Mechanical Design Engineer

About BABSBad Ass Band Saws, LLC (BABS) designs and markets heavy-duty production band saws built to the highest standard of quality, productivity, and longevity. The company was founded in Houston, Texas after several manufacturers came to us needing very large, very accurate metal-cutting band saws. Since that first request, BABS has designed many types of band saws for a wide range of materials and applications, and we hold a number of U.S. patents on band saw designs developed to cut unique materials productively.Customers bring us sawing applications that standard machines cannot handle, and we welcome every one of them. Much of our work starts with a customer’s specification and runs from initial concept through solid modeling to final design and a finished machine.The RoleWe are hiring a Mechanical Design Engineer to design new band saws and adapt our existing designs to new sawing applications. You will be responsible for the machine as a complete system: structure, components, drives, hydraulics, and how it operates, with a working hand in the electrical and electronic systems as well. You will work every day with the people who build, wire, plumb, and purchase for our machines, and you will see your designs fabricated, assembled, tested, and shipped.Key Responsibilities

• Design new band saws and revise existing designs to match each sawing application, including mechanical structures, components, drives, hydraulics, electrical and electronic systems, and machine operation.
• Develop new designs from customer specifications and operating requirements, carrying them from initial concept through solid modeling, final design, and release to production.
• Engineer frames and weldments, saw heads, band wheels and blade drives, blade guides and tensioning, vises and clamping, feed systems, material handling, and guarding.
• Perform the engineering calculations behind the design: loads, stress, deflection, and the sizing of bearings, shafts, motors, gearboxes, and hydraulic components.
• Create detailed models, assemblies, and manufacturing drawings in SolidWorks, with proper GD&T, fits, and tolerance stack-ups.
• Produce designs that are friendly to build, operate, and service, with machining, welding, assembly, and cost considered from the start.
• Prepare complete Bills of Material covering all manufactured and purchased components, with material codes and types.
• Collaborate with production, manufacturing, purchasing, electrical, and hydraulic teams to keep projects on schedule and ensure seamless execution.
• Support fabrication, assembly, testing, and commissioning. Diagnose mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical problems on the machine and carry the fixes back into the design.
• Continuously improve existing machines for reliability, performance, manufacturability, and cost, and maintain drawings, BOMs, and revision control.Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering.
• Proven experience in mechanical design of industrial equipment.
• A strong SolidWorks background of at least 3 to 4 years, including solid modeling, large assemblies, manufacturing drawings, and BOMs.
• A strong understanding of how machinery components function: bearings, shafts, gearboxes, motors, belts and chains, couplings, linear guides, screws, and structural weldments.
• A working understanding of how electrical and hydraulic systems operate, with real problem-solving experience in both.
• Knowledge of the manufacturing processes and materials used in band saw design and production, including machining, welding, and fabrication.
• Sound command of GD&T, fits and tolerances, and design for manufacturability.
• Strong general problem-solving skills, creative thinking, and awareness of project schedules.
• Comfortable spending time on the shop floor with the people building and running the equipment, and able to work on-site in Houston.Preferred Experience
• Band saws or other metal-cutting machinery.
• CNC or manual machine tools such as mills, lathes, grinders, or presses.
• Heavy industrial machinery, hydraulic machinery, or custom manufacturing equipment.
• Automated material-handling systems.
• Machine rigidity, vibration, cutting forces, precision alignment, workholding, chip management, or coolant systems.Why Join BABS
• Build real machines. Your designs are fabricated, assembled, tested, and shipped to customers, not lost in a multi-year development program.
• Own the whole machine. You will carry significant responsibility for the design of our saws, from structure and drives through hydraulics and operation.
• Help build the company. We are small enough that a strong engineer can shape our products, our engineering standards, and our future machines.What We Offer
• Compensation: $90,000 – $125,000, based on experience.
• Benefits: 401(k) plan, healthcare, dental, and vision plans, and paid holidays and vacation.
• Culture: A supportive environment built on trust, accountability, and respect, with a commitment to quality, teamwork, and continuous product improvement.
• Opportunity: An innovative workplace where each person can be the driving force behind new solutions and personally make a real difference.