Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer Job Description
This Mechanical Design Engineer role focuses on developing advanced mechanical designs for both standard and custom plastic assembly products that meet performance specifications, project schedules, and cost targets. The position is heavily oriented toward new product development, with approximately three-quarters of your time devoted to design and development work and the remainder supporting broader engineering activities. You will work on complex industrial equipment, contributing to robust, reliable, and high-quality designs while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams in a hands-on, lab-based environment.
Responsibilities

• Develop advanced mechanical designs for standard and custom plastic assembly products that meet defined specifications, schedules, and cost requirements.
• Spend approximately 75% of working time on new product development activities and the remaining time on engineering support duties.
• Evaluate and select components and materials used in products to improve reliability, robustness, and overall quality of design.
• Create and maintain detailed documentation required for product development and manufacturing, ensuring it conforms to established engineering and company standards.
• Use 3D CAD tools to design industrial equipment, producing models, assemblies, and detailed drawings suitable for manufacturing and assembly.
• Support the development of industrial machinery and equipment, ideally including electro-mechanical systems, automation, or motion-based systems.
• Run lab experiments and testing on prototypes and components, document procedures and results, and analyze data to drive design improvements.
• Apply Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles to ensure designs are efficient to produce, assemble, and maintain.
• Collaborate with other engineers, technicians, and production personnel to resolve design issues and support continuous improvement of existing products.
• Incorporate material science considerations into designs, selecting appropriate materials and understanding their impact on performance and manufacturability.
• Contribute to the refinement of motion systems and controls where applicable, working with multidisciplinary teams to integrate mechanical and control elements.
• Provide hands-on support in the lab and on the shop floor, including building, assembling, testing, and troubleshooting mechanical systems and prototypes.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, with a preference for a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering (BSME).
• At least 3 years of experience designing industrial equipment.
• Hands-on 3D CAD design skills, with experience using Autodesk Inventor or Creo strongly preferred.
• Proven experience designing industrial equipment, ideally including machinery, automation, or industrial systems.
• Strong practical mechanical aptitude and comfort working with tools and equipment in a hands-on environment.
• Ability to run lab experiments and testing, including setting up tests, documenting procedures and results, and analyzing data.
• Good understanding of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) principles and their application in real-world designs.
• Solid foundation in mechanical engineering fundamentals, including mechanisms, structures, and manufacturing processes.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with custom automation equipment is a plus.
• Hands-on knowledge of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is a plus.
• Knowledge of motion systems control is a plus.
• Familiarity with material science principles and their application in product design is a plus.
• Background in electro-mechanical systems, machinery, automation, or industrial equipment is highly desirable.
• Interest in hands-on activities such as fixing equipment, working on vehicles, or other practical mechanical hobbies is valued.
• Experience working in a family-oriented, collaborative engineering environment is beneficial.

Work Environment
This role is based in a family-owned organization with a very family-driven culture that emphasizes collaboration, respect, and long-term relationships. You will work on a complex product line, providing continuous opportunities to be challenged and to deepen your technical expertise. The environment combines office-based engineering work with hands-on lab and shop-floor activities, including building, testing, and refining mechanical and industrial equipment. You will regularly use modern 3D CAD tools such as Autodesk Inventor or Creo, along with lab equipment for experiments and testing. The culture values practical, hands-on engineers who enjoy working with tools, solving problems directly at the equipment, and contributing to a supportive, close-knit team.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of West Chicago, IL.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $115000.00/yr.
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.
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 West Chicago,IL.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 7, 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 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.