Mechanical Designer

GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader. At GEA, we’re not just building equipment, we’re building lasting careers with an average employee tenure range from 5 to over 11+ years, reflecting the strong culture, growth opportunities, and support we provide.

Working at GEA Group has significant benefits:

• Start strong – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
• Recharge and refresh – Enjoy 12 paid holidays, including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO to relax or explore
• Invest in your future – A 7% 401(k) employer match helps grow your retirement savings faster
• Keep learning – Take advantage of tuition reimbursement to further your education or skillset
• Live well – Our wellness incentive program rewards healthy habits
• Get support when you need it – Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program for personal or professional guidance
• Save smart – Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts to manage out-of-pocket expenses

Mechanical Designer (0–5 Years Experience)

Location: Columbia, MD   | Travel: ≤5%

Build What Matters. Design What’s Next.

Are you an early-career Mechanical Designer ready to make a real impact? Join a collaborative engineering team where your ideas, precision, and problem-solving skills will directly contribute to innovative process equipment used across food, dairy, beverage, and chemical industries.

This is an opportunity to grow your technical expertise, own your work, and be part of projects from concept to completion.

What You’ll Do

You’ll play a key role in turning engineering concepts into detailed, production-ready designs:

• Create detailed mechanical drawings and layouts for systems, components, and assemblies
• Develop multiple views and clearly define dimensions, tolerances, materials, and relationships between parts
• Interpret engineering specifications and perform calculations to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Build and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) based on drawings and project requirements
• Revise and update drawings to reflect design changes and improvements
• Maintain organized project records and archive drawings in internal systems
• Perform self-checks and ensure adherence to established quality and checking procedures
• Troubleshoot and resolve design discrepancies independently
• Collaborate with project managers, production teams, vendors, and purchasing to support project execution
• Manage your time effectively to meet deadlines and project milestones
• Contribute to a positive, team-oriented environment

What You Bring

• Associate’s degree in Mechanical Design (or related field) or equivalent experience
• 0–5 years of experience in mechanical design
• Proficiency in Autodesk Inventor (required) and familiarity with Autodesk Vault (preferred)
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
• Solid written and verbal communication skills
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and time management skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools

Nice to Have

• Exposure to food, dairy, beverage, or chemical processing equipment
• Knowledge of 3-A sanitary standards and/or evaporation processes
• Familiarity with U.S. and international engineering standards
• Experience working with both imperial and metric units

Why Join Us?

• Hands-on experience with real-world engineering projects
• Opportunities for growth and skill development
• Supportive, team-driven environment
• Exposure to cutting-edge process equipment and technologies

Additional Details

• Occasional travel (≤5%) to fabrication shops or installation sites
• Competitive compensation and benefits package

If you’re ready to take the next step in your mechanical design career and want to see your work come to life, we’d love to hear from you.

The typical base pay range for this position at the start of employment is expected to be between $75,000 - $85,000 per year.  GEA Group has different base pay ranges for different work locations within the United States.

The pay range is not a guarantee of compensation or salary.  The estimated range is the budgeted amount for the position. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, location, qualifications, and other job-related reasons.  You may be eligible for additional rewards, such as discretionary bonus (based on eligibility) and/or equity awards.

GEA is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will therefore receive consideration for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, world view, national origin, genetics, disability, gender identity, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other protected characteristic required by applicable law. Applicants with disabilities are welcome and will be given special consideration if they are equally qualified.

#engineeringforthebetter.

This position is based in the United States and does not offer visa or work sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future sponsorship.