Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Description

The Mechanical Design Engineer will design and develop custom machinery, machine tooling, mechanical components, and assemblies from initial concept through production and customer installation. This role focuses on creating robust, manufacturable designs that deliver high performance, reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The engineer will own the mechanical scope of assigned machine projects and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to keep projects on schedule and within budget. This is a hands-on position that supports machine build, startup, debugging, and customer installations while contributing to continuous improvement of existing equipment and standard components.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop custom machinery, machine tooling, mechanical components, and assemblies from concept through production and customer installation.

• Create, update, and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and related engineering documentation.

• Develop mechanical designs that prioritize manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, performance, safety, and cost.

• Own the mechanical scope of assigned machine projects and ensure deliverables meet technical, schedule, and budget requirements.

• Coordinate closely with Controls Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, Purchasing, vendors, and customers throughout the project lifecycle.

• Identify long-lead mechanical components and support Purchasing in sourcing and managing these items.

• Support outside fabrication activities by providing clear drawings, specifications, and technical guidance.

• Evaluate new technologies, components, and design approaches to improve equipment performance and standardization.

• Improve existing equipment and standard mechanical components by implementing design enhancements and cost-saving opportunities.

• Work hands-on with shop personnel during machine build, startup, debugging, and runoff to resolve mechanical issues.

• Verify that equipment performs as designed through testing, troubleshooting, and refinement of mechanical systems.

• Support service technicians during customer installations by providing mechanical expertise and problem-solving assistance.

• Provide technical support to customers, Sales, and Aftermarket teams regarding mechanical design, operation, and maintenance.

• Collaborate with a small engineering team to share knowledge, standardize designs, and support R&D initiatives.

• Contribute to new product development projects in the R&D lab and participate in the design of large, complex, multi-million-dollar machines.

Essential Skills

• B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering.

• 3-5 years of experience in machine tools or a related industry such as automation equipment, capital equipment, or precision machining.

• Strong mechanical engineering and mechanical design skills, particularly in machine tools and custom machinery.

• Proficiency with 3D CAD software for modeling mechanical components and assemblies.

• Proficiency with AutoCAD for creating and modifying engineering drawings.

• Experience working with an ERP system to manage bills of materials and engineering data.

• Ability to design for manufacturability, reliability, serviceability, performance, safety, and cost.

• Hands-on experience supporting machine build, startup, debugging, and runoff in a shop environment.

• Strong collaboration skills for working with Controls Engineering, Manufacturing, Sales, Purchasing, vendors, and customers.

• Proficiency with Microsoft tools (such as office productivity software) for documentation and communication.

• Experience with capital equipment or automation equipment projects.

• Ability to troubleshoot mechanical issues and implement effective design solutions in a timely manner.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with engines or powertrain systems.

• Proficiency with SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design.

• Experienced in precision machining environments.

• Experience supporting aftermarket and service activities for industrial machinery.

• Familiarity with automotive-related projects or customers, as a significant portion of the work involves automotive applications.

• Interest in working on R&D projects and large, complex machinery.

• Strong communication skills for interacting with internal teams and external customers.

• Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to a variety of custom machine design challenges.

Work Environment

This is an on-site role with no remote option, working standard hours of approximately 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Mechanical Design Engineer will be part of a small, collaborative team, working alongside two other mechanical designers/engineers. The environment includes both office-based design work and hands-on activity in the shop during machine build, startup, debugging, and runoff. The organization emphasizes a strong tradition of integrity and ingenuity and has a long-standing presence in the industrial machinery sector with a global customer base, including a significant focus on automotive applications. Engineers have the opportunity to work on new, exciting projects in an R&D lab as well as on large, multi-million-dollar machines, providing a high degree of variety in the work. The culture values work-life balance and offers a stable, team-oriented setting where engineering expertise and practical problem-solving are highly regarded.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Lansing, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $75000.00 - $85000.00/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.

Comprehensive BCBS medical/dental/vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), longevity bonus, generous vacation/holiday/personal time off, tuition reimbursement, and professional development opportunities.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Lansing,MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 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.