Design Engineer

Job Title: Design Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a highly experienced Design Engineer for the mechanical design and development of advanced packaging automation equipment within a custom manufacturing environment. This is a hands-on engineering leadership role responsible for driving machine design initiatives from concept through production, improving engineering methods and systems, and collaborating cross-functionally with manufacturing, controls, project management, and leadership teams. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in mechanical design for custom automation and packaging machinery, strong proficiency in 3D CAD systems, and the ability to lead complex engineering projects with minimal oversight. This position is primarily on-site to support collaboration, machine development, testing, and production integration, with some scheduling flexibility available.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of custom packaging and automation equipment from concept through release.

• Create detailed mechanical designs, assemblies, layouts, and manufacturing drawings using SolidWorks.

• Develop innovative machine concepts focused on reliability, manufacturability, efficiency, cost, and performance.

• Serve as a technical leader for complex automation projects and provide mentorship to junior engineers and designers.

• Collaborate closely with controls engineering, manufacturing, project management, sourcing, and service teams throughout the project lifecycle.

• Conduct design reviews, risk assessments, tolerance analysis, and troubleshooting activities.

• Support prototype builds, machine testing, debugging, and customer acceptance activities.

• Oversee BOM development, component selection, and engineering documentation.

• Ensure projects meet schedule, budget, quality, and customer requirements.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives related to machine performance, standardization, and engineering processes.

• Interface directly with customers when needed to support technical discussions and project execution.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline.

• 8+ years of experience in mechanical design engineering within packaging equipment, automation machinery, or custom industrial equipment environments.

• Strong experience designing high-speed automated machinery and packaging systems.

• Advanced proficiency with SolidWorks or comparable 3D CAD software.

• Experience with machine design principles including pneumatics, servo motion systems, conveyance systems, robotics integration, mechanical power transmission, and fabricated assemblies.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing and fabrication processes.

• Experience leading engineering projects and mentoring technical teams.

• Excellent troubleshooting, communication, and organizational skills.

• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Must be comfortable working on-site regularly to support engineering and production activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, or consumer packaged goods automation.

• Knowledge of automation integration and controls interfaces.

• Experience supporting machine commissioning and installation activities.

• Familiarity with ERP systems, engineering change processes, and project tracking tools.

• Exposure to customer-facing engineering support or applications.

Work Environment

This role is primarily on-site, supporting collaboration, machine development, testing, and production integration. Some scheduling flexibility is available to accommodate personal needs. The work environment emphasizes teamwork and the sharing of expertise to drive innovative solutions in machine design and automation.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Red Wing, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $65.00/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 Red Wing,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 3, 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.