Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
Job Description
Title: Principal Mechanical Design Engineer
Location: Chicago (Ravenswood area)
Hire Type: Direct Hire OR Indefinite contract
Compensation: $160k-170K yrly
Benefits:Comprehensive Benefit Package
Must have Skill Set: Strong Leadrship Skills
- Lead and coordinate mechanical design activities across one or more product development programs
- Partner with cross-functional and multi-site teams to achieve technical and business objectives
- Define priorities, timelines, and resource needs for engineering programs
- Develop and communicate technical action plans internally and externally
- Identify risks early and recommend practical solutions balancing cost, timing, and requirements
- Design, build, and test prototypes to evaluate product performance
- Solve complex technical challenges throughout development and commercialization
- Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles
- Collaborate with tooling, automation, and manufacturing teams for high-volume production readiness
- Mentor and guide junior engineers and technical contributors
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
- 7+ years of product development or mechanical design engineering experience
- Strong knowledge of regulated industry standards (FDA, ISO, or similar)
- Proficiency with CAD tools such as SolidWorks and related engineering software
- Experience leading technical aspects of product/device development programs
- Background in high-volume manufacturing, injection molding, and automation
- Strong leadership, communication, and team collaboration skills
- Ability to work effectively across multiple locations and functions
- Experience in consulting or client-facing engineering environments
- Basic understanding of electronics and software integration
- Lead high-visibility engineering programs with real business impact
- Work on innovative products used globally
- Collaborate with world-class engineering and manufacturing teams
- Strong growth opportunity within an expanding global organization
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.
Meet Your Recruiter
Team Lead and Principal Recruiter
Ric is a Team Lead and Principal Recruiter at Sterling Engineering with more than a decade of technical recruiting experience, including over eight years with Sterling. In his role, he leads recruiting efforts while also working hands-on with clients and candidates throughout the full hiring process.
From sourcing hard-to-find technical talent to navigating offer negotiations, Ric focuses on creating strong, lasting matches that benefit both the individual and the organization. His approach is built on understanding technical environments, listening closely to hiring needs and career goals, and aligning the right people with the right opportunities.
Ric enjoys recruiting because of the meaningful impact it can have on someone’s career. Whether helping a candidate pursue a growth opportunity, improve work-life balance, or step into a leadership role, he is driven by the opportunity to support people through important career decisions. At the same time, he takes pride in helping companies build high-performing teams that move their business forward.