--- title: 'Senior Mechanical Engineer at DISHER' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-disher-grand-rapids-js8hmmz4c3e3' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-10-23' --- # Senior Mechanical Engineer at DISHER - **Company:** DISHER - **Location:** Grand Rapids, MI - **Compensation:** $100k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-09-25 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-23 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/disher/ca0e682d-3fda-4043-9bb6-88092beecf6d ## Job description Senior Mechanical Engineer – Grand Rapids, Michigan DISHER is currently partnering with a tech startup in the coffee space on their search for a Senior Mechanical Engineer who genuinely wants to be part of a startup journey. While your core expertise must be deeply rooted in world-class mechanical engineering, spanning CAD design, mechanism design, prototyping, and manufacturing readiness, you will also be a utility player. You must be flexible, willing and eager to dive into diverse technical challenges that may fall outside traditional mechanical engineering (such as light electrical/embedded troubleshooting, automation setup, documentation, or facility and equipment installation). What it's like to work here: They are a disruptor at the intersection of coffee/technology/sustainability. They’re getting ready to launch their flagship product that will revolutionize the coffee experience and transform the way people brew coffee at home and in the office. We’re assembling a team of innovators. If you thrive in ambiguity, love solving hard physical problems, and want the excitement and ownership of building a company from the ground up, this is the place for you. What you will get to do: - Coffee Brewer R&D & Engineering: Lead the mechanical design, optimization, and testing of coffee brewing technology. Engineer injection molded plastic parts for mass production. Evaluate pre-production samples and determine modifications. Work directly with manufacturers. - Pod Production Equipment & Automation: Design, build, integrate, and maintain specialized manufacturing and packaging equipment for coffee pods. Own the mechanical reliability of custom equipment on our production lines. - Prototyping & Iteration: Rapidly prototype, test, and assemble production line equipment using  fabrication tools (3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting). Conduct rigorous benchtop testing, thermal profiling, and endurance testing to validate designs. Work with production workers to determine SOPs and best practices for optimal throughput. - Strong Research and Development (R&D) Skills: Ability to design experiments, analyze data, and iterate quickly on prototypes. - Cross-Functional Problem Solving: Step outside traditional boundaries to assist with various technical needs across the company, whether troubleshooting automation hardware, setting up manufacturing cell infrastructure, integrating sensors, or supporting electrical/embedded controls. - Manufacturing Readiness & Scaling: Transition designs from prototype to scaled production. Design components for manufacturability (DFM), source mechanical parts, collaborate with local and international machine shops/suppliers, and write assembly procedures. - Hands-On Facility Execution: Roll up your sleeves in our workshop and production area to install equipment, troubleshoot mechanical breakdowns, adjust equipment, and ensure safe, efficient production. - Startup Agility: Adapt rapidly to shifting priorities, ambiguous requirements, and tight timelines. Take full ownership of projects from concept to commercial deployment with minimal oversight. What will make you successful: - 7-10 years of mechanical engineering experience, ideally with exposure to consumer products, appliances or consumer electronics. - Strong command of modern CAD tools, mechanical design principles, tolerance analysis, material selection, and fabrication methods (machining, 3D printing, sheet metal, injection molding, etc.). - The "startup DNA" & flexibility and a proven desire to work in a startup environment. You are comfortable wearing multiple hats, enjoy learning new technical skills on the fly, and view cross-functional tasks not as a distraction, but as an exciting part of building a business. - You have a hands-on mindset and are equal parts strategic thinker and builder. You aren't afraid to get your hands dirty on the shop floor. - Must be based in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. (Remote or hybrid arrangements are not available for this role). ## About DISHER ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: DISHER is an engineering, product development, manufacturing technology, and talent solutions firm that partners with clients to innovate and build custom solutions across diverse industries. - **Entity Type**: Private (Employee-Owned via ESOP) - **Headquarters**: Zeeland, Michigan, USA - **Founded**: 2000 - **Founders**: Jeff Disher ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Engineering Services, Product Development, Manufacturing Technology, Talent Solutions - **Target