Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Application Engineering | Peoria, IL (In-Person) | Full-Time | Relocation Assistance Provided

Compensation: $95,000 – $145,000

Every project is different. Every customer has a problem nobody has solved quite this way before. If that excites you more than running the same product through the same process, keep reading.

Rheo Engineering designs and manufactures advanced powder handling equipment and integrated systems for the pharmaceutical industry. Our equipment is used in the direct manufacture of life-saving medicine around the world. We design and build everything on-site, from highly engineered containment systems to fully automated material handling lines. You’ll see your designs go from a model on your screen to a finished system on our shop floor.

We run two engineering teams: New Product Development builds and maintains Rheo’s standard product lines, while Application Engineering - the team this role sits on - works directly with our project management team and customers to turn unique requirements into custom-engineered solutions, often under tight deadlines and real constraints. If you thrive on variety and solving problems, this is the team for you.

We’re looking for a Senior Design Engineer who wants to own the technical quality of that work in a technical leadership role. You will have the opportunity to shape the Design framework and trajectory of our Application Engineering team and be a critical part of developing and mentoring Design Engineers. You’ll be looked up to and relied on throughout the team for the influence and expertise you bring.

What You’ll Do

Lead the technical execution of custom equipment projects - CAD modeling in Autodesk Inventor, design reviews, engineering calculations, and FEA

Own the quality of engineering deliverables across your projects, including drawings, customer submittals, and documentation

Manage the engineering change process: triage ECRs, review and close out ECOs, and maintain basis of design documentation

Mentor Design Engineers through hands-on guidance, model reviews, and constructive feedback that builds real capability

Collaborate across functions - fabrication, assembly, controls, manufacturing engineering, and purchasing - to keep designs producible and projects on track

Serve as a primary technical contact for customers: lead design reviews, prepare approval submittals, and communicate directly on technical matters

Source and qualify vendors, review vendor drawings, and conduct technical evaluations

Support Factory Acceptance Tests (internal and external), system integration, quality activities, and commissioning

Generate engineering standards, design calculators, and administer the CAD environment

What We’re Looking For

Significant professional experience in mechanical design engineering with demonstrated ownership of complex assembly design work from concept through release

Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor or equivalent 3D CAD

Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams)

Experience with FEA software tools

Proven track record of producing and reviewing engineering drawings, models, and calculations to a high standard of quality

Experience leading design reviews and managing engineering change processes (ECR/ECO)

Track record of mentoring other engineers and elevating team capability

Direct experience interfacing with customers on technical matters

Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline

Preferred Qualifications

PE license or active progress toward licensure

Experience in pharmaceutical, food processing, or other regulated manufacturing environments

Familiarity with powder handling or process equipment design

Knowledge of GMP, cleanability (CIP/WIP), process containment, or OEL/OEB requirements

Familiarity with project management practices and tools

Working knowledge of ASME codes, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), and fabrication processes

Why Rheo

Privately owned and operated for 30 years and counting

Excellent benefits – see section below

Smaller team (~100 team members) with a strong, in-person work culture

Quickly growing in a stable, regulated industry where precision engineering matters

Unique, impactful work – direct influence over the safe, reliable, and efficient production of medicine throughout the world

Vertically integrated – see what you design be built in the same building

Benefits

Leading medical insurance - consistently low rates compared to other businesses in the area

Health Savings Account with employer contributions (plan-dependent)

Dental, vision, and life insurance

Short-term and long-term disability

Identity theft insurance

401(k) with 4% employer match

Generous PTO

Paid paternity and maternity leave

Paid cell phone plan with stipend for a new phone every 2 years

Employee referral program

Working Conditions

Office-based with regular time on the manufacturing floor and at vendor and client sites. Travel up to approximately 10% of the time. Standard 8-hour workday; occasional overtime as needed.

Rheo Engineering is an equal opportunity employer.