Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer (Design Engineer 2, Hydraulic Valves)

Job Description

This Design Engineer 2 position sits within a supplier-focused valve engineering team and supports the development and lifecycle management of hydraulic valves used on large resource industry equipment. The role focuses on defining technical requirements, collaborating with external suppliers on hydraulic valve designs, and supporting products from concept through validation, production, and field support. You will work in a highly cross-functional environment, partnering with internal engineering teams and global stakeholders while managing multiple projects and providing clear, data-driven engineering recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and define clear, robust technical requirements for hydraulic valve systems used on large equipment.
• Collaborate closely with external suppliers on hydraulic valve design and development, overseeing supplier-owned detailed design to ensure it meets performance and quality expectations.
• Support the full product lifecycle, including requirements definition, concept development, validation and testing, production implementation, quality and field issue resolution, and end-of-life support.
• Partner with internal teams such as hydraulic system engineers, product groups, and simulation and analysis teams to ensure integrated and optimized system performance.
• Work with global stakeholders and participate in occasional off-hours meetings to support international collaboration and program timelines.
• Manage multiple engineering projects simultaneously, balancing competing priorities and ensuring timely delivery of engineering milestones and deliverables.
• Analyze technical data, test results, and field feedback to provide sound engineering recommendations and decisions.
• Contribute to the development and execution of validation and test plans for hydraulic valves and related components.
• Apply strong engineering judgment and analytical thinking to troubleshoot issues, propose design improvements, and support continuous product enhancement.
• Operate as a self-starter, working independently while maintaining strong communication with cross-functional and supplier partners.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• 2–4 years of engineering experience; alternatively, a Master’s degree with approximately 1 year of relevant experience, including internships or co-op roles.
• Strong technical foundation in mechanical engineering principles and practices.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude and comfort working with mechanical components and systems.
• Ability to develop and interpret technical requirements for mechanical and hydraulic systems.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and with external suppliers.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving ability applied to complex engineering challenges.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply complex technical concepts in a fast-paced environment.
• Project management and prioritization skills within an engineering context, including managing multiple concurrent projects.
• Comfort operating in a highly technical, multi-project environment with competing priorities.
• Self-starter mindset with the ability to work independently while maintaining accountability.
• Strong analytical thinking and engineering judgment, particularly in validation, design, and test engineering activities.
• Experience or exposure to hydraulic systems, valves, or hydraulic pumps.
• Basic proficiency with Creo, sufficient for working with 3D models and engineering drawings (advanced modeling skills not required).

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with suppliers or external engineering partners on component or system development.
• Exposure to hydraulic systems or components, including valves and hydraulic pumps, in design, validation, or test roles.
• Experience with validation planning, test equipment, and test plan development for mechanical or hydraulic systems.
• Project management experience in an engineering setting, including planning, tracking, and reporting on engineering tasks.
• Familiarity with simulation or analysis workflows and collaboration with analysis teams.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret test data and field feedback to drive design improvements.
• Strong collaboration skills with product groups and system-level engineering teams.
• Ability to participate in occasional off-hours meetings to support global stakeholders.

Work Environment

This role is based onsite in Mossville with limited flexibility for remote work. The position operates in a highly technical engineering environment focused on hydraulic valve systems for large resource industry equipment. You will work closely with internal engineering teams and external suppliers, often using tools such as Creo and standard test and validation equipment to support design and lifecycle activities. The work involves managing multiple projects simultaneously and collaborating with global stakeholders, which may require occasional off-hours meetings. Travel requirements are minimal, typically ranging from 0% to 25%, and the environment emphasizes collaboration, technical rigor, and hands-on engagement with mechanical and hydraulic components

This is a Contract position based out of Chillicothe, IL.

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $38.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:
• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Chillicothe,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 15, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.