Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

Description Summary of Position: Serves as a principal-level technical leader within the Structural & Cab Engineering Team. This role operates with a high degree of autonomy, provides subject matter expertise on complex mechanical and structural design assignments, and leads the translation of engineering direction into executable plans. The position is intended to provide senior technical leadership and succession capability for future engineering leadership needs. Responsibilities : Plan, conceptualize, and create mechanical designs for new and existing products while ensuring alignment with broader product, quality, manufacturability, and business objectives. Serve as a subject matter expert for complex mechanical and structural systems, including machine structures, winches/gearboxes, motors, sheaves, drums, enclosures, operator cabs, and related equipment systems. Develop mechanical and structural connection designs, including bolted, pinned, and welded connections, and guide design decisions involving complex structural interfaces. Evaluate tolerance stack-up for new or existing designs and recommend appropriate class fits, allowances, and tolerances for manufacturing, machining, and assembly applications. Prepare and review component and system drawings, including layouts, assemblies, installation drawings, and supporting technical documentation. Provide technical direction for component and system drafting, ensuring drawings are properly annotated with dimensions, surface finishes, weld requirements, and tolerance fits for manufacturing and machine assemblies. Lead project teams through complex and ambiguous technical challenges, developing execution strategies, identifying risks, and guiding work toward milestones and objectives. Mentor and develop engineers and technical team members by providing guidance, feedback, technical coaching, and support on complex engineering matters. Perform and review engineering calculations to support project design decisions; check drawings for completeness, accuracy, and compliance with applicable standards. Collaborate across machine system development groups, engineering leadership, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, vendors, contractors, and other internal or external stakeholders. Lead departmental or project meetings, facilitate technical alignment, and communicate project status, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to appropriate stakeholders. Develop and present technical specifications, reports, recommendations, and decision-support materials for complex projects or product improvements. Partner with engineering leadership on updates, new ideas, design changes, issues, resource needs, and longer-term technical direction. Anticipate internal and external business, technical, regulatory, or industry challenges and proactively recommend product, process, design, or service improvements. Provide thought leadership and technical direction to the broader engineering organization regarding structures, weldments, standards, design practices, and product reliability. Represent Lanco IEM engineering expertise in discussions with key external stakeholders, suppliers, customers, or technical partners as needed. Competencies : Demonstrated ability to lead teams in a structured 3-D design environment. Detail-oriented with the ability to interpret customer specifications, translate requirements into engineering solutions, and apply applicable industry codes and standards. Extensive knowledge of industry codes, standards compliance, design practices, and documentation requirements within mechanical and structural engineering. Detailed knowledge of bill-of-material management on drawings and within an ERP system. Proven ability to lead complex projects and technical teams through ambiguous assignments with notable risk, complexity, and business impact. Advanced knowledge of machine design and operation, with industry knowledge in machinery operation, structural systems, fabrication, and welding. Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and related tools used for engineering documentation and communication. Ability to work cross-functionally and communicate effectively with internal stakeholders, outside suppliers, customers, contractors, and management. Ability to influence decisions and guide others regardless of position power, reporting structure, or organizational boundaries. Ability to hold others accountable to project expectations, technical standards, timelines, and quality requirements. Demonstrated readiness to provide senior technical leadership and serve as a potential successor or backfill for engineering leadership responsibilities as business needs evolve. Required Education & Experience : Accredited engineering degree with emphasis in mechanical, structural, or related engineering discipline. Minimum of 10+ years of progressive engineering experience in mechanical, structural, heavy equipment, machinery, or related product design environments, including demonstrated experience leading complex technical assignments or project teams. Strong CAD skills in 3-D and 2-D drawing software; Autodesk Inventor, AutoCAD, and SolidWorks experience is required. Advanced mechanical design knowledge, including the processes involved in producing parts through burning, cutting/sawing, machining, forming, weldments, sheet metal, castings, and forgings. Extensive experience working in a structured release environment, including creation of releases, engineering change notices, and related product documentation. Strong interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical information clearly and influence diverse audiences. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and technical deliverables while maintaining alignment with medium- and long-term engineering goals. Preferred Education & Experience : Prior experience mentoring engineers, partnering with engineering leadership, and supporting medium- to long-term product or technology direction is preferred. Master’s degree is a plus. Additional Information : Location: Hazel Crest, IL Domestic relocation is available to those who qualify. Visa sponsorship is not available for this posting. Up to 10% domestic and international travel possible Compensation/Benefits : We foster a collaborative team environment that values innovation and encourages creative solutions to drive positive organizational impact. Our employees are the key to our success and help us stand out from our competitors. The base pay range for this role is $125,000 to $155,000. The final compensation offer may vary based on factors such as experience, education, skills, and location. We offer competitive pay, paid time off, and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and a 401(k) plan. Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice. Lanco is an equal employment opportunity employer. All employment-related decisions, including but not limited to hiring, compensation, promotion, discipline (including termination), evaluation, training, and development opportunities, are made without discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender-related identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, religion, age, military status, protected disability, citizenship, genetic information or any other category protected by applicable law.