Mechanical Engineer
Position Information
Position Title: Mechanical Engineer
Department: Research & Development
Company: Protocase Inc.
Location: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Work Arrangement: In-Office Only
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Shift: Day Shift
Level: Experienced (Level and compensation will be determined based on experience and demonstrated capability.)
Compensation: $55,000–$100,000 CAD annually
Full Transparency: We Work a Little Differently Around Here.
This isn't just another job where you punch in and punch out. We come to work every day because we strive to earn a living in a meaningful way. Too many people exist without finding joy or purpose in their work, and we believe that's just wrong. After all, we spend at least a third of our lives working—so why not create workplaces where people want to come to work in the morning and feel good when they leave at the end of the day?
At Protocase, your ideas don't just matter—they shape our future. We thrive on collaboration and innovation, where every voice is heard, valued, and makes a real impact. Does this sound like something you'd want to be a part of and help grow?
Protocase specializes in custom sheet metal enclosures, panels, and parts for engineers and innovators worldwide, built with unmatched speed and quality. We take the impossible and make it possible for some of the brightest minds on the planet.
Learn more about how we work:
https://workdifferently.info/
About the Opportunity
We're hiring one to two Mechanical Engineers to improve and evolve the manufacturing systems that power our speed, precision, and scalability.
This is a manufacturing engineering role focused on process improvement, equipment implementation, automation support, and production optimization—not product design or traditional R&D.
Level, scope of responsibility, and compensation will be determined based on your experience, technical depth, and demonstrated ability to independently execute projects of increasing complexity.
Early-Career / Developing Engineer
You're building your foundation and ready to grow quickly in a high-accountability environment.
You'll:
- Support improvement initiatives led by senior engineers.
- Assist in tooling and fixture design.
- Collect and analyze production data.
- Participate in structured experiments and process trials.
- Learn equipment capabilities, manufacturing constraints, and production flow.
This level is hands-on and execution-focused, with increasing ownership over time.
Intermediate Engineer
You've independently delivered measurable improvements and are ready to own projects from start to finish.
You'll:
- Lead manufacturing improvement initiatives from concept through validation.
- Design and implement tooling, fixtures, and workstation upgrades.
- Plan and execute structured experiments using data to validate results.
- Diagnose root causes with minimal oversight.
- Improve throughput, repeatability, quality, and operational efficiency.
Advanced / Senior Engineer
You think in systems, influence outcomes at scale, and help shape the future of manufacturing.
You'll:
- Lead complex, cross-functional manufacturing improvement initiatives.
- Evaluate and recommend capital equipment investments.
- Lead automation integration and manufacturing technology projects.
- Mentor and develop junior engineers.
- Help define long-term manufacturing scalability strategies.
Across every level, you'll combine analytical thinking, mechanical intuition, and hands-on execution to improve how we manufacture every day.
You won't simply support improvement—you'll help drive it.
What You'll Do
- Analyze manufacturing processes and identify opportunities to improve safety, quality, throughput, and efficiency.
- Design and implement tooling, fixtures, workstations, and manufacturing improvements.
- Plan, execute, and evaluate structured process improvement experiments.
- Collect and analyze production data to validate engineering decisions.
- Investigate root causes of production challenges and implement sustainable corrective actions.
- Support automation initiatives and equipment implementation projects.
- Collaborate with Production, Engineering, Quality, CNC Programming, and Leadership teams.
- Develop standardized manufacturing processes and documentation.
- Recommend improvements that increase scalability and operational performance.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.
What You Need (Required Qualifications)
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
Experience
- Experience working within manufacturing, CNC machining, automation, industrial engineering, or production environments.
- Experience leading or contributing to process improvement initiatives.
- Experience applying structured engineering problem-solving methodologies.
Technical Skills
- Strong engineering fundamentals and mechanical aptitude.
- Experience analyzing manufacturing processes and identifying improvement opportunities.
- Ability to collect, interpret, and validate data through experimentation.
- Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills.
- Ability to balance technical excellence with practical implementation.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills.
- Comfortable working directly with equipment and production teams.
Certifications / Licences
- Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation is not required.
Other Requirements
- Must be legally authorized to work in Canada.
- Must be able to work full-time on-site in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
What Would Be Considered an Asset
- Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience with industrial automation, robotics, or controls.
- Experience designing tooling, fixtures, or manufacturing workstations.
- Experience with CNC machining or sheet metal manufacturing.
- CAD experience (SolidWorks or similar).
- Experience with capital equipment selection and implementation.
- Experience mentoring junior engineers or leading technical projects.
- Experience supporting high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments.
What Success Looks Like
Within your first year, you will:
- Successfully deliver measurable manufacturing improvements that increase efficiency, quality, safety, or throughput.
- Become a trusted engineering resource for Production and Manufacturing teams.
- Lead engineering projects from concept through implementation and validation.
- Develop practical solutions that improve manufacturing scalability.
- Build strong working relationships across Engineering, Production, Quality, and Leadership.
- Demonstrate ownership by following projects through to completion and delivering measurable business impact.
- Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement that helps Protocase remain an industry leader in custom manufacturing.
Why Us?
At Protocase, we believe in recognizing and rewarding engineers who solve real-world problems and create meaningful improvements.
Our starting annual total compensation package—including base salary and performance incentives—ranges from $55,000 to $100,000 CAD, depending on experience and demonstrated capability.
In addition, you can look forward to:
Training & Growth: Work alongside experienced engineers while building expertise in manufacturing, automation, and continuous improvement, with opportunities to grow into technical leadership roles.
- ️ Comprehensive Health Care Plan & Company RRSP: Medical, Dental, Life Insurance, Group Insurance, and participation in our Company RRSP after six months of full-time employment.
️ Vacation: Start with two weeks of paid vacation, increasing to three weeks after three years and four weeks after five years.
Community Discounts: Access exclusive discounts at local businesses and restaurants.
️ Wellness Support: Enjoy a cost-shared YMCA membership, wellness initiatives, and access to a pension plan after three months of employment.
Collaborative Culture: Join a team that values curiosity, continuous improvement, and solving challenging engineering problems together.
The Cape Breton Lifestyle: Enjoy short commutes, affordable living, breathtaking coastal scenery, and a welcoming community while helping shape the future of manufacturing.
If you're passionate about improving how things are built—not just designing them—we'd love to hear from you.
