Mechanical Designer / CAD Drafter (SolidWorks)
Heavy Equipment & Attachments
Company: Montage Enterprises, Inc. / Kut-Mor Mower Systems
Location: Blairstown, NJ | Hybrid/Remote
Job Type: Part-Time / Contract, with potential for Full-Time
Schedule: Approximately 10–30 hours per week
Pay: $20–$50 per hour, depending on experience
About the Position
Montage Enterprises, Inc., manufacturer of Kut-Mor Mower Systems, is seeking an experienced Mechanical Designer / CAD Drafter with strong SolidWorks skills to assist with the design, development, documentation, and continued improvement of heavy-equipment attachments and related mechanical systems.
This position is ideal for someone who can take a concept, sketch, measurement, or existing prototype and develop it into a complete 3D SolidWorks model and detailed 2D manufacturing drawings that can be successfully fabricated, assembled, installed, and used in demanding real-world applications.
We are looking for someone who understands that good mechanical design goes beyond making something look correct on a computer. Our equipment is fabricated, welded, assembled, installed on tractors and heavy equipment, and put to work in the field.
The ideal candidate will have a practical understanding of fabrication, weldments, structural design, mechanical fit-up, hydraulics, and manufacturability and will work closely with our fabrication, production, engineering, and management teams.
This position can be performed primarily remotely, with periodic on-site visits to our facility in Blairstown, New Jersey for measurements, prototype reviews, installations, fit-up, and design meetings.
Responsibilities
- Develop detailed 3D SolidWorks parts, models, and assemblies from concepts, sketches, measurements, existing equipment, and design direction.
- Produce complete and accurate 2D manufacturing and fabrication drawings.
- Design and document components and systems including:
- Welded structural frames
- Heavy-equipment mounting systems
- Brackets and supports
- Mechanical linkages
- Pins, bushings, shafts, and pivot assemblies
- Hydraulic cylinder mounts and geometry
- Guards, covers, and fabricated components
- Tractor and heavy-equipment attachments
- Create and maintain weldment drawings, cut lists, bills of materials (BOMs), dimensions, tolerances, and fabrication details.
- Review designs for manufacturability, strength, fit, serviceability, and ease of assembly.
- Work with fabrication and production personnel to resolve fit-up and manufacturing issues.
- Revise designs based on prototype fabrication, assembly, installation, and field-testing feedback.
- Reverse-engineer existing components and assemblies when necessary.
- Participate in remote design reviews and project meetings via Microsoft Teams.
- Maintain organized SolidWorks files, assemblies, drawings, revisions, and project documentation.
- Manage multiple design projects as product-development priorities change.
Preferred Industry Experience
We are particularly interested in candidates with experience in one or more of the following:
- Heavy equipment
- Agricultural or construction equipment
- Tractor attachments
- Mowing or boom equipment
- Cranes or material-handling equipment
- Mobile hydraulic equipment
- Welded steel structures
- Fabricated machinery
- Prototype development
Experience specifically with mowing equipment is not required. Strong experience designing fabricated mechanical equipment is more important.
Hydraulic & Electrical Experience
Experience with mobile hydraulics is highly desirable.
Helpful hydraulic knowledge includes:
- Hydraulic cylinders and motors
- Pumps and control valves
- Manifolds
- Hose routing and fittings
- Pressure and flow requirements
- Cylinder geometry and mounting
- Hydraulic component packaging
Experience with basic 12V mobile electrical systems is also beneficial, including wiring, relays, switches, solenoids, joysticks, operator controls, and electrical component placement and routing.
You do not need to be a hydraulic or electrical engineer, but you should be able to understand how these systems interact with the mechanical design.
Qualifications
Required
- Strong proficiency with SolidWorks
- Ability to create complete 3D parts and assemblies
- Ability to produce clear and accurate 2D manufacturing drawings
- Understanding of mechanical design and fabrication
- Experience designing weldments and fabricated steel components
- Ability to work independently and manage assigned projects
- Strong attention to detail
- Effective communication with fabricators, production personnel, engineers, and management
Preferred
- Degree or technical education in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Design, Drafting, CAD, or a related discipline
- Heavy-equipment or machinery design experience
- Mobile hydraulic experience
- Knowledge of 12V electrical and control systems
- Hands-on fabrication, welding, machining, assembly, or manufacturing experience
- Experience taking equipment from concept through prototype and production
Practical experience is extremely important to us. Candidates with substantial real-world mechanical design and fabrication experience will be considered even without a traditional engineering degree.
Work Arrangement
This is a primarily remote/hybrid position. Most design and drafting work can be completed remotely, with communication and design reviews conducted through Microsoft Teams, phone, and email.
Candidates must be willing and able to periodically visit our Blairstown, NJ facility for:
- Taking measurements
- Reviewing existing equipment
- Inspecting prototypes
- Meeting with fabrication and production personnel
- Reviewing installations and fit-up
- Participating in hands-on design reviews
Some projects may require a day or several days on-site. We anticipate approximately 1–2 days on-site per month may be beneficial for certain projects, although actual requirements will vary based on workload and project needs.
Schedule
Approximately 10–30 hours per week, depending on current projects and workload.
We offer flexibility regarding when remote design work is completed, provided project deadlines are met and the candidate is reasonably available for communication and scheduled design meetings during normal business hours.
There is potential for this position to develop into a larger or full-time role as our engineering and product-development needs grow.
Compensation
$20–$50 per hour, depending on experience, technical capabilities, and level of responsibility.
Candidates with advanced SolidWorks skills, heavy-equipment design experience, mobile hydraulic knowledge, and the ability to independently take projects from concept through production-ready drawings may qualify toward the higher end of the range.
This part-time/contract position does not currently include company benefits.
About Montage Enterprises / Kut-Mor
Montage Enterprises, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and supports Kut-Mor professional mowing systems and heavy-equipment attachments used by municipalities, government agencies, contractors, and other professional users.
Our product-development work involves real equipment operating in demanding environments. Projects may include mower systems, tractor mounting structures, hydraulic systems, mechanical assemblies, fabricated frames, attachments, and new equipment concepts.
As a smaller organization, our designers have the opportunity to work directly with the people fabricating, assembling, installing, testing, selling, and supporting the equipment they design.
If you enjoy SolidWorks and want to see your designs progress from an idea on a screen to equipment operating in the field, this position offers that opportunity.
To Apply
Please submit your resume along with a brief description of your SolidWorks and mechanical design experience.
If available, please include examples or a portfolio of previous work involving:
- SolidWorks models and assemblies
- Fabrication drawings
- Weldments
- Heavy equipment or machinery
- Hydraulic equipment
- Structural or mechanical assemblies
Please also include your hourly rate expectations, general weekly availability, and ability to periodically travel to Blairstown, New Jersey.
Pay: $20.00 - $50.00 per hour
Expected hours: 10.0 – 30.0 per week
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Blairstown, NJ 07825
