Senior Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer
Job Description
This Senior Mechanical Engineer role focuses on mechanical development for advanced pan-and-tilt positioning systems and tripod products. You will support both custom product modifications and new product development, evaluating customer requirements, performing engineering analysis, selecting motion control components, and driving projects from concept through validation and production support.
Responsibilities

• Support custom product modifications and new product development for pan-and-tilt positioning systems and tripod products.
• Evaluate customer requirements and translate them into clear technical specifications and design objectives.
• Perform engineering analysis using first principles, including structures, heat transfer, statics, dynamics, and motor sizing.
• Design and validate electro-mechanical systems, focusing on precision motion control architectures that include encoders, motors, bearings, and supporting structures.
• Conduct approximately 40% of work in testing and analysis, selecting motors, drives, sensors, and encoders through performance calculations and hands-on testing.
• Carry out approximately 30% of work in design and simulation, creating CAD models (SolidWorks preferred), performing structural analysis, and executing FEA simulations.
• Provide approximately 30% of work in supplier and manufacturing support, including electro-mechanical component selection, supplier interaction, and resolving production and quality issues.
• Develop and refine motion control loops for stepper and servo-based systems to achieve required performance and reliability.
• Specify and execute relevant tests associated with MIL-STD-810 to validate components and subsystems under environmental and operational conditions.
• Lead projects from requirement elicitation through design, testing, production handoff, and after-sales technical support.
• Design assemblies and subassemblies rather than isolated parts, ensuring robust integration of mechanical and electro-mechanical components.
• Perform component and subsystem-level validation, including hands-on testing, data analysis, and documentation of results.
• Collaborate closely with suppliers, manufacturing, and cross-functional teams to ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, and meet performance targets.
• Support resolution of production issues by analyzing root causes and implementing design or process improvements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or an equivalent engineering discipline with adequate experience.
• 5+ years of professional experience in a mechanical engineering role.
• Demonstrated experience designing and validating electro-mechanical systems.
• Strong technical thinking ability, with a proven track record of recommending design choices based on first principles such as structures, heat transfer, statics, dynamics, and motor sizing.
• Familiarity with full system architecture of precision motion control systems, including encoders, motors, bearings, and supporting structures.
• Experience designing assemblies and subassemblies that integrate mechanical and motion control components.
• Comfort with hands-on testing and validation of electro-mechanical systems and motion control components.
• Ability to perform performance calculations for motors, drives, sensors, and encoders and interpret test results.
• Experience supporting supplier and manufacturing activities, including component selection and resolving production issues.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• BSME degree with 3-5+ years of experience specifically in designing electromechanical systems involving motion control components.
• SolidWorks CAD experience, including part and assembly modeling, and familiarity with PDM systems.
• Experience with FEA and structural analysis for mechanical components and assemblies.
• Background in product development and R&D for mechanical and electro-mechanical systems.
• Experience in product testing and validation at component and subsystem levels.
• Experience developing motion control loops for stepper and servo-based systems.
• Familiarity with specifying and executing tests in accordance with MIL-STD-810.
• Project leadership experience, from requirement elicitation through design, testing, production support, and after-sales technical support.
• Experience with motors, sensors, encoders, drives, and other electro-mechanical components used in motion control applications.
• Relevant industry experience in aerospace, automotive, automation, or industrial equipment environments.
• Exposure to structural analysis design and new product development cycles.
• Comfort working on complex mechanical designs that integrate motion control and precision positioning.

Work Environment
The role is based in a product development and R&D environment focused on precision pan-and-tilt positioning systems and tripod products. You will work with modern engineering tools, including SolidWorks CAD, FEA software, and PDM systems, and will be regularly involved in hands-on testing using motors, drives, sensors, encoders, and other electro-mechanical components. The position involves a balanced mix of analytical work, design and simulation, and on-the-floor collaboration with suppliers and manufacturing teams to support production and resolve issues. You will engage with motion control technologies, stepper and servo systems, and environmental testing aligned with standards such as MIL-STD-810. The culture emphasizes technical rigor, practical problem-solving, and close collaboration across engineering and operations to deliver robust, high-performance products.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Northbrook, IL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $43.00 - $55.00/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 onsite position in Northbrook,IL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 6, 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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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.