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Specialty Tooling Systems

Specialty Tooling Systems

Provides assembly equipment and automation systems

Mechanical Design Engineer - Automation

Full-TimePosted on 9/16/2026
No salary listed
Junior, Mid
Bachelor's
Grand Rapids, MI, USA
In Person
No H1B Sponsorship

About the job

Requirements
  • A bachelor's degree in Engineering or equivalent relevant industry experience.
  • One to five years of related work experience, including direct experience in positions where mechanical design was a daily responsibility.
  • Strong knowledge and experience with SOLIDWORKS mechanical design software.
  • Understanding of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing for successful part fixturing in assembly.
  • Understanding of machine ergonomics, serviceability, and maintenance.
  • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with customers, suppliers, and the internal team.
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality on sensitive projects.
  • Ability to maintain a professional appearance and demeanor.
  • Ability to remain flexible in a fast-paced, frequently changing environment.
  • Ability to work in a team-based environment.
  • Legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship.
  • Ability to sit for long periods, see nearby fine details, understand speech, speak clearly, grasp or assemble very small objects, and lift up to 20 pounds.
Responsibilities
  • Collaborate with project managers and customers from design concept through project completion and runoff on the customer's floor.
  • Contribute to manufacturing design concepts by collaborating with Estimating, Controls, and Project Management teams.
  • Own the complete design life-cycle responsibilities of a project when assigned.
  • Engineer structural components and validate them with finite element analysis.
  • Work under senior engineers on larger projects.
Desired Qualifications
  • Two or more years of experience in a mechanical design role for industrial automation machines.

About the company

Specialty Tooling Systems

Specialty Tooling Systems

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Specialty Tooling Systems (STS) designs and delivers assembly equipment and automation systems for the automotive industry and other manufacturers. Its products combine smart engineering and the right mix of tools to boost production output and improve quality in manufacturing operations. STS works by integrating tooling, automation hardware, and system integration services into custom solutions that fit a customer's existing lines and processes. This approach differentiates STS from competitors by emphasizing tailored, end-to-end solutions and hands-on support across multiple facilities to scale with customer needs. The company’s goal is to help manufacturers increase efficiency, precision, and throughput through well-integrated automation and tooling systems.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Founded

2000

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • KUKA's IMTS 2026 collaboration gave STS visible validation with heavy-payload automation buyers.
  • TSG's 2026 site says STS handles multi-robot cells and one-off machines from Grand Rapids.
  • LinkedIn shows roughly 116 employees, indicating enough scale for larger projects without bureaucracy.

What critics are saying

  • Customer concentration in automotive manufacturing exposes STS to factory capex pauses in 2026.
  • KUKA and large integrators can commoditize STS's system-integration margins through bundled robotic offerings.
  • A major quality failure or delayed launch could kill repeat business and damage TSG-wide reputation.

What makes Specialty Tooling Systems unique

  • STS builds turnkey automation cells for automotive, furniture, medical device, and food processing customers.
  • KUKA named STS a system partner in July 2026 for integrated robotics demos.
  • Nachi Robotics backs TSG, giving STS capital access and robotics credibility.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Flexible Spending Accounts