Fleet Mechanical Engineer Heavy Civil Underground

• Identify opportunities to modify equipment to improve productivity, safety, reliability, or serviceability.
• Design custom equipment components, attachments, guards, brackets, platforms, storage systems, hydraulic systems, and other modifications.
• Develop solutions for recurring field problems where an off-the-shelf solution is unavailable or inadequate.
• Produce CAD models, drawings, and specifications suitable for fabrication.
• Determine materials, dimensions, tolerances, fasteners, and fabrication methods.
• Coordinate prototype fabrication with internal mechanics/fabricators and outside vendors.
• Field-test prototypes and modify designs based on results.
• Document final designs so successful modifications can be replicated across the fleet.
• Evaluate structural loads, stresses, hydraulic requirements, and mechanical forces when appropriate.
• Ensure modifications do not negatively affect equipment safety, capacity, stability, warranties, or regulatory compliance.

• Actively identify opportunities to reduce machine cycle times, equipment idle time, material handling, and unnecessary manpower.
• Improve fueling efficiency, service access, attachment changes, hose routing/protection, guarding, lighting/camera systems, lubrication systems, equipment transportation/setup, and truck payload/body configurations.
• Develop specialty attachments, mechanic service tooling, and practical automation of repetitive equipment functions where appropriate.
• Regularly evaluate what is costing R-2 time, money, equipment life, or manpower and determine whether it can be engineered out of the operation.

• Analyze recurring equipment failures and perform root-cause failure analysis.
• Develop corrective actions that address causes rather than repeatedly repairing symptoms.
• Analyze component life, including engines, transmissions, final drives, hydraulic pumps, and undercarriage.
• Review oil analysis and condition-monitoring information and identify premature component failures.
• Work with OEMs and dealers on technical issues.
• Develop equipment-specific maintenance strategies and evaluate preventive and predictive maintenance intervals.
• Track implemented engineering solutions to determine whether failures are eliminated or reduced.

• Assist management with repair-versus-replace decisions, equipment specifications, new equipment purchases, attachment selection, standardization, fleet sizing, equipment disposal, and lifecycle-cost analysis.
• Evaluate equipment based on total lifecycle cost and production—not simply purchase price.

• Work with field operations, mechanics, and management to develop equipment specifications based on actual operating conditions.
• Evaluate machine configuration, engine/power requirements, hydraulics, attachments, tires/tracks, undercarriage, guarding, lighting, cameras, telematics, lubrication systems, serviceability, operator features, and safety systems.
• Help ensure new equipment fits R-2’s actual field applications rather than only meeting specifications on paper.

• Work directly with mechanics to troubleshoot difficult failures and unusual repairs.
• Interview operators and observe equipment performing actual production work.
• Measure and document operating conditions and successful solutions.
• Help mechanics develop specialty tooling and repair procedures.
• Assist with complex hydraulic, electrical, and mechanical problems.
• Maintain a hands-on presence in R-2 shops and on active construction jobsites; this is not intended to be a desk-only engineering position.

• Earthmoving: Excavators, dozers, wheel loaders, motor graders, scrapers, compactors, articulated trucks, and skid steers/CTLs.
• Vocational Trucks: Dump trucks, water trucks, lowboys, service trucks, lube trucks, and other Class 7/8 equipment.
• Light Fleet: Pickups, service pickups, and light-duty support vehicles.
• Support Equipment: Generators, compressors, pumps, light plants, trailers, attachments, and specialty construction equipment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and ability to understand mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems.
• CAD design experience and ability to develop fabrication drawings.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to independently investigate mechanical failures.
• Ability to communicate effectively with mechanics, operators, superintendents, project teams, and management.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate cross-departmentally with Fleet, Operations, Estimating, Project Management, and leadership.
• Willingness to work in shops and active construction environments and travel to R-2 jobsites and shop locations.
• Ability to manage projects from concept through implementation.
• Must be a team player, organized, self-driven, and capable of balancing field needs with engineering discipline.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• Able to pass pre-employment drug screen, background check, and a driving record check acceptable to the company’s insurance carrier.

• 2-7+ years of heavy-equipment, construction, mining, trucking, agriculture, manufacturing, or OEM/dealer experience.
• Heavy-equipment hydraulic experience and diesel engine/powertrain knowledge.
• Welding and fabrication knowledge.
• SolidWorks, Inventor, AutoCAD, or similar CAD experience.
• FEA or mechanical stress-analysis experience.
• J1939/CAN-bus familiarity and heavy-equipment telematics experience.
• Reliability engineering/root-cause analysis experience.
• Oil-analysis/condition-monitoring and fleet-management software experience.
• Experience developing prototypes or modifying existing machinery.
• Demonstrated ability to develop creative mechanical solutions. Candidates should be prepared to discuss equipment, tooling, systems, prototypes, or modifications they have personally designed and implemented.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) / Sick Leave
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• 5-Year Employment Appreciation Bonus

• Schedule will vary based on business, shop, and project needs. Part-time remote work may be possible; regular travel and hands-on time at R-2 shops and project sites are required.

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