Machine Design Engineer

Machine Designer / Process Engineer — Wapato, WA

Design machines that help eliminate plastic waste and fight climate change.

Corumat (The Big Green Loop®) is a startup developing the next generation of lightweight, compostable packaging. We’re turning food waste into high-performance plastics — and we’re now building out a plastics-processing line in Wapato, Washington to take our innovations from prototype to production.

We’re seeking a hands-on mechanical designer / process engineer who can help design, analyze, and commission custom equipment to make it happen.

What You’ll Do

Short-Term (Hands-On Design + Build)

• Use SolidWorks to model mechanical assemblies, frames, guards, and fixtures for extrusion, expansion, and thermoforming lines.
• Run finite element analyses (FEA) to check deflection, stiffness, and stress under thermal and mechanical loads.
• Select bearings, linear motion components, fasteners, and drives to ensure reliable, safe operation.
• Work directly with machinists and fabricators to prototype and assemble systems.
• Collaborate closely with the controls engineer to integrate sensors, actuators, and safety systems.

Medium-Term (Optimization + Integration)

• Instrument equipment to monitor torque, pressure, and temperature.
• Develop process parameter maps (e.g., CO₂ pressure, line speed, sheet density).
• Build clean process data-logging systems and simple dashboards in Excel or SQL for operator feedback and KPI reporting.
• Refine designs to improve reliability, throughput, and safety.

Long-Term (Innovation + Scale-Up)

• Lead mechanical design for future process modules and R&D rigs.
• Work with university partners to correlate mechanical properties to process data.
• Help scale our proprietary expansion process to commercial throughput.

Skills & Experience

• SolidWorks proficiency — confident with assemblies, motion studies, and technical drawings.
• FEA experience — able to analyze structural deflection and stress, interpret results, and make design tradeoffs.
• Knowledge of mechanical design fundamentals: tolerances, fits, torque specs, component selection, and DFM/DFA.
• Experience engaging with controls and automation engineers (sensors, actuators, PLCs, etc.).
• Familiarity with polymer extrusion, sheet handling, or thermoforming is a plus.
• Strong analytical and documentation skills — Excel, process notes, and clear reporting.
• Self-motivated, adaptable, and comfortable in a startup environment where priorities shift quickly.

The Challenge

You’ll be responsible for the physical backbone of our process — designing equipment that’s lightweight, reliable, and safe — while working side-by-side with engineers building the controls, process, and production systems.

You’ll see your designs come to life on the floor within weeks, not years, and your work will directly reduce waste and greenhouse-gas emissions.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 - $50.00 per hour

Expected hours: 30 – 60 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Application Question(s):

• Have you used Solidworks for at least one year?
• Do you think you'll be able to refine a conceptual production line design, getting to detailed design, within one week?

Work Location: In person