Industrial Engineer

Job Title: Industrial Engineer

Job Description

This Industrial Engineer role focuses on designing, optimizing, and scaling production lines within a fast-paced defense manufacturing environment. You will serve as a key bridge between manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and quality, translating demand forecasts into scalable, production-ready line designs. The position emphasizes hands-on support of operating production lines through time studies, line balancing, layout optimization, and data-driven improvements to throughput and efficiency. You will work on both existing production lines and new product introductions, driving measurable gains in capacity, productivity, and overall manufacturing performance.

Responsibilities

• Support production line design, layout, and capacity planning to enable scalable, production-ready manufacturing solutions.

• Conduct detailed time studies and establish time standards (including use of systems such as Modapts) to improve accuracy of work content and staffing requirements.

• Perform line balancing to optimize workload distribution across stations and improve throughput and efficiency.

• Analyze and optimize plant and facility layouts to improve material flow, reduce waste, and enhance overall process efficiency.

• Provide hands-on support to operating production lines, identifying bottlenecks and implementing data-driven improvements to throughput and capacity.

• Support new product introductions by developing and refining layouts, material flow strategies, and line designs for new or modified production areas.

• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and quality teams to translate demand and product requirements into effective production line configurations.

• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing principles, Kaizen events, and process optimization techniques.

• Develop and maintain process flow diagrams, value stream maps, and process maps to visualize and improve manufacturing operations.

• Use analytical tools and, where applicable, simulation software to model production scenarios and support decision making.

• Own projects from concept through implementation, driving changes on the shop floor rather than focusing solely on analysis and reporting.

• Support both greenfield and brownfield factory design efforts, contributing to the development and improvement of large-scale production areas.

• Document improvements, track key performance metrics, and communicate results and recommendations to cross-functional stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• 5+ years of experience in industrial engineering or manufacturing engineering with significant industrial engineering responsibilities, specifically supporting production lines rather than logistics-only roles.

• Proven experience in facility layouts, production line design, station readiness, and capacity planning.

• Hands-on experience conducting time studies, performing work content breakdowns, and executing line balancing activities.

• Experience in industrial engineering within production-focused manufacturing environments, ideally with experience supporting large production areas.

• Demonstrated expertise in plant layout, production line design, and process optimization within manufacturing settings.

• Practical experience applying lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance throughput, capacity, and efficiency.

• Strong, hands-on engineering mindset with the ability to take ownership of projects and drive implementation on the shop floor.

• Ability to work cross-functionally with manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and quality teams in a dynamic environment.

• Comfort working with data and using it to inform decisions, identify bottlenecks, and prioritize improvement opportunities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in fast-paced, high-growth manufacturing environments such as automotive, aerospace, defense, or similar industries.

• Familiarity with time standards systems such as Modapts.

• Experience with material flow design, value stream mapping, process mapping, or factory design for greenfield or brownfield sites.

• Proficiency with tools such as AutoCAD, Visio, Minitab, Excel, or manufacturing simulation tools (for example, PlantSim, FlexSim, or similar).

• Exposure to lean six sigma, Kaizen, and other structured continuous improvement frameworks.

• Experience supporting new product development and new product introduction within a manufacturing environment.

• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous situations while maintaining a focus on results and implementation.

Work Environment

The role is based in a fast-paced, high-growth defense manufacturing environment that emphasizes ownership, adaptability, and data-driven decision making. Engineers work closely with cross-functional teams and are expected to move comfortably between office and production floor settings while driving production improvements and scaling manufacturing operations. The environment involves working with advanced hardware programs across multiple product lines and large-scale production areas. The culture rewards initiative, hands-on engagement with production lines, and the ability to deliver measurable improvements in throughput, capacity, and efficiency. There is potential for contract extension or conversion based on performance, and team members gain exposure to cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and processes.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Costa Mesa, CA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $75.00/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 Costa Mesa,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 21, 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.