Senior Mechanical Engineer (Steel Plate Processing & Fabrication)

Senior Mechanical Engineer - Steel Plate Processing & Fabrication Fort Worth, TX Permanent, onsite, Full Benefits 140,000-175,000 base Position Summary We are seeking a hands-on Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the performance, reliability, and optimization of our steel plate fabrication equipment. This is a floor-oriented role requiring a balance of high-level engineering leadership and a "roll-up-the-sleeves" approach to troubleshooting alongside maintenance and operations teams.

Key Responsibilities Equipment Support:

Provide technical expertise for fiber lasers, plasma tables, press brakes, decoiling/leveling lines, and kinetic cutting systems.

Hands-on Troubleshooting:

Act as the primary resource for diagnosing mechanical failures, alignment issues, and motion control problems directly on the production floor.

Process Optimization:

Lead root cause analysis (RCA) to improve cut quality, forming accuracy, and machine uptime.

System Upgrades:

Design and implement modifications for hydraulic/pneumatic systems, drive trains, and material feed systems.

Project Leadership:

Manage the installation and commissioning of new capital equipment and coordinate with OEMs for complex repairs.

Mentorship:

Develop maintenance protocols and mentor junior staff in a safety-first, problem-solving culture.

Qualifications Education:

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.

Experience:

7+ years in steel processing, heavy industrial production, or metal fabrication.

Technical Skills:

Deep knowledge of CNC machinery, hydraulics, gearboxes, and machine alignment. Proficiency in reading mechanical drawings and schematics is required.

Physical Ability:

Must be comfortable working daily in an industrial shop environment, including climbing ladders and accessing tight machine spaces. The Ideal Candidate You are a field-oriented engineer who thrives on the production floor. You understand that equipment performance is driven by a mix of sound design and practical, at-the-source troubleshooting. You are as comfortable discussing engineering theory as you are working beside a technician to fix a downed line.