equipment capable of performing in some of the most demanding conditions in the railroad industry.
Work Schedule & Environment
- Schedule: 9/80 work schedule (every other Friday off)
- Primary Location: Chesterfield, VA with occasional work in the Richmond facility, customer sites, vendor locations, and field operations.
- On-Call: As part of a first-response organization, engineers may be required to support emergency operations outside normal business hours as needed.
Key Responsibilities
Engineering & Product Development
- Design new crane systems, modify existing equipment, and develop mechanical solutions that expand Cranemasters' fleet capabilities.
- Translate concepts into practical mechanical designs, including reverse engineering and redesign of existing components.
- Validate designs through engineering calculations, FEA, CAD modeling, prototyping, and field testing.
- Identify opportunities to improve product performance, manufacturability, serviceability, reliability, and cost through innovative engineering solutions.
- Maintain and improve Cranemasters' catalog of standard equipment designs while ensuring compliance with applicable engineering standards, customer requirements, and safety regulations.
Project Execution & Production Support
- Own engineering projects from concept through manufacturing, testing, implementation, and lifecycle support.
- Lead crane rebuild and refurbishment projects, including inspections, repair planning, upgrades, testing, and final delivery.
- Coordinate with manufacturing, operations, leadership, vendors, and suppliers to support production schedules and successful product releases.
- Provide technical support to internal teams and customers through troubleshooting, field inspections, on-site assistance, and emergency response activities.
- Ensure equipment is manufactured and delivered in accordance with customer specifications, engineering standards, and regulatory requirements.
Engineering Excellence
- Apply sound engineering judgment and creative problem-solving to resolve complex technical challenges.
- Maintain accurate engineering documentation, calculations, drawings, bills of materials, and design records.
- Communicate effectively with customers, vendors, manufacturing personnel, and cross-functional teams.
- Support quality assurance, product standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Effectively manage multiple priorities while adapting to changing project requirements and emergency response situations.
- Maintain working knowledge of company products, industry standards, and engineering best practices.
Skills & Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or similar discipline.
- Proficiency with SolidWorks or equivalent parametric CAD software.
- Working knowledge of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) with the ability to validate results through engineering calculations.
- Understanding of mechanical design principles, manufacturing processes, and engineering documentation.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
