Hiring Entry-Level Mechanical Designer in Louisville

This entry-level mechanical designer role is with a fast-growing rail infrastructure firm headquartered in downtown Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in the design and deployment of signal systems and crossing control equipment for Class I freight railroads and regional transit authorities across the Midwest and Southeast. Over the past three years, the company has expanded its design division by 40% to meet surging demand for updated rail crossing safety infrastructure, and is now hiring a new mechanical designer to support its pipeline of 12 active crossing control projects scheduled for delivery in 2024 and 2025.

In this role, you will join a 12-person cross-functional design team reporting directly to the Senior Mechanical Design Manager, with day-to-day collaboration with signal engineers, manufacturing partners, and field installation crews. Unlike generic design roles that focus on abstract or consumer products, this position lets you work on tangible, high-impact infrastructure that directly improves rail safety for thousands of motorists and rail workers every day. The team operates on a hybrid schedule, with core in-office hours Tuesday through Thursday for collaborative design reviews and client check-ins, and flexible remote work options on Mondays and Fridays for focused drafting and model development. There is no mandatory overtime outside of pre-communicated project deadline windows, which are shared with the team at least two weeks in advance to support work-life balance.

Your core responsibilities will include:
1. Designing and updating 2D and 3D models of railroad crossing control boxes, signal masts, and approach warning structures using SolidWorks and AutoCAD, with all designs aligned to AREMA (American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association) safety and performance standards for rail infrastructure.
2. Generating 50+ production-ready design drawings per month, including detailed dimensional layouts, bill of materials (BOM) lists, and assembly instructions for manufacturing partners and field installation teams, with a target of less than 5% design error rate across all released drawings.
3. Collaborating with senior designers and signal engineers to iterate on design revisions based on client feedback, site survey data, and regulatory compliance checks, with a goal of reducing design rework by 15% over your first six months in the role.
4. Conducting basic finite element analysis (FEA) on high-stress signal structure components using SolidWorks Simulation to validate load capacity for extreme weather conditions including 90+ mph wind loads and 12 inches of accumulated snow, per regional climate requirements for project sites.
5. Maintaining and organizing the company's central design library of 1,200+ standard rail crossing components, updating 20+ existing part files per month to reflect current manufacturing specifications, material updates, and regulatory changes.
6. Participating in weekly 30-minute design review meetings with cross-functional teams to present design progress, address feasibility concerns from manufacturing and field operations, and align on project timelines.
7. Assisting in creating as-built documentation for completed rail crossing projects, ensuring all design records are properly archived for regulatory audits and future maintenance reference by railroad clients.
8. Conducting 1-2 site visits per month to local Louisville-area rail crossing projects to gather field measurements, assess installation challenges, and validate design performance in real-world conditions, with all travel time and mileage reimbursed at the federal standard rate.

To qualify for this role, you must be a recent graduate (within the past 12 months) of an associate's or bachelor's program in Mechanical Engineering Technology, Drafting and Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical field. You must demonstrate proficiency in SolidWorks and AutoCAD through academic coursework, capstone projects, or internship experience, and have a foundational understanding of GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) principles. Basic familiarity with reading and interpreting technical engineering drawings and specifications is required, as is a valid driver's license for site visit travel. No professional full-time experience is required, though prior internship experience in manufacturing, infrastructure design, or rail-related fields is a strong plus. The ideal candidate will have strong attention to detail, with a track record of catching design errors in academic or internship work, and the ability to work collaboratively in a small, fast-paced team environment.

The company offers a competitive hourly compensation rate for this contract role of $22 to $28 per hour, adjusted based on your academic experience, internship background, and technical skill assessment performance during the interview process. As a contractor, you will have access to Actalent's full employee benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance options, a 401(k) plan with a 4% employer match, and 10 hours of paid personal leave per month, in addition to paid time off for all federal holidays. The company also covers 100% of costs for professional development opportunities, including AREMA certification exam fees, SolidWorks advanced training courses, and tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing advanced degrees in engineering or design fields.

This role offers clear pathways for career advancement: 70% of the company's current senior mechanical designers were hired into entry-level roles at the firm, with most advancing to senior positions within 18 to 24 months based on performance. Top performers are also eligible for internal transfers to signal engineering, project management, or manufacturing coordination roles after 12 months of employment, with full support for required training and certifications. You will also have the opportunity to build a professional portfolio of large-scale rail infrastructure projects that are visible to major railroad clients across the country, a valuable asset for long-term career growth in the infrastructure design space.

The hiring process for this role is designed to be transparent and efficient. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with all qualified candidates contacted within 3 business days of submission. The interview process consists of three steps: a 30-minute initial phone screen with the hiring manager to discuss your background and interest in rail infrastructure, a 1-hour technical interview where you will complete a short, realistic drafting exercise using SolidWorks and AutoCAD to demonstrate your core design skills, and a final 30-minute team fit interview with the design department staff to assess alignment with the team's collaborative work style. The targeted start date for this role is within 3 weeks of offer acceptance, with a 6-month initial contract term. Contract extensions and conversion to full-time employment are available based on project pipeline needs and your performance in the role. To apply, share your resume and a brief portfolio of any relevant academic or internship design work via the LinkedIn application link above, or reach out to Madison Castillo at [email protected] with any questions about the role or application process.