Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

This Mechanical Engineer role focuses on new product development for positioners and welding automation systems, including a precision, robot‑programmed product line. You will lead mechanical design activities in Creo, perform analysis and tolerance studies for high‑precision components, and support integration of automation, motion control, robotics, hydraulics, and structural systems. The position offers a clear succession pipeline toward future engineering leadership, with opportunities to wear multiple hats, shape your career path, and contribute directly to a growing product portfolio in a collaborative, team‑oriented environment.

Responsibilities

• Study specifications, engineering blueprints, tool orders, and shop data to understand design requirements and manufacturing constraints.
• Confer with engineering, service, and shop personnel to resolve design issues related to material characteristics, dimensional tolerances, service requirements, manufacturing procedures, and cost.
• Spend approximately 70% of your time using Creo for 3D CAD design, modeling, and detailing of components and assemblies.
• Work approximately 15% of your time on the production floor with production teams and fabricators to support service, troubleshooting, and design clarification.
• Allocate approximately 15% of your time to ERF integration and analysis, ensuring that engineering changes are properly evaluated and implemented.
• Lead new product development efforts for positioners and welding automation systems, including precision, robot‑programmed product lines.
• Perform mechanical design, finite element analysis (FEA), geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), and tolerance analysis for high‑precision, tight‑fit components.
• Drive design‑for‑manufacturing practices to ensure repeatability, reliability, and scalability of products.
• Support the integration of automation, motion control, robotics, hydraulic systems, and structural systems into cohesive solutions.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with manufacturing teams, suppliers, and leadership to execute product roadmaps and meet project milestones.
• Develop and maintain accurate bills of materials (BOMs) and CAD documentation to support manufacturing and lifecycle management.
• Apply lean product development principles to streamline design processes and improve product performance.
• Contribute to project management activities for new product development, including planning, coordination, and progress tracking.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives, incorporating feedback from the shop floor and service teams into design updates.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree and 3+ years’ experience preferred, or equivalent experience combined with an associate's degree.
• Proficiency in 3D CAD design for manufacturing, with strong experience using Creo for modeling and detailing.
• Ability to interpret and apply engineering blueprints, specifications, and shop data in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience creating and managing bills of materials (BOMs) for mechanical assemblies.
• Hands‑on experience with CAD design and CAD documentation for production.
• Working knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA) for structural and mechanical components.
• Proficiency in geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and performing tolerance analysis for high‑precision, tight‑fit components.
• Experience designing for manufacturing, with a focus on repeatability, reliability, and scalability.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineering, service, and shop personnel to resolve design and manufacturing issues.
• Experience with 3D CAD design for manufacturing processes and production environments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Project management experience for new product development initiatives.
• Experience using Creo and Windchill for CAD and product lifecycle management.
• Hydraulic system design experience, including integration into mechanical systems.
• Robotic and welding automation systems experience, including exposure to robotic applications.
• Structural analysis experience, particularly using FEA tools.
• Familiarity with servo motor and drive applications in motion control systems.
• Exposure to PLC integration and control systems.
• Experience with lean product development methodologies.
• Interest in or experience with automation, motion control, robotics, hydraulics, and structural system integration.
• Desire to grow into future engineering leadership roles and take on increasing responsibility over time.
• Willingness to work closely with production and fabrication teams on the shop floor for service and troubleshooting.
• Openness to continued education opportunities offered by the organization.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office‑based, with approximately 85% of your time spent performing design work and analysis and about 15% spent on the shop floor. You will work closely with a shop team of around 20 people in a facility that includes three manufacturing bays and one additional bay dedicated to specialized work. The environment is team‑oriented and collaborative, with a fun culture where everyone feels valued and turnover is very low. The organization supports continued education and encourages employees to wear multiple hats and partner with leadership to navigate their career goals. The workplace emphasizes growth, supported by a strong backlog and ongoing expansion, and offers regular team perks such as company‑provided lunches during the week.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Rock Island, IL.

The pay range for this position is $43.00 - $53.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Rock Island,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 10, 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 ziprecruiter.com 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.