Design Engineer

Design Engineer

The Design Engineer develops and refines major components, functional systems, and technically advanced prototypes to support product performance and manufacturability. This role prepares design proposals from initial concepts through detailed layouts, ensuring designs meet technical, manufacturing, and contractual requirements while coordinating closely with cross-functional teams. The Design Engineer also evaluates design feasibility, identifies issues, and recommends improvements to enhance quality, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Design major components, functional subsystems, and technically advanced prototype, promotional, or specific products to meet performance and program objectives.
• Develop and improve products to enhance functionality, reliability, and manufacturability, while supporting and facilitating manufacturing operations.
• Create basic design data, including preliminary layouts, sketches, notes, and supporting documentation necessary to present and communicate design proposals.
• Investigate and evaluate key design factors such as ease of manufacture, availability of materials and equipment, interchangeability, replaceability, strength-to-weight efficiency, contractual specification requirements, and overall cost.
• Coordinate design development activities with other organizations and stakeholders affected by the design, ensuring alignment with program, engineering, and manufacturing requirements.
• Produce detailed layouts of assemblies and component parts for devices, mechanisms, structures, and products using 3D CAD tools.
• Check completed layouts and drawings for clarity, completeness, conformity to standards and procedures, adherence to specifications, and accuracy of calculations and dimensions.
• Identify design errors, omissions, and other deficiencies in models and drawings, and recommend revisions or improvements to responsible engineers or designers.
• Support concept development activities and contribute to design review content preparation, ensuring that technical information is complete, accurate, and clearly presented.
• Apply model-based definition practices and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) to create finished 3D models suitable for downstream use in manufacturing and inspection.
• Work with complex mechanical and electrical concepts to develop robust, integrated designs that meet system-level requirements.

Essential Skills

• At least 3 years of experience with Creo for mechanical design and 3D modeling.
• At least 2 years of experience with Windchill PLM/PDM for product lifecycle and data management.
• Experience designing mechanical primary and secondary structures.
• At least 1 year of experience with concept development for new or improved products and systems.
• At least 1 year of experience preparing design review content and technical presentation materials.
• At least 4 years of experience creating finished 3D models suitable for manufacturing and downstream engineering use.
• At least 2 years of experience with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T).
• At least 2 years of experience working with complex mechanical and electrical concepts, including model-based definition.
• Proficiency in developing layouts, sketches, and detailed drawings that meet engineering standards and specifications.
• Ability to interpret and apply contractual specifications, design standards, and engineering procedures.
• Strong attention to detail in checking drawings and models for accuracy, clarity, and completeness.
• Effective communication and coordination skills to work with cross-functional teams involved in design development.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Model-Based Definition (MBD) methodologies and practices.
• Familiarity with model-based definition workflows for integrating design, manufacturing, and inspection data.
• Background in designing devices, mechanisms, structures, and products for ease of manufacture and assembly.
• Ability to evaluate design trade-offs involving strength-to-weight efficiency, cost, and material availability.
• Experience working within structured engineering processes, standards, and configuration management environments.
• Capability to identify design issues proactively and recommend practical revisions or improvements.

Work Environment

This role operates in a professional engineering environment that uses Creo for 3D modeling and Windchill PLM/PDM for product data and lifecycle management, with an emphasis on model-based definition and GD&T. The standard work schedule follows a 4/10A first-shift arrangement, providing four 10-hour workdays each week. The position supports complex mechanical and electrical system development and requires coordination with multiple engineering and manufacturing teams. An active Secret or active Interim Secret security clearance is required to perform the work, and candidates must be able to work within a secure environment compliant with applicable security requirements.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Grand Prairie, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $71.92 - $71.92/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. 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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grand Prairie, TX.

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 click.appcast.io 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.