Contract Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs in Cleveland, OH

Description

About Helix Linear

Helix Linear Technologies designs and manufactures high-precision motion control systems for industries where performance matters most, including aerospace, medical devices, defense, and advanced automation. Our components power mission-critical applications, where reliability and precision down to 0.0001 inches make all the difference.

We are growing and investing in new products, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and the systems required to scale with discipline. At Helix, we put the customer first, operate with engineering integrity, and take extreme ownership of outcomes. We move with purposeful responsiveness and collaborate across teams to deliver solutions we're proud to stand behind.

About the Position

The Mechanical Design Engineer plays a critical role in designing, optimizing, and supporting Helix's high-precision linear motion products. This senior-level role requires deep expertise in mechanical design, CNC manufacturability, tolerance analysis, and advanced SolidWorks modeling.

You'll work closely with Applications Engineering, Manufacturing, and Quality to create designs that meet demanding performance requirements while ensuring manufacturability at scale. This is a hands-on, fast-paced engineering role with significant impact on Helix's advanced product roadmap.

Responsibilities

Product Design & Engineering

• Design, configure, and optimize linear motion components and assemblies, ensuring performance, cost, and manufacturability requirements are met.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles for CNC machining processes (milling, turning/lathe, wire EDM) and molded components.
• Create detailed models, drawings, and complex surfaces using SolidWorks, including high-precision geometries.
• Maintain product documentation, specifications, and drawing packages.

GD&T & Technical Communication

• Apply ASME Y14.5 GD&T correctly to communicate design intent and ensure inspectability.
• Select and structure datums, tolerance zones, and feature control frames appropriately.
• Communicate engineering intent clearly through design reviews, presentations, and documentation.

Manufacturing Collaboration

• Partner directly with CNC machinists, programmers, and Manufacturing Engineering to ensure designs are optimized for production.
• Develop fixtures, gauges, tooling, and equipment to improve manufacturability, quality, and throughput.
• Support prototype builds, root-cause investigations, and process improvements.

Materials, Heat Treat & Finishing

• Specify heat treatment, finishes, and plating processes to AMS and industry standards (carburizing, nitriding, induction hardening, passivation, nickel plating, chrome plating, etc.).
• Interpret supplier certifications and collaborate with vendors to ensure material performance.

Prototyping & Testing

• Lead or support prototype builds, testing, and validation efforts.
• Conduct tolerance stack-ups, failure analysis, and performance evaluations.
• Provide engineering support for production issues and corrective action activities.

What Success Looks Like: 

• 98%+ drawing accuracy with correct GD&T, datums, and tolerance schemes requiring minimal to no rework from Manufacturing or Quality.
• Designs released to production within agreed timelines, with manufacturability issues reduced by at least 25% compared to legacy designs.
• DFM improvements implemented that reduce setup time, tooling complexity, or machining cycle time by 10-20% on assigned part families.
• Successful prototype builds with fewer than two engineering-driven revisions needed to reach production readiness.
• Tooling/fixture designs delivered on time, supporting quality improvements or throughput gains on critical operations.
• Cross-functional responsiveness, all engineering questions from Applications, Manufacturing, or Quality answered within 24 hours with clear, accurate guidance.

Who You Are

• An engineer with 8-10+ years of experience in CNC-driven product design.
• Highly collaborative with machinists, engineers, and cross-functional teams.
• A detail-oriented designer who values precision, manufacturability, and clarity.
• A problem-solver with a sense of ownership and urgency.
• Someone who thrives in a high-mix, low-volume engineering environment.

Why Join Helix?

Helix is building something durable, not just high-precision products, but a company defined by integrity, clarity, and disciplined execution in industries where the stakes are high.

We engineer with purpose, hold ourselves to rigorous standards, and take ownership from the first customer interaction through final delivery. Our culture values people who are direct, dependable, and committed to doing things the right way, even when it takes more effort.

Helix offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, retirement plans, PTO, and most major holidays, along with steady daytime hours and flexible scheduling to support work-life balance.

This is an opportunity to be part of a meaningful growth story. If you're motivated by building strong teams, clear systems, and trusted customer relationships, and you value ownership, collaboration, and engineering integrity, Helix is a place where your work will truly matter.

Requirements

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (or related field) required.
• 8+ years of mechanical design engineering in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience applying DFM for CNC machining and molded components.
• Advanced proficiency with SolidWorks, including surface modeling.
• Expert-level understanding of ASME Y14.5 GD&T with proven application on production drawings.
• Knowledge of steel, aluminum, thermoplastics, and common heat treat/plating processes.
• Experience supporting machining, assembly, quality, or tooling development.
• ERP experience (Epicor preferred but not required).
• Excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.