Job Title: Mechanical EngineerJob Description
This Mechanical Engineer role focuses on designing, building, and improving production machinery and critical components in a highly hands-on, dynamic manufacturing environment. You will lead proof-of-concept proto@type development, analyze test results, and translate engineering principles into practical design solutions that directly impact production performance. The position offers significant ownership, visibility, and the opportunity to help create and refine unique, custom production lines and products unlike anything currently on the market.
Responsibilities
Design and build proto@types for proof-of-concept testing, ensuring they meet functional, performance, and safety requirements.
Analyze test results, prepare clear summaries, and communicate findings, analysis, and recommendations to both technical and non-technical team members.
Apply core mechanical engineering principles to develop robust, practical design solutions for production machinery and critical components.
Contribute to the engineering, design, development, and implementation of critical mechanical components and systems.
Design and build fixtures and sub-assemblies for use on production machinery to improve reliability, throughput, and ease of operation.
Identify problems and bottlenecks in production processes, develop potential solutions, and implement those solutions into practice.
Bring creativity, vision, and fresh perspectives to overcome engineering and production roadblocks with innovative solutions.
Participate in all project stages, from identifying a need and defining requirements through solution development, implementation, and verification.
Work closely with mechanics and machine operators to gather insights and feedback that inform design improvements and process enhancements.
Collaborate with operators to plan and perform controlled tests to determine optimal machine settings and operating conditions.
Assist in training machine operators on new or modified machinery, fixtures, and processes.
Work directly with vendors to improve existing machinery and incorporate enhancements into the production environment.
Partner with vendors to specify, design, deploy, and debug new machinery and equipment for production lines.
Perform basic cost-benefit and ROI analyses to support project justification and decision-making.
Monitor the performance and reliability of production machinery and subsystems, and recommend improvements where needed.
Independently manage project schedules and timelines, ensuring milestones and deliverables are met.
Collaborate with other members of the engineering team, both by leading your own projects and supporting colleagues' initiatives.
Maintain thorough documentation of designs, tests, decisions, and changes so future engineers and technicians can understand adherence, rationale, and system history.
Essential Skills
Minimum 7 years of experience in product or machine design, or in a manufacturing environment.
Hands-on experience with mechanical systems, including fabrication or mechanical repair, either professionally or as a hobby.
Proficiency using commercial 3D CAD software, such as Creo, to create mechanical designs and models.
Experience with sheet metal design and mechanical design principles.
Experience working with PLC control systems, electronics, and closed-loop control systems.
Experience using DAQ systems with basic sensors such as pressure transducers, thermocouples, 0-5V signals, and 4-20mA signals.
Strong Microsoft Excel skills for data handling, analysis, and reporting.
Basic data analysis skills for assessing machine performance and interpreting test results.
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (BS in Mechanical Engineering).
Experience working with outside vendors to complete medium and large engineering or equipment projects.
Experience collaborating with technician-level team members to execute projects.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to quickly build relationships and engage effectively with colleagues and partners.
Familiarity with common prototyping methodologies and their practical application.
Familiarity with common manufacturing processes and how they influence design decisions.
Ability to handle multiple projects in parallel and balance competing priorities.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
Understanding of quality control principles and how they apply to mechanical systems and production processes.
Ability to perform data reduction and visualization to support decision-making and communicate results clearly.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Demonstrated ability to bring creative, innovative ideas to engineering challenges and production problems.
Comfort taking calculated risks and challenging the status quo to improve systems and processes.
Experience documenting engineering work clearly so others can follow design intent, reasoning, and implementation details.
Interest in working on custom-designed production lines and novel manufacturing systems.
Enthusiasm for working in a small, collaborative team where individual contributions have a visible impact.
Work Environment
This role is primarily on-site, with a requirement to be physically present a minimum of three days per week and flexibility to work up to five days per week as project needs dictate. The environment is highly hands-on and dynamic, with frequent interaction with production machinery, custom equipment, mechanics, and machine operators. You will work as part of a small, tight-knit engineering team where your contributions have a significant and visible impact on products and processes. The organization designs and operates custom production lines that are unlike those commonly found on the market, including new lines and next-generation versions of existing lines. The culture emphasizes collaboration, support, and a balance of cooperative and independent projects and responsibilities. Engineers are given meaningful latitude and autonomy in determining and implementing solutions and designs, fostering an environment where creativity and innovation are encouraged and rewarded.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Wilson, NC.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $55.00/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 hybrid position in Wilson,NC.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 17, 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 process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.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.
