Job Title: Mechanical Project Engineer
Job Description
This Mechanical Project Engineer role oversees the complete lifecycle of material handling systems, from purchase order through customer acceptance. You will transform customer and sales concepts into fully designed, manufactured, and installed mechanical systems, working closely with cross-functional teams. The position combines mechanical design, project management, and hands-on involvement in a manufacturing environment to ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards.
Responsibilities
Lead mechanical material handling projects from purchase order through customer acceptance and sign-off.
Develop mechanical system designs based on customer requirements and sales concepts, taking projects from initial plan to practical implementation.
Collaborate with the electrical and controls team to define and coordinate the overall operation scheme for each system.
Produce and oversee the creation of bills of material (BOMs) for assigned projects, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
Lead a project team in producing installation drawings, detail drawings, and all required engineering documentation.
Serve as a primary liaison between engineering and manufacturing, ensuring designs are manufacturable and aligned with production capabilities.
Monitor project progress, track deadlines and cost targets, and take corrective action to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
Coordinate activities across engineering, manufacturing, and installation teams to maintain an accurate and realistic project schedule.
Identify and resolve project issues and technical problems, escalating as needed to keep projects moving forward.
Assist with on-site installation of material handling systems at customer facilities and provide engineering supervision during installation.
Participate in floor activities within the manufacturing environment to support builds, troubleshoot issues, and validate designs.
Travel to customer sites as needed, approximately 10-20% of the time, to support installation, commissioning, and customer acceptance.
Essential Skills
5+ years of engineering experience focused on equipment, machinery, or conveyor design.
3+ years of project management experience leading technical or engineering projects.
Strong mechanical design experience in a manufacturing or industrial environment.
Proficiency with AutoCAD 2D for mechanical drawings and layouts, with 1-3 years of hands-on experience.
Proficiency with Autodesk Inventor for 3D mechanical design and modeling, with 1-3 years of hands-on experience.
1-3 years of experience creating and managing bills of material (BOMs).
Demonstrated ability and willingness to be hands-on in a manufacturing environment, including time spent on the production floor.
Bachelor's degree in Engineering.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.
Strong communication skills to effectively coordinate between engineering, manufacturing, and customers.
Capability to travel approximately 10-20% of the time to customer sites.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
PMP (Project Management Professional) certification.
Experience with ERP systems such as NetSuite or similar platforms.
Experience in material handling equipment design, industrial construction, or manufacturing environments.
Knowledge of metal fabrication processes, including laser cutting, press brakes, and welding.
CNC knowledge related to lathe and mill operations.
CNC programming experience.
FEA (Finite Element Analysis) knowledge and experience using tools such as ANSYS, NASTRAN, or similar.
Prior experience designing material handling equipment or systems.
Ability to thrive in a hands-on, go-getter culture where collaboration and initiative are highly valued.
Interest in long-term growth within a close-knit engineering and manufacturing team.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Fairfield, OH.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $40.87 - $52.89/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 Fairfield,OH.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Aug 14, 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.
