Lead Mechanical Engineer

We're Building Construction Equipment from Scratch. Need a Mechanical Engineer Who Can Own the Entire Product - Solo.
Not CAD-only. Not theory-only. We need someone who's designed machines that actually work in the field and can take full technical ownership from concept to production.
The Role
Senior Mechanical Design & Product Development Consultant
Construction Equipment | Heavy Engineering | Special Purpose Machinery
Engagement: Project-Based / Contract (High-Intensity, Aggressive Timelines)
Work Mode: Remote (with occasional travel for supplier visits, testing & commissioning)
Experience: 15–20+ Years (Mandatory)
Important: This is a solo technical ownership role. You will be the only mechanical engineering resource driving this product. Expect to dedicate significant time and focus to meet aggressive development milestones.
What You'll Own (End-to-End)
You'll be the Technical Owner / Lead Mechanical Engineer for a ground-up construction equipment product.
From engineering requirements → concept architecture → detailed design → analysis & simulation → design refinement → supplier development → manufacturing support → production-ready engineering release.
This is not a CAD modelling role. You'll decide:
What gets designed and why
How it functions under real operating conditions
How it's manufactured, assembled, and serviced
What it costs and how it's validated
Technical Expertise RequiredMechanical & Mechanism Design
Machine and mechanism design
Mechanical system architecture
Kinematics and dynamics
Motion generation and transmission
Linkages, cams, eccentric mechanisms, actuating mechanisms
Power transmission and drive systems
Shaft, bearing, coupling, and gearbox design
Hydraulic and pneumatic mechanisms
Structural and load-bearing systems
Welded and fabricated structures
Machine frames and supporting structures
Guides, slides, linear motion, and alignment systems
Mechanism synchronization
Load distribution and force-flow analysis
Vibration, dynamic loading, and fatigue considerations
Failure prevention and robust design
Engineering Analysis, Simulation & Validation
First-principles engineering calculations
Static structural analysis
Dynamic analysis
Modal analysis
Harmonic / frequency-response analysis
Fatigue and durability analysis
Buckling analysis
Non-linear analysis
Contact analysis
Large-deformation analysis
Thermal analysis (where applicable)
Mechanism and motion analysis
Load-path and force-flow analysis
Design optimisation
Design validation and correlation
You must be capable of defining appropriate analysis methodology, boundary conditions, loading assumptions, constraints, and acceptance. Simulation results must be interpreted against real physical behaviour, manufacturing conditions, and test data.
Design for Excellence & Engineering Quality
DFM
DFA
DFS
DFR
DFD
DFMEA
PFMEA awareness
Poka-Yoke
Design verification
Design validation
Tolerance stack-up analysis
GD&T
Design reviews
Root Cause Analysis
Corrective / Preventive Action
Value Engineering
Design-to-Cost
Lean Engineering & Six Sigma
Kaizen Engineering
Manufacturing & Process Knowledge
Welding and fabrication
CNC machining
Conventional machining
Casting
Forging
Sheet-metal fabrication
Heat treatment
Surface treatment
Grinding and finishing
Assembly processes
Jigs and fixtures
Manufacturing tolerances
Inspection and quality control
Manufacturing process capability
Supplier process capability
Tooling requirements
Prototype and low-volume manufacturing
Production manufacturing
Materials & Component Selection
Engineering materials (structural steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, aluminium, plastics, elastomers)
Material properties and selection methodology
Bearings, shafts, couplings, gearboxes, drives
Hydraulic and pneumatic components
Linear motion components
Fasteners, seals, wear components
Standard mechanical components
Software Expertise
SolidWorks – Expert Level (Mandatory)
ANSYS – Advanced / Expert Level (Mandatory)
Fusion 360 – Strong working knowledge (Mandatory)
AutoCAD, Motion/Mechanism Simulation Tools, FEA Software (Preferred)
PLM / PDM systems, ERP / MRP systems (Preferred)
Real-World Engineering Judgement
A critical requirement is the ability to distinguish between a design that looks correct in CAD and a design that will actually work reliably in the field.
You should be capable of evaluating:
Practical manufacturability
Fabrication limitations
Machining accessibility
Welding distortion
Assembly sequence
Installation and alignment
Tolerance accumulation
Component accessibility
Maintenance and replacement requirements
Wear and degradation mechanisms
Operator interaction
Environmental and operating conditions
Structural and dynamic loads
Failure modes and likely field failures
Supplier capability and process limitations
Component availability
Cost implications of design decisions
The expectation is an engineer who knows what works, what does not work, why it fails, and how to engineer the design so that failure is prevented rather than corrected after production.
Vendor, Supplier & Manufacturing Coordination
You will personally coordinate with vendors and suppliers for:
Identifying technically suitable suppliers
Evaluating supplier manufacturing capability
Discussing drawings, specifications, and tolerances
Resolving manufacturability issues
Reviewing supplier proposals
Evaluating bought-out components
Technical vendor negotiations
Prototype development coordination
Inspection and quality discussions
Supplier troubleshooting
Manufacturing process review
Design changes arising from production realities
Supporting vendor qualification and development
You should be comfortable working directly with fabricators, machinists, component manufacturers, hydraulic suppliers, bearing/drive suppliers, and other specialist vendors.
Cost & Commercial Engineering
You must understand the cost consequences of engineering decisions, including:
Product cost estimation
Manufacturing cost evaluation
Material cost optimisation
Process cost optimisation
Component selection based on cost and performance
Make-vs-buy decisions
Supplier quotations and technical comparison
Value engineering
Design-to-cost
BOM cost analysis
Cost reduction without compromising functional performance or reliability
You should be able to balance: Performance × Reliability × Manufacturability × Cost × Serviceability—rather than optimising any one parameter in isolation.
Engineering Documentation
You will be responsible for ensuring complete and production-ready engineering documentation, including:
3D CAD models
Detailed manufacturing drawings
Assembly drawings
Exploded views
GD&T
Tolerance specifications
Engineering calculations
FEA / simulation reports
BOMs (Bills of Materials)
Component specifications
Material specifications
Manufacturing requirements
Inspection requirements
Design verification documentation
Design validation documentation
Engineering change documentation
Design release packages
Leadership & Project Management
You must be capable of functioning simultaneously as a:
Senior Mechanical Designer
Technical Lead
Engineering Project Manager
Responsibilities include:
Engineering planning
Design team coordination (you will lead external partners, not an internal team)
Technical task allocation
Design review and approval
Engineering milestone management
Risk identification and mitigation
Supplier coordination
Technical decision-making
Design change control
Engineering documentation control
Cross-functional coordination
Maintaining development timeli

Work arrangement
Yes