Design Engineer

Job Title: Design EngineerJob Description

This Design Engineer role focuses on developing robust mechanical designs for large and heavy machinery, with a strong emphasis on steel fabrication, manufacturability, and performance. You will use advanced CAD tools to invent, design, document, build, and test solutions, collaborating closely with a team of design engineers in a growing, project-rich environment.

Responsibilities

• Apply engineering principles to analyze data and develop CAD models that optimize design opportunities for large and heavy machinery.
• Invent, design, document, build, and test new mechanical solutions for assigned industries using CAD tools, with a focus on steel fabrication and weldment design.
• Use SolidWorks, PDMWorks, ECN tools, and other design tools to produce accurate prototype parts and detailed design documentation.
• Develop and refine designs that consider manufacturability, material strengths, fatigue strength, and overall product durability and serviceability.
• Test design changes to improve machine performance, reliability, and safety, and document test results and design revisions.
• Identify design changes early in the development process and recognize opportunities for design commonality across products.
• Collaborate in a team environment to meet shared goals, engineering metrics, and project milestones.
• Support production by responding promptly to questions and issues, providing practical design solutions to address crises or urgent needs.
• Operate basic mechanical tools and shop equipment, such as wrenches, assembly hand tools, drill press, lathe, band saw, and assembly power tools, to support prototyping and testing activities.
• Incorporate knowledge of FEA, hydraulics, electronics, engine systems, statistics, and strength of materials into design decisions.
• Manage time and resources effectively to align with internal customer schedules and project timelines.

Essential Skills

• Four-year college degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Agricultural, or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent education and experience.
• 5-8 years of relevant mechanical design or design engineering experience.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks for 3D modeling and mechanical design.
• Experience with large and heavy machinery design.
• Experience with steel fabrication, including sheet metal design and welding.
• Knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA) and its application to mechanical design.
• Understanding of hydraulics, electronics, and engine systems as they relate to machinery design.
• Knowledge of statistics, strength of materials, durability, and serviceability of products.
• Ability to create robust designs and identify design changes early in the development process.
• Ability to recognize and leverage design commonality across components and products.
• Ability to operate simple mechanical tools and wrenches, assembly hand tools, drill press, lathe, band saw, and assembly power tools.
• Strong time and resource management skills to meet internal customer needs and project schedules.
• Ability to quickly respond to production questions and issues with practical, effective solutions.
• Ability to understand material strengths, fatigue strength, and manufacturability to ensure appropriate configurations and materials are used.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience using PDMWorks or similar product data management tools.
• Experience working with engineering change notice (ECN) tools and processes.
• Background in mechanical engineering, mechanical design, or related disciplines.
• Experience within fabrication environments, particularly steel fabrication and weldment structures.
• Comfort working on cross-functional teams and collaborating with production and other internal stakeholders.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to apply engineering principles to complex mechanical systems.

Work Environment

You will work as part of a collaborative team of design engineers in a facility that has recently expanded its square footage to support significant growth and new projects. The environment combines office-based design work using SolidWorks, PDMWorks, ECN tools, and other CAD systems with hands-on activities in a shop or lab setting, where you may operate tools such as drill presses, lathes, band saws, and assembly power tools for prototyping and testing. The role supports active production operations, so you can expect to interact frequently with manufacturing and internal customers, aligning your schedule with project timelines and production needs. The culture emphasizes teamwork, continuous improvement, and innovation, with ample opportunity to contribute to new projects and grow alongside the organization.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Piedmont, SC.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $75000.00 - $95000.00/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 fully onsite position in Piedmont,SC.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 30, 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.