customers**: B2B, primarily mid-market to Fortune 500 companies across a wide range of industries including automotive, consumer goods, medical, and industrial equipment in the US and globally. - **Mission or purpose statement**: "Making a Positive Difference" — through integral relationships and innovative solutions with customers, coworkers, and communities. Their vision is to leave the world better than they found it. ## Products & Services - **Product Development**: Integrated design and engineering services from concept through production, covering mechanical, electrical, and software engineering. - **Manufacturing Solutions**: Services to streamline processes, boost productivity, and advance manufacturing technology, including automation and process optimization. - **Electronics Engineering**: Design and development of electronic systems and embedded solutions. - **Talent Solutions**: Staffing and consulting to place top engineering, design, and technical talent into client teams (both short-term contractors and permanent hires). - **DISHER Extended Network (DEN)**: A vetted network of freelance and contract professionals (engineers, designers, project managers) who work on a project-by-project basis for DISHER clients. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (Private, ESOP-owned company). No external funding rounds. - **Key Metric**: Core team of 130+ employees, with an extended network (DEN) of over 70 experts. Headcount has grown significantly from a one-person operation founded in 2000. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Not applicable (100% employee-owned). Bi-weekly meetings review state of the business, indicating strong internal transparency on financials. - **Growth Signals**: 130+ core team members signals steady, stable growth over 20+ years. They are an award-winning firm that augments teams for clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies, indicating strong reputation and demand. ## Competitive Advantages - **Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)**: Every full-time core employee becomes an owner of the company, fostering a strong sense of ownership and alignment with the company’s long-term success. This is a powerful differentiator. - **Strong, Intentional Culture**: Built on 12 core culture characteristics (e.g., Unvarnished Communication, Trusting Relationships, Innovation, Stewardship) that are actively lived out through weekly team lunches, offsites, and ongoing feedback. - **Flexibility & Autonomy**: No fixed start/end times for workdays. Team members are encouraged to work where they are most productive (office, remote, or at client sites). - **High Employee Satisfaction**: 98% of teammates say DISHER is a great place to work, as per their internal Great Place to Work survey. - **Community Commitment**: 10% of profits are given back to community and nonprofit organizations. Employees get 20 paid hours of volunteer time annually. ## Strategic Focus - **Deepening Client Partnerships**: Moving beyond being "extra hands" to becoming true partners that help clients achieve their vision. - **Continuous Improvement**: Using workplace assessments (Great Place to Work, Denison Organizational Culture Survey) to refine culture and operations. - **Talent Development**: Investing heavily in their people through DISHER University, individual coaching, and personal development opportunities to maintain a high-caliber team. - **Expanding the Extended Network (DEN)**: Growing their network of vetted freelance talent to provide flexible, scalable solutions for clients. ## Why Work Here - **Culture is Core**: DISHER intentionally builds a collaborative, transparent, and supportive environment. Their 12 core characteristics guide how employees treat each other and customers. - **Flexible & Remote-Friendly**: They have no fixed daily start/end times and support working from the office in Zeeland, MI, from home, or at client locations, based on what is most productive. - **Exceptional Benefits**: - **Employee Ownership (ESOP)**: Full-time employees are immediately enrolled in an ESOP, providing a unique retirement benefit in addition to a 401k. - **Generous Time Off**: Up to 4 weeks of vacation plus 11 paid holidays. - **Parental Leave**: 2 weeks off after the birth or adoption of a child. - **Paid Impact Time**: 80 hours per year for community service, professional development, and charitable work. - **Insurance**: Excellent health, dental, and vision insurance, plus mental health resources. - **Team Bonding & Events**: Weekly all-team Friday lunches, two companywide offsites per year, a Christmas party, a summer picnic, and group sports sponsorships. - **Growth & Development**: Formal programs like DISHER University, educational reimbursement, individual coaching, and subject matter communities. ## Sources 1. [disher.com - Company Homepage](https://www.disher.com/) 2. [disher.com - About Us](https://www.disher.com/about/) 3. [disher.com - Careers Page](https://www.disher.com/careers/) 4. [disher.com - Our Culture Page](https://www.disher.com/our-culture/) 5. 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