Design Engineer

Job Title: Design Engineer

Job Description

The Design Engineer maintains and improves existing equipment while designing and developing new machinery that expands the companys product portfolio. This role leads equipment design projects from initial concept through implementation, collaborating closely with manufacturing, R&D, vendors, and internal stakeholders to ensure that all designs meet performance, cost, quality, safety, and customer requirements. The position provides hands-on support for equipment design, troubleshooting, prototype testing, engineering documentation, CE certification efforts, and continuous product improvement, and includes supervisory responsibility for a Mechanical Drafter as well as support for engineering systems and processes.

Responsibilities

• Design new equipment and machinery that enhance and expand the companys product lines.
• Modify and improve existing machines to optimize performance, reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
• Develop detailed equipment and component designs using SolidWorks and AutoCAD, including models, drawings, and assemblies.
• Create and refine sheet metal and weldment designs, including fabricated components, assemblies, and complete equipment structures.
• Ensure all designs meet manufacturing requirements, including manufacturability, performance targets, safety standards, and cost constraints.
• Manage equipment design projects from concept through implementation, including schedules, budgets, milestones, and quality targets.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, R&D, and shop personnel to support prototype builds, production launches, and ongoing product improvements.
• Troubleshoot design and equipment issues through hands-on work in the engineering and shop environments, resolving mechanical and performance problems.
• Support prototype and R&D testing, including reviewing test results, making design adjustments, and validating performance against specifications.
• Prepare and maintain engineering documentation, including drawings, bills of materials, specifications, and change notices.
• Contribute to CE certification support by providing technical documentation and ensuring designs comply with relevant standards and safety requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for existing equipment, focusing on innovation, safety enhancements, and manufacturing efficiency.
• Supervise and mentor a Mechanical Drafter, providing direction, reviewing drawings, and ensuring drafting work aligns with design standards.
• Coordinate with vendors and external partners to source components, review technical information, and ensure that purchased parts meet design requirements.
• Support customer-facing engineering activities, including field testing of equipment and participation in technical discussions with customers.
• Communicate effectively with executive engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to report project status and align on priorities.
• Use Microsoft Office tools to prepare reports, presentations, project plans, and documentation related to engineering projects.
• Manage project budgets and timelines, tracking progress and taking action to keep projects on schedule and within financial targets.
• Participate in international and cross-regional collaboration, engaging with teams and stakeholders in different locations to support global product initiatives.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 35+ years of engineering design experience in a mechanical or equipment-focused environment.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks for equipment and component design, including complex assemblies.
• Experience with weldments, sheet metal components, assemblies, and fabricated equipment.
• Mechanical design skills for both new equipment development and modification of existing machinery.
• Ability to design equipment that meets manufacturing, performance, safety, and cost requirements.
• Project management capabilities, including managing schedules, budgets, and quality targets for design projects.
• Hands-on troubleshooting skills, working with engineering and shop personnel to resolve design and equipment issues.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office for documentation, reporting, and communication.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with manufacturing, R&D, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to manage budgets and project schedules and to track and report project progress.
• Experience with mechanical drafting principles sufficient to supervise and review drafting work.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with AutoCAD for creating and reviewing engineering drawings.
• Experience in food manufacturing or agricultural equipment design is beneficial.
• Vendor management experience, including coordinating with suppliers and reviewing technical specifications.
• Familiarity with CE certification processes and safety standards for equipment.
• Exposure to international collaboration and customer-facing engineering activities.
• Strong collaboration skills for working in small, cross-functional engineering teams.
• Interest in product innovation, engineering standards, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to work effectively in environments that include R&D testing, manufacturing operations, and customer field testing.

Work Environment

This role operates primarily in an office-based engineering environment, with regular use of design software and standard office technology. The Design Engineer occasionally works in manufacturing shop and R&D facilities, where moderate noise levels are present and hands-on interaction with equipment and prototypes is required. Some travel to customer sites is expected for equipment testing, development, and field support activities, including potential international travel. Work schedule flexibility may be necessary to accommodate project demands, meetings, and testing schedules. There may be occasional exposure to processing odors within the R&D area, reflecting the nature of the products and processes under development. The environment supports close collaboration with a small engineering team and cross-functional partners, offering high visibility to leadership and direct involvement in product development and innovation.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Grimes, IA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $80000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

401k, health, dental, vision, etc.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Grimes,IA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 12, 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.