Mechanical Engineer

Actalent • Kankakee, IL • 5h ago

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to support our manufacturing facility. This role is ideal for an engineer experienced in a heavy industrial, continuous manufacturing environment, particularly with roller conveyor and material handling systems. The primary focus is to enhance productivity and throughput by identifying mechanical constraints, improving equipment performance, and executing capital and improvement projects.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and support the manufacture, installation, and modification of mechanical equipment, components, and systems in a heavy industrial environment.

Analyze existing roller conveyor and material handling systems to identify bottlenecks, throughput limitations, and productivity losses.

Drive productivity and throughput improvements through mechanical redesign, equipment modification, and process optimization.

Reverse engineer existing machinery and systems, creating accurate AutoCAD drawings for equipment, layouts, and modifications.

Provide daily process and mechanical support to manufacturing operations, troubleshooting issues that impact output and uptime.

Lead and manage capital improvement and productivity projects, including scope development, budgeting, scheduling, vendor selection, installation, and commissioning.

Prepare and analyze technical drawings, layouts, and specifications to ensure installations meet operational, safety, and performance requirements.

Coordinate manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and testing activities to ensure compliance with specifications, codes, and customer requirements.

Identify and develop projects involving building maintenance, repairs, and improvements in systems like conveyor, compressed air, HVAC, energy, electrical, and process water.

Lead the design, installation, and commissioning of plant facilities, utilities, and associated control systems.

Apply Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma fundamentals to eliminate waste, improve flow, and support root cause analysis.

Actively participate in incident investigations, risk assessments, and safety improvement initiatives.

Ensure compliance with OSHA guidelines, company safety standards, and customer requirements.

Support project work during occasional weekends or holidays.

Essential Skills

Strong mechanical aptitude with the ability to understand how machines function and where constraints exist.

Proven ability to work cross-functionally with Operations, Maintenance, and external vendors.

Demonstrated focus on productivity, throughput, and continuous improvement.

Ability to create clear, accurate AutoCAD drawings based on existing equipment and field conditions.

Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Effective verbal and written communication skills for one-on-one and small group settings.

Ability to balance individual ownership with team collaboration and drive positive cultural change.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, preferably Mechanical.

3-5 years of experience in a heavy industrial or continuous manufacturing environment.

Experience with roller conveyors, material handling systems, or similar industrial equipment strongly preferred.

Managing capital improvement or productivity-driven projects from concept through completion.

Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and Six Sigma, with emphasis on root cause analysis.

AutoCAD experience or other relevant drawing technologies required.

Ability to thrive in a production-focused, hands-on environment.

Work Environment

This position is based in a heavy industrial manufacturing facility with active production lines and material handling systems. The environment is a combination of plant floor and office settings, with a significant portion of time spent on the manufacturing floor. Expect regular exposure to moving mechanical equipment, noise, dust, temperature variation, and industrial traffic. Interaction with operations, maintenance, contractors, and vendors in a production setting is required. Personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety glasses and safety shoes, is necessary. The role may involve standing, walking, climbing, bending, and lifting during equipment evaluations and project work. Occasional weekend or holiday work is required to support installations, commissioning, or production-critical projects.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Kankakee, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $85000.00 - $110000.00/yr.

401K, Medical, Vision, Dental

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Kankakee,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Mar 9, 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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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 due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com (%20actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com) for other accommodation options.

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