Job Description:
At ITW Food Machines, we’re reinventing the future of commercial food equipment — creating the next generation of mixers, slicers and food prep tools used around the world. As a Mechanical Design Engineer III, you won’t be a small cog in a big machine — you’ll own entire subsystems, architect groundbreaking solutions, and see your ideas launch into real products that feed millions of people every day
Hobart Food Machines, part of the ITW Food Equipment Group, is seeking an experienced Mechanical Engineer to lead and contribute to the design and development of mechanical systems for commercial food equipment. This full‑time role, based in our Troy, Ohio Technology Center, focuses on driving engineering design excellence, guiding projects through engineering change processes, and ensuring manufacturable, cost‑effective solutions. This position reports to the Engineering Manager and plays a key project leadership role, collaborating closely across functions to deliver high‑quality, innovative products.
Job Description
- Own and drive complex or ambiguously defined mechanical/electromechanical projects from concept through launch with minimal oversight.
- Take ownership of gray‑area engineering problems—clarify requirements, define scope, and deliver solutions that meet performance, cost, and manufacturability targets.
- Provide day‑to‑day technical project leadership for cross‑functional project teams, including collaboration with electrical engineers, designers, test engineers, and other functional partners.
- Generate innovative, ground‑up mechanical concepts and translate them into manufacturable designs using SolidWorks and structured engineering methods.
- Support designers to develop, revise, and maintain engineering documentation, including 3D models, drawings, BOMs, tolerance stacks, and engineering change requests (ECRs/ECNs).
- Apply DFM principles—particularly for castings, molded components, machined parts, and sheet metal—to ensure robust, cost‑effective product designs.
- Coordinate and oversee validation activities, working closely with the test and reliability labs to plan test strategies, interpret results, and drive corrective actions.
- Facilitate and participate in structured brainstorming, concept generation, and problem‑solving sessions to accelerate innovation.
- Support serial innovation projects as well as sustaining engineering efforts, including root cause analysis, redesigns, supplier support, and continuous improvement.
- Work closely with quality, manufacturing, sourcing, marketing, and suppliers to refine requirements, resolve issues, and ensure smooth product transitions.
- Communicate status, risks, and recommendations clearly across functions and champion project progress through decentralized decision‑making.
- Mentor designers and junior engineers by providing guidance on design intent, manufacturability, GD&T, and best engineering practices.
Qualifications
- Bachelors (4-yr.) degree in mechanical engineering or related field.
- 5–8+ years of mechanical or electromechanical design engineering experience in product development, industrial equipment, or similar hardware-focused industries.
- Strong proficiency in SolidWorks (3D modeling, assemblies, drawings) or related software and the ability to create clear, production‑ready documentation.
- Demonstrated experience with DFM for casting, injection molding, machining, and sheet metal fabrication.
- Working knowledge of GD&T fundamentals and ability to interpret and apply GD&T to ensure robust, tolerance‑based designs.
- Experience conducting tolerance stack‑ups and reviewing designs for fit, function, manufacturability, and cost.
- Familiarity with engineering change processes (ECR/ECN workflows) and configuration management.
- Hands‑on experience with FEA, design validation, test planning, and interpretation of test results.
- Experience applying FMEA or similar risk‑analysis tools during concept and development phases.
- Proven ability to autonomously drive projects, make decentralized decisions, and navigate ambiguity with an entrepreneurial mindset.
- Strong cross‑functional collaboration skills, with experience coordinating efforts with electrical engineering, design, manufacturing, quality, sourcing, suppliers, and marketing.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to articulate technical information to varied audiences Demonstrated creativity and problem‑solving ability—comfortable developing novel concepts and iterating quickly.
- Intermediate PC skills, including the use of Microsoft Office and general computer system proficiency.
Additional information
- You will work in a team-oriented office and laboratory environment.
- PPE required: Steel toe shoes and eye protection in manufacturing setting.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, bend, or stoop and use hands, arms and walk frequently. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.
If you’re a builder, problem‑solver, inventor, or someone who loves turning mechanical ideas into real machines — we want to meet you.
Compensation Information:
Dependent on experience.
ITW is an equal opportunity employer. We value our colleagues’ unique perspectives, experiences and ideas and create workplaces where everyone can develop their careers and perform to their full potential.
As an equal employment opportunity employer, ITW is committed to equal employment opportunity and fair treatment for employees, beginning with the hiring process and continuing through all aspects of the employment relationship.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.
