Mechanical Designer - POP

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ATS Company: Life Sciences Systems

Requisition ID: 15567

Location: Cambridge, ON, CA, N3H 4R7

Date: Oct 14, 2025

Mechanical Designer - POP

The world isn’t standing still, and neither is ATS Life Sciences - We don’t follow the trends. We set them!

Are you interested in being part of a team that makes a difference? Join our growing ATS Life Sciences Systems team a division of ATS Corporation, a publicly traded global enterprise with a proud history, we are helping advance the future with our factory-wide automation solutions. Within Life Sciences Systems, what we do matters – we custom design, build and service critical automated solutions for medical device and pharmaceutical companies. We are dedicated to assisting our customers in improving the quality of life for people around the world. When there is no room for error, and product failure is not an option, leading life sciences companies trust us to resolve their production challenges.

Job Description

As a Mechanical Designer in the Proof of Principle Execution team, you will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary group to anticipate, identify, and mitigate technical and process risks. Your work will focus on understanding and defining requirements, and applying a systematic approach to problem-solving to ensure solutions meet customer performance specifications.

We’re looking for a creative thinker—someone who can approach challenges from fresh angles while staying grounded in practical engineering. You should be able to grasp the fundamentals of a problem quickly and develop effective, innovative solutions that are both functional and forward-thinking.

Key Attributes:

• Strong conceptual and analytical skills
• Hands-on approach to prototyping and testing
• Ability to work across disciplines and communicate clearly
• Passion for solving complex mechanical challenges

Duties include generating innovative concepts, designing and validating prototypes to meet performance and functional goals. While the primary focus of this role is Mechanical Design, successful solutions often require a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates mechanics, electronics, and software. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong blend of technical depth and creative problem-solving, with the ability to approach challenges from both practical and unconventional perspectives.

Responsibilities include:

• Generate concepts to solve new customer mechatronic problems/needs.
• Perform engineering calculations to validate new concepts.
• Generate detailed designs for prototypes ensuring all purchased and manufactured parts meet acceptable cost/performance/delivery.
• Attend assigned Project Kick-Off meetings (PKO), review scope of work, budget and schedule.
• Participate and lead in defining the requirements and concepts for Proof of Principle (POP) projects ensuring an “outside the box” approach, avoiding limitations normal in operations projects.
• Lead technical evaluations of technologies in their area of expertise.
• Sign-off on project designs, go/no-go and pivot decisions for POP execution.
• Perform rework efficiently to ensure minimal impact to budget and schedule.
• Be hands-on and support the team in building prototypes.
• Contribute to test plans for prototypes and either execute the test plan or support others that are performing the test plan.
• Support Applications and Operations during concept development and customer-facing interactions.
• Support creation of labour, material and execution plans for POP projects.
• Lead or participate in design reviews with internal/external customers, vendors, and internal design groups.
• Ensure that all business activities are performed with the highest ethical standards and in compliance with the ATS Code of Business Conduct.
• Travel to support POP execution.
• These responsibilities are subject to change as assigned.

Skills

• Skilled at producing effective mechanical designs within accelerated development cycle.
• Able to deal with a high degree unknowns up front as challenges are often being solved for the first time.
• Adapt quickly to new learnings from prototypes and incorporate findings into design solutions.
• Strong ability to get to root cause of customer problems and deliver innovative solutions.
• Team player able to communicate effectively in status meetings, perform design reviews, and contribute to solving challenging problems.
• Strong communication skills and demonstrated ability to document and explain solutions
• Thorough knowledge of drafting principles, proficient in SolidWorks and AutoCAD.
• Strong ability to conceptualize and create solutions for complex design requirements.
• Working knowledge of common machine shop techniques.
• Demonstrate comfort in: materials, precision, GD&T, FEA and thermal.
• Familiarity in control systems, electrical designs, electronics and magnetics.
• A self-starter with the ability to work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment with minimal supervision.

Health, Safety and Environmental

• All employees have the responsibility to work in a safe manner and report any health, safety or environmental concern to their manager or supervisor in a timely manner.
• Work in compliance with divisional health, safety and environmental procedures
• Refrain from removing or altering safety devices or guarding unless hazardous energies are controlled through lockout-tagout methods
• Report any unsafe conditions or unsafe acts
• Report defect in any equipment or protective device
• Ensure that the required protective equipment is used for the assigned tasks
• Attend all required health, safety and environmental training
• Report any accidents/incidents to supervisor
• Assist in investigating accidents/incidents
• Refrain from engaging in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct

Qualifications

Education

• A post-secondary engineering degree or diploma in Mechanical, Mechatronics, Systems Design or equivalent.

Experience

• A minimum of 2+ years’ Mechanical Design experience.
• A minimum of 1+ years supporting or managing complex projects.

These lines describe a role where you may be excited about the role, but do not meet all the qualifications listed above, you are still encouraged to apply

Why YOU should join our ATS Life Sciences Systems team:

We value our PEOPLE - The foundation of a great company is having the best team which is why we continuously work to develop, engage, empower and energize our people. The best people want to work with the best team - the best teams are diverse and inclusive teams.

What we do MATTERS - our Life Sciences projects contribute to improving the lives of people around the world! ATS has made a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030!

INNOVATION and PROBLEM SOLVING is at our core - Our pursuit of continuous improvement in everything we do. Our focus is on building diverse teams, stimulating innovation by challenging conventional thinking, encouraging fresh ideas and promoting creative problem-solving

We prioritize internal GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT - ATS offers endless opportunities for professional growth and development – with a tuition reimbursement program, individual development programs and a commitment to promoting from within - there is space for you to grow your career at ATS!

We offer COMPETITIVE Total Rewards - Competitive starting salaries, overtime pay eligibility, paid vacation, Employee Incentive Bonus program, comprehensive health and dental benefits including Lifestyle Spending Account, 5% RRSP matching program and optional Employee Share Purchase Program

A place to BELONG: We celebrate our differences and ensure that all employees have equal opportunities for growth and development. We believe that diversity of thought, background, and experiences is essential for our success and innovation.

ATS is in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA), 2005 and will, upon request, assist those who may require specific accommodations due to a personal disability. We would ask that those who require assistance to notify our offices as soon as possible if accommodation is necessary