Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer Job Description This role offers the opportunity to join a growing engineering team as a Mechanical Engineer supporting the development of next-generation products within a confidential research and development environment. You will work on highly technical products from concept through commercialization, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams responsible for engineering analysis, validation, testing, certification, and manufacturing readiness. This is not a traditional CAD-heavy design role; instead, you will focus on solving complex engineering problems, evaluating system performance, interpreting technical standards, and driving products through the complete development lifecycle. You will thrive in an environment where products are developed from the ground up and where initiative, curiosity, and technical problem-solving are highly valued, particularly within a startup-style R&D setting with significant growth potential. Responsibilities + Support products throughout the entire development lifecycle from initial concept through commercialization. + Participate in product architecture reviews and contribute to system-level design decisions. + Evaluate product performance and recommend design improvements based on engineering analysis and test results. + Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and suppliers to ensure products meet performance, cost, and reliability targets. + Perform engineering calculations and data analysis related to product performance and system behavior. + Analyze thermal, fluid, mechanical, and electromechanical interactions to understand overall system performance. + Interpret test data and provide clear, actionable technical recommendations to the broader team. + Develop and execute validation plans to verify product performance and reliability. + Support prototype testing and troubleshooting activities, including hands-on work with test setups and equipment. + Design and build test fixtures when necessary to support validation and verification activities. + Analyze test results and recommend design modifications to improve performance, safety, and compliance. + Review engineering and regulatory standards and determine their applicability to new and existing products. + Work with internal and external stakeholders to support certification and regulatory approval efforts. + Help establish and improve product development methodologies, including design validation and risk evaluation practices. + Drive best practices related to testing, validation, design control, and product quality within the R&D organization. + Support future product roadmap activities by contributing technical insights and feasibility assessments. + Contribute to building out a new R&D testing site, including hands-on involvement in setting up equipment, processes, and workflows. + Participate in the development of new HVAC-related equipment and industrial machinery, with a focus on refrigeration and electromechanical systems. + Apply mechanical design and system design analysis skills to support new product development in a startup-style, small-team environment. Essential Skills + Bachelor's degree (BS) in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field. + 1-3 years of engineering experience in product development environments. + Experience supporting products through multiple phases of the development lifecycle, from concept to commercialization. + Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to handle complex engineering problems. + Experience working on complex systems rather than individual components. + Ability to learn new technical subject matter quickly and apply it effectively. + Experience with engineering calculations, testing, and validation activities. + Mechanical engineering experience with a focus on product development and new product introduction. + Strong understanding of complex engineering concepts related to mechanical design and system behavior. + Experience with validation, testing, and test fixtures in an R&D or product development environment. Additional Skills & Qualifications + Experience with thermodynamics, heat transfer, refrigeration, fluid systems, or related disciplines. + Experience working with electromechanical products and industrial equipment. + Familiarity with regulatory standards such as UL, IEC, CE, FDA, aerospace, automotive, or similar frameworks. + Experience developing test plans and validation protocols for complex products. + Experience with SolidWorks or other CAD tools, including AutoCAD. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Orange, CA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $73.00/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 Orange,CA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 8, 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.