Design Assistant Jobs in Chester, VA (NOW HIRING)

Job Description: 

TemperPack is looking for a Mechanical Design Engineer to join our growing engineering team as we rapidly expand our custom automation and manufacturing equipment capabilities. You will design, develop, and commission equipment across our production facilities, working closely with the Director of Design Engineering and a cross-functional team of controls engineers, fabrication partners, and operations leaders. 

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys solving complex mechanical problems, working directly with equipment on the plant floor, and taking ownership from concept through commissioning. You will work on automation systems, machine design, process improvements, and manufacturing equipment that directly impacts production capacity, reliability, safety, and operational efficiency. 

This is not a narrow CAD-only role. We are looking for an engineer who wants to build real systems, collaborate across disciplines, and see their designs operating in production.

 Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer

Supervisor’s Title: Director, Design Engineering

Department: Engineering

Location: Richmond, VA

About TemperPack 

TemperPack is a rapidly growing company based in Richmond, Virginia and with locations in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Lansing, Michigan. We design and manufacture innovative, sustainable packaging components for cold-chain shipping of food and pharmaceutical products.  The markets we serve have an urgent need for disruptive, sustainable alternatives to replace the wide array of non-sustainable packaging materials conventionally used in the cold-chain such as Styrofoam coolers.  Our aspiration is to provide packaging solutions that customers and end-consumers feel great about using.

Essential Job Functions:

Design custom automation and manufacturing equipment 

• Develop 3D models, assemblies, detailed drawings, and BOMs using SOLIDWORKS 
• Perform mechanical analysis, component selection, tolerance stack-up, and design reviews o Work closely with controls engineers, fabrication partners, vendors, and operations teams 
• Participate in equipment commissioning, startup, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement efforts 

Support design revisions for existing equipment 

• Improve machine reliability, safety, maintainability, and manufacturability 
• Assist with prototype development, testing, and iterative improvement 
• Up to 10% travel to manufacturing sites, vendors, or integrators as needed

Education and Experience:

Required Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and 5+ years of hands-on design experience in manufacturing, automation, or industrial equipment 

• SolidWorks 3D modeling and 2D drawing proficiency 

• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, fabrication methods, and machine design fundamentals

• Familiarity with applying ANSI standards to design work 

• Experience applying industrial safety standards to equipment design 

• Experience creating production-ready parts, assemblies, and drawings 

• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical systems hands-on with the use of hand and power tools (calipers, drills, wrenches, measuring tape, etc.) 

• Strong communication and problem-solving skills 

• Ability to travel up to 10% of the year to other TemperPack facilities and vendor sites 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Experience with automation equipment or high-speed manufacturing systems 

• Familiarity with pneumatics, servo systems, conveyors, motion systems, or industrial automation 

• Experience supporting equipment commissioning and startup 

• Knowledge of DFM, DFA, FEA, GD&T, and machine safety principles 

• Familiarity with PDM systems and engineering change management 

• DraftSight (AutoCAD) experience 

• SolidWorks PDM data and revision control experience 

• Experience working directly with fabrication shops and vendors

Successful engineers in this role: 

• Take pride in their detail-oriented work from bolt selection to factory floor layout 

• Take ownership and drive projects forward 

• Balance efficiency with engineering judgment 

• Communicate well across engineering, operations, and leadership teams 

• Enjoy building and improving real equipment 

• Are equally comfortable at a CAD workstation or on the manufacturing floor

Physical Requirements:

• Able to lift 40 pounds unassisted

• Able to reach, bend, kneel and climb while performing repetitive tasks

• Ability to work in hot and cold environments

• Able to correctly wear PPE for entire shifts

• Able to react and respond quickly to noises, smells, visual hazards, and alerts

The minimum and maximum full-time annual salaries for this role are listed below, by location. Please note that this salary information is solely for candidates hired to perform work within one of these locations and refers to the amount TemperPack is willing to pay at the time of this posting.
Richmond, VA: $100,000-$130,000 for Mechanical Design Engineer

Candidates hired to work in other locations will be subject to the pay range associated with that location, and the actual annualized salary amount offered to any candidate at the time of hire will be reflected solely in the candidate’s offer letter.

Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent and ongoing basis. This position is not eligible for employment visa sponsorship now or in the future.

*Important Notice:

At this time, our company will not be engaging with external agencies or third-party vendors for recruitment services. We appreciate the interest of recruitment agencies, but kindly request that they refrain from contacting us regarding potential candidates. We are excited to build our internal recruitment capabilities and establish direct relationships with potential hires.

TemperPack provides Equal Employment Opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex/gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or status as a covered veteran/reservist, and any other class of protected individuals, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.E-Verify.gov.