Mechanical Design Engineer

Kelly® Engineering is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer for a direct-hire, fully on-site position with an established custom marine-transportation equipment manufacturer in Bradenton, Florida. Relocation assistance available.

Overview

Our client is a long-established manufacturer of custom, all-welded trailers and transport systems serving recreational, commercial, and defense-related marine applications. Its operation combines engineered-to-order product development with hands-on manufacturing of aluminum and steel structures tailored to each vessel and customer requirement.

This role will design and detail custom boat trailers and transporters from concept through production. The organization is open to either a degreed Mechanical Engineer or an experienced Mechanical Designer/Drafter; directly relevant trailer-design experience, drafting speed, and attention to detail are valued more heavily than education alone. The successful candidate will join a small engineering team, work primarily in KeyCreator, and help support a planned transition to SolidWorks.

Responsibilities:

• Develop custom trailers and transporters that satisfy customer requirements, functional standards, towing needs, and applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
• Create accurate 3D models, detailed manufacturing drawings, bills/cut lists, and engineering change notices for welded aluminum and steel assemblies.
• Perform practical engineering calculations, including member strength, beam deflection, weight, balance, load distribution, and structural feasibility assessments.
• Review boat-hull geometry and specifications to define hull support, fitment, loading, and towing characteristics.
• Translate customer requirements into manufacturable concepts and evaluate feasibility for new or highly customized applications.
• Select and source components, equipment, and materials in coordination with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Partner closely with manufacturing to resolve design questions, improve producibility, and support continuous-improvement initiatives.
• Produce detailed work efficiently while maintaining strong dimensional accuracy, configuration control, and documentation quality.
• Work in KeyCreator and, as the business transitions platforms, help verify the successful transfer of models and drawings into SolidWorks.
• Occasionally travel to boat locations—primarily within Florida—to support vessel scanning and related technical activities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline is preferred for the Mechanical Engineer track; a degree is not required for an accomplished Designer/Drafter with directly relevant experience.
• Hands-on design ownership for boat trailers is strongly preferred; experience designing utility trailers, commercial or tractor trailers, car haulers, or heavy-equipment trailers will also be considered.
• Proficiency with 3D mechanical-design software; SolidWorks or comparable CAD experience is required
• Working knowledge of welded-structure design in aluminum and/or steel and the ability to interpret technical drawings, product specifications, and scan data.
• Understanding of design for manufacturing and the ability to collaborate directly with fabrication and assembly teams.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, including Excel; pivot tables and lookup functions are preferred, while VBA/macros are a plus.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense security clearance.
• Ability to work on site in Bradenton, Florida, with less than 10% travel.