Job Description
This Mechanical Design Engineer role leads the end-to-end development of heavy-duty accessories and systems for commercial and vocational truck platforms. You will focus on mechanical design, integration, and validation of complex accessory products, including hydraulic systems, structural components, and electrical integration.
Responsibilities
Lead the mechanical design and integration of heavy accessory products such as liftgates, tool storage systems, service bodies, utility cranes, winches, PTO-driven systems, and other chassis-mounted equipment.
Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, controls, hydraulics, and manufacturing teams to develop fully integrated accessory solutions for commercial and vocational truck platforms.
Own the full product development lifecycle from concept through production launch, including prototyping, CAD design, FEA, design for manufacturability (DFM), and validation testing.
Design robust mechanical structures and assemblies using steel, aluminum, and composite materials suitable for heavy-duty environments and demanding service conditions.
Develop and optimize hydraulic systems, including pump and motor selection, hydraulic circuit design, and performance tuning to meet functional and durability targets.
Ensure seamless electrical integration of powered accessories with truck OEM or aftermarket power and control systems, coordinating closely with electrical and controls engineers.
Create and maintain complete engineering documentation, including 3D models, detailed drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), engineering change orders, and test reports.
Support and participate in validation testing, including environmental, fatigue, load, and field testing, and use test results to refine and improve designs.
Evaluate test data and engineering feedback to determine whether designs meet functional and performance specifications, and prepare design modifications as needed.
Troubleshoot and resolve design-related issues that arise in manufacturing and production assembly, working closely with production teams to implement effective solutions.
Engage directly with suppliers and customers to define requirements, clarify specifications, resolve technical challenges, and ensure product compatibility with truck platforms and accessory systems.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance product performance, durability, cost-effectiveness, and manufacturability.
Maintain thorough, accurate, and consistent documentation practices and ensure that engineering records are organized and up to date.
Skills & Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering highly preferred
8+ years of professional engineering experience in mechanical design and product development.
Experience with finite element analysis (FEA) to support structural design and validation.
Experience developing 3D designs in Creo is a strong plus; exposure to SolidWorks is beneficial.
Experience with hydraulic system design, including pump and motor selection, circuit design, and performance optimization.
Familiarity with integrating mechanical systems with electrical and control systems on truck platforms.
Disciplined and organized approach to work, with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities within a product design team.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience designing heavy duty truck mounting assemblies
Experience doing 3d designs in Creo
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Mentor, OH.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $48.08 - $57.69/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 Mentor,OH.
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 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.
