Manufacturing Engineer

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

The Manufacturing Engineer serves as a certified CWB professional focused on improving manufacturing processes and supporting production on the shop floor. In this role, you recommend and implement process and manufacturing improvements, manage tooling and the tool crib, and collaborate closely with engineering teams to update and modify technical drawings as needed. You contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, particularly in welding operations, and help drive efficiency, quality, and safety across aluminum and steel manufacturing activities.

Responsibilities

• Support day-to-day manufacturing operations on the production floor and provide practical solutions to problems as they arise, with a focus on welding and related processes.

• Analyze existing manufacturing processes and identify opportunities for process improvement using Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies.

• Develop, recommend, and implement manufacturing process changes to enhance productivity, quality, and safety.

• Act as a certified CWB resource for welding-related activities, ensuring processes and practices align with applicable standards for aluminum and steel.

• Manage tooling and the tool crib, including selection, organization, maintenance oversight, and availability of tools required for production.

• Work closely with engineering teams to review, edit, and update prints and technical drawings to reflect process changes and improvements.

• Utilize CAD software to support design modifications, tooling layouts, and manufacturing engineering projects.

• Coordinate and manage manufacturing engineering projects from concept through implementation, ensuring timelines and quality standards are met.

• Use measurement and laser-supported technologies, such as Faro Laser and BuildIT project setup, to support accurate manufacturing and quality assurance.

• Maintain accurate records in systems such as SAP and PDM to track tooling, process changes, and engineering documentation.

• Contribute to continuous improvement culture by identifying waste, proposing Lean solutions, and participating in improvement initiatives across the facility.

Essential Skills

• Certified CWB individual with hands-on experience in welding processes, particularly in aluminum and steel manufacturing.

• Proven experience in manufacturing process improvement, including the ability to identify issues on the shop floor and propose effective solutions.

• Strong experience in Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma methodologies applied to production environments.

• Experience managing tooling and tool crib operations within a manufacturing facility.

• Ability to work closely with engineering to change and edit prints and technical drawings based on process needs.

• Proficiency with CAD software to support manufacturing engineering and design modifications.

• Demonstrated experience in manufacturing engineering and project management within an industrial setting.

• Faro Laser-supported measurement experience for manufacturing or quality-related applications.

• BuildIT project setup experience for measurement, alignment, or inspection tasks.

• Working knowledge of Creo for design and engineering-related activities.

• Experience using SAP for manufacturing, inventory, or engineering data management.

• PDM (Product Data Management) experience for handling engineering documentation and revisions.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to quickly assess issues on the manufacturing floor and recommend practical improvements.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including production, engineering, and quality.

• Solid organizational skills for managing tooling, documentation, and multiple concurrent projects.

• Comfort with continuous improvement environments and willingness to champion Lean and process optimization initiatives.

• Clear communication skills to convey technical information and process changes to both engineering and shop floor personnel.

Work Environment

This role operates in a mixed environment, with time split between an office setting and the manufacturing floor. You will work closely with production teams in an active industrial facility and collaborate with engineering staff in an office environment using tools such as CAD software, SAP, PDM, Faro Laser, BuildIT, and Creo. The position offers exposure to a global organization with long-term career growth opportunities, a focus on continuous improvement, and a culture that values practical problem-solving and collaboration across departments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Coal Valley, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $41.34 - $50.58/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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Coal Valley,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 24, 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.