Mechanical Project Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Project Engineer
Job Description
The Mechanical Project Engineer plays a critical role in supporting system design tools, engineering playbooks, and integration platforms used by internal design engineers and partner vendors. This position serves as the technical bridge between mechanical design, vendor capabilities, and internal tools, with a strong focus on delivering quantifiable results, earning trust across stakeholders, and enabling scalable integration models. The role is highly cross-functional and visible, combining material handling equipment (MHE) system expertise, project execution, vendor engagement, and tooling integration experience. The position can flex across three focus areas: project management with vendors, firm mechanical design and execution, and concept systems design for future vendor toolkits.
Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of engineering playbooks that define how to design, integrate, and deploy material handling equipment (MHE) as an in-house integrator.
• Support the design and integration of mechanical systems for automation, conveyor, sortation, and material flow solutions.
• Act as a mechanical subject matter expert to ensure tools and processes reflect real-world MHE constraints, vendor capabilities, and system performance requirements.
• Support the development and rollout of system design tools used by concept engineers for early-stage design support.
• Support the development and rollout of system design tools used by firm engineers for detailed mechanical engineering and integration.
• Work with the identified tooling platform to integrate internal systems, scheduling tools, and engineering workflows.
• Build out toolkits for vendors, including concept blocks, standard design specifications, and templates for future designs.
• Collaborate with vendors to develop mechanical designs and execute current projects, helping to determine optimal build and design solutions.
• Work directly with vendors to coordinate project support, manage expectations, and ensure alignment with engineering requirements.
• Partner closely with vendor development and vendor management teams to support strategic supplier relationships.
• Provide technical escalation support to internal teams and external vendors to build and maintain trust.
• Drive initiatives with smaller and emerging integrators where agility and urgency can produce measurable impact.
• Support broader strategic partnership agreements related to future acquisitions and vendor growth strategies.
• Translate engineering scope into executable requirements for vendors and internal teams.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, vendor management, and operations teams to ensure cohesive project execution.
• Operate effectively in ambiguous and evolving environments while maintaining a high sense of ownership and accountability.
• Support long-term strategic goals to increase ownership and control over material handling systems, reduce reliance on third-party integrators, enable scalable and repeatable engineering solutions, accelerate onboarding of strategic MHE partners, and deliver defensible, measurable engineering outcomes.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in material handling equipment (MHE), automation, or conveyor/sortation systems.
• Strong background in mechanical system design, integration, or project engineering.
• Prior experience working with or for system integrators or MHE vendors.
• Demonstrated ability to translate engineering scope into executable requirements for vendors and internal teams.
• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, vendor management, and operations teams.
• Comfort operating in ambiguous, evolving environments with high ownership expectations.
• Hands-on experience with automation, material handling, material-handling equipment, conveyor systems, and material flow.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD for mechanical design and layout work.
• Experience in project management, including planning, coordination, and execution of engineering projects.
• Experience in vendor management, including engagement, communication, and performance oversight.
• Project engineering experience in complex mechanical or MHE environments.
• Parcel experience for candidates focused on firm design and concept systems design roles.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior experience building or supporting engineering tools, design platforms, or standardized engineering playbooks.
• Strong written communication skills for technical documentation and playbook development.
• Proven ability to influence without formal authority and build trust across diverse teams.
• Experience developing concept blocks, standard design specifications, and design templates for vendor use.
• Experience working with smaller or emerging integrators and adapting to fast-paced, high-impact initiatives.
• Familiarity with integrating internal systems, scheduling tools, and engineering workflows into a unified tooling platform.
• Ability to balance strategic long-term objectives with day-to-day project execution.
• Interest in growing into a long-term engineering role within a rapidly expanding team.
• Any MHE background is suitable for candidates focused on the project management-oriented responsibilities.

Work Environment
This role offers a remote work environment with strong autonomy and accountability, enabling you to manage your own schedule while meeting project and delivery expectations. Travel is expected approximately 5-6 times per year to support on-site vendor engagement, project reviews, and team collaboration. The position emphasizes work/life harmony, balancing flexibility with a high sense of ownership and measurable outcomes. You will collaborate closely with a team of senior engineers and technical leaders who focus on building scalable, repeatable engineering solutions for material handling systems. The role begins as a 12-month contract with a clear path for evaluation for a potential full-time engineering position, a possible extension for up to an additional 12 months, or support in identifying alternative opportunities within the broader network if a full-time role is not immediately available. The environment is highly cross-functional, technology-driven, and focused on innovation in MHE integration and automation.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Nashville, TN.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $55.00 - $65.00/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)
Workplace Type
This is a fully remote position.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Jul 1, 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.


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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.



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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.