Systems Design Engineer Jobs in Oregon (NOW HIRING)

Mechanical Design Engineer II

Location: Portland, Oregon
Workplace Type: Onsite
Job Type: Full-Time
About the Opportunity

We are seeking a talented and highly motivated Mechanical Design Engineer II to join our growing engineering team in Portland, Oregon. This position is ideal for a hands-on engineer who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, designing innovative products, and seeing concepts evolve from initial design through prototyping, testing, and production.

The ideal candidate possesses strong mechanical design and analytical capabilities combined with practical experience building, testing, and refining engineered solutions. This role offers the opportunity to work on advanced structural and mechanical systems utilizing composites, metallic structures, additive manufacturing, and cutting-edge design methodologies.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy taking ownership of projects, and have a passion for engineering innovation, we encourage you to apply.

Position Summary

The Mechanical Design Engineer II is responsible for the design, analysis, development, prototyping, and validation of mechanical components and structural systems. The successful candidate will collaborate with internal engineering teams, manufacturing partners, suppliers, and external analysis resources to develop reliable, cost-effective, and high-performance products.

This role requires expertise in mechanical design, CAD modeling, structural analysis, composite materials, manufacturing processes, and prototype development. The engineer will contribute throughout the product lifecycle, from requirements development and conceptual design to production support and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Design & Engineering

• Design and develop detailed mechanical components and assemblies for production applications.

• Create and optimize metallic components and structural systems.

• Design bonded composite and hybrid composite-metal structures.

• Develop plastic components using 3D printing and injection molding processes.

• Generate detailed engineering drawings and manufacturing documentation.

• Develop interface control documents (ICDs) and technical specifications.

• Create and maintain bills of materials (BOMs).

Structural Analysis & Optimization

• Perform engineering calculations and support structural analysis activities.

• Collaborate with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) specialists to validate designs and improve performance.

• Analyze structures for strength, durability, weight reduction, and manufacturability.

• Evaluate and optimize designs to meet cost, schedule, and performance objectives.

Prototyping & Product Development

• Build, assemble, and test prototypes.

• Conduct hands-on fabrication and validation activities.

• Troubleshoot design issues and implement corrective improvements.

• Utilize rapid prototyping methods to accelerate development cycles.

• Participate in testing, validation, and product qualification efforts.

CAD Modeling & Documentation

• Develop and maintain large assembly models using SolidWorks.

• Implement top-down modeling best practices.

• Generate manufacturing-ready drawings and engineering documentation.

• Maintain revision control and configuration management records.

Project & Vendor Coordination

• Manage engineering projects to established schedules and budgets.

• Interface directly with vendors, manufacturers, and suppliers.

• Support procurement and manufacturing activities.

• Coordinate prototype fabrication and production readiness efforts.

• Present technical findings, project updates, and design reviews to stakeholders.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve product performance, manufacturability, and reliability.

• Support engineering process improvements and best practices.

• Demonstrate initiative and ownership in problem-solving and project execution.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Mechanical Engineering required.

• Master's degree or advanced engineering degree preferred.

• Professional Engineering (PE) licensure is a plus.

Experience

• 3-7 years of professional mechanical design engineering experience.

• Strong experience designing mechanical components and assemblies.

• Experience with composite materials and bonded composite structures.

• Experience with metallic structural design and analysis.

• Hands-on prototype fabrication and testing experience.

• Experience supporting product development through the full design lifecycle.

Technical Skills

• Minimum 2+ years of SolidWorks experience.

• Experience creating complex 3D CAD models and assemblies.

• Familiarity with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools and methodologies.

• Experience developing engineering drawings and technical documentation.

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes including:

  • Composite molding

  • CNC machining

  • Additive manufacturing (3D printing)

  • Injection molding

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to relocate to Portland, Oregon.

• Must be willing to travel domestically as needed.

• Must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Aerospace industry experience.

• Experience working with:

  • Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)

  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

  • Drones

  • Aircraft structures

• Experience in smaller aerospace or aviation manufacturing environments.

• Experience designing lightweight structural systems.

• Exposure to product certification and testing programs.

Preferred Software Experience

CAD & Engineering Tools

• SolidWorks

• SolidWorks Simulation

• Other FEA software packages

Engineering & Analysis Software

• MATLAB

• GNU Octave

• MS Project

Business & Productivity Software

• Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft Word

• Microsoft PowerPoint

Prototype Development Tools

• Dremel tools

• Power drills

• Hand fabrication tools

• Workshop equipment

Key Competencies

Successful candidates will demonstrate:

• Strong mechanical design expertise

• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills

• Hands-on engineering mindset

• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• High attention to detail

• Self-motivation and initiative

• Strong teamwork and collaboration abilities

• Project ownership and accountability

• Adaptability in fast-paced technical environments

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative engineering organization where your ideas and designs directly contribute to advanced products and technologies. You'll work alongside talented engineers, participate in challenging technical projects, and have the opportunity to influence designs from concept through production.

We offer:

• Competitive compensation

• Challenging and rewarding engineering projects

• Hands-on design and prototype development

• Career growth opportunities

• Collaborative engineering culture

• Exposure to advanced materials and manufacturing technologies

• Opportunity to work on aerospace and advanced structural systems

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate has 3-7 years of mechanical design experience, strong SolidWorks proficiency, hands-on prototyping capabilities, and experience designing composite structures. Candidates with aerospace, UAV, aircraft, or advanced structural design backgrounds will be especially successful in this role.

If you enjoy designing innovative products, building prototypes, solving complex engineering challenges, and working in a highly collaborative environment, we'd love to hear from you.