Mechanical Design Engineer
viaPhoton
Naperville, IL · Posted October 29, 2026
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Where Naperville, IL ranks
Where Naperville, IL placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #4Best cities for junior jobs in Illinois37% · of 17
- #13Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Great Lakes17% · of 39
- #14Best college towns for junior jobs in the Great Lakes38% · of 39
- #14Best cities for junior jobs in the Great Lakes37% · of 53
- #17Best cities for director and executive jobs in the Great Lakes17% · of 53
- #18Best college towns for junior jobs in the Midwest38% · of 51
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
Pay compared with the market
This listing does not state pay. Across 46 open mechanical design engineer listings that state pay, the middle half runs $100,000 to $149,000 and the median is $120,000.
Listed pay is what employers advertise, not what people are paid.
Mechanical Design Engineer salaries by state · Check your own pay
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among mechanical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for mechanical engineers: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
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About the job
About viaPhoton
We are changing the norm by being customer-focused, technology-led.
viaPhoton builds custom-engineered fiber optic solutions that power AI infrastructure, data centers, and 5G networks for some of the biggest names in tech. In five years we've grown to a team of 200+ and 4x'd our revenue in the last year alone, and we're just getting started. We're looking for dependable, hardworking people who take pride in their work and want to grow with us.
About the Role
You'll design new fiber optic products and improve existing ones, moving from concept sketches to detailed CAD models all the way to customer delivery. The role blends creativity with practical problem-solving. You'll work with sales and operations to turn customer problems into elegant mechanical solutions, then see them manufactured and shipped.
Work with sales, operations, and engineering teams to design new products that solve customer problems
Create CAD models and dimensional drawings from sketches and verbal direction using SolidWorks
Lead the product improvement design process, including CAD design, drawings, bill-of-materials, FEA, and cost analysis
Analyze existing products to identify cost-reduction and improvement opportunities while maintaining design requirements
Build prototypes to test functionality and fit, working with outside vendors to source and quote components
What You'll Bring
Have a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
Are proficient in SolidWorks or similar CAD software for creating detailed product drawings and designs
Have conceptual design experience (a plus, but not required, since we can teach you fiber optic design)
Bring a self-directed mindset and can pick up new concepts quickly
Can handle multiple inquiries at once and prioritize them with careful attention to detail
Want to read the full job description? Mechanical Design Engineer JD
What's in it for you?
Robust health, dental, and vision coverage that starts on day 1
401(k) with match, vests immediately after a 90-day waiting period
Flexible PTO that grows over time
10 paid holidays, including 2 floating holidays
Monthly team events
Click here to view our full benefits overview.
Location: Naperville, IL
Schedule: Mon–Fri | Onsite
Compensation: $65,000 to $85,000 base, plus annual bonus
We're building something big, and we want good people along for the ride. If that sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today.
At viaPhoton, we are committed to furthering our culture of inclusion. We reinforce this through our core values and beliefs as well as our processes and strategic goals. We remind team members to seek various viewpoints, learn and be hungry with curiosity, and gain trust.
We are an equal opportunity employer and make all employment decisions based on merit and qualifications. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, health condition, genetic information, marital or family status, military or veteran status, socioeconomic background, or any other status protected by applicable law.
We provide reasonable accommodations and adjustments throughout the hiring process. If you need one, please let us know. Any personal data you share with us is handled confidentially and in line with applicable data protection law.