Fixture Design Engineer

Job Title: Fixture Design EngineerJob Description

The Fixture Design Engineer supports product development within the manufacturing team by designing, validating, and improving complex weld fixtures and tooling. This role focuses on creating robust, cost-effective fixtures and mechanisms, often with 50 or more components, and driving projects from initial concept through to validated production-ready solutions while managing multiple assignments simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Design and modify weld fixtures and equipment used for production parts and assemblies.
• Design tooling and fixtures capable of producing products that meet specifications, are durable in a welding environment, and remain cost effective.
• Validate fixtures for accuracy, repeatability, and functional performance.
• Create and maintain detailed part models, assembly models, and drawings that clearly communicate the manufacture, assembly, and use of tooling and fixtures.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently through all phases, from initial design through validation and implementation.
• Collaborate closely with product engineers and operations teams to optimize designs for manufacturing quality, efficiency, and cost.
• Work directly with machinists, fixture builders, and external machine shops to ensure designs can be manufactured and assembled as intended.
• Apply appropriate engineering analysis to ensure designs possess sufficient strength, stiffness, and other performance characteristics for their intended function.
• Develop and refine standards of work for engineering to improve design efficiency and reduce validation time.
• Engage in hands-on interaction with production parts, tooling, and hand tools to understand real-world constraints and refine designs.
• Troubleshoot and resolve unknowns and potential failure modes in fixture and tooling designs.
• Incorporate error proofing and ergonomic considerations into solutions to improve safety, usability, and quality.
• Demonstrate ownership of decisions and outcomes, following through on actions needed to achieve successful project completion.

Essential Skills

• 5+ years of applicable experience in fixture design, weld fixture design, weldment design, or related mechanical design work.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, mechanical engineering technology, or an equivalent discipline.
• Proven experience designing complex mechanical mechanisms and fixtures, including assemblies with 50 or more parts.
• Strong background in weldment and weld fixture design for production environments.
• Proficiency in CAD tools for tooling and fixture design, such as SolidWorks and Creo.
• Demonstrated ability to take projects from concept through to completion while managing multiple projects at the same time.
• Ability to validate fixtures for accuracy, repeatability, and functional performance using sound engineering practices.
• Capability to apply engineering analysis to ensure adequate strength, stiffness, and durability of designs.
• Solid problem-solving skills, including the ability to resolve unknowns and address failure modes in the design process.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including product engineering, operations, machinists, and vendor machine shops.
• Strong attention to quality and precision, with a focus on producing designs that enable manufacturing to achieve right-first-time results.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Ability to adjust quickly to changes in priorities and project requirements.
• Comfort working with a high degree of autonomy, including making sound decisions and maintaining self-motivation.
• Commitment to continual learning and a willingness to challenge existing methods and procedures.
• Demonstrated ownership mindset in decision making and accountability for outcomes.
• Experience developing solutions with the end user in mind, including error proofing and ergonomic considerations.
• Effective project management skills, including organizing tasks, managing timelines, and coordinating stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills to clearly explain design intent and collaborate with technical and non-technical partners.
• Interest in innovative and novel design solutions, with the ability to describe and reflect on past unique design work.
• Ability to articulate personal learning style and adapt to new tools, processes, and technologies.

Work Environment

The role offers a balanced mix of design, problem solving, and project management activities, with approximately 60% of time dedicated to design work, 25% to hands-on and analytical problem solving, and 15% to project management responsibilities. The engineer works closely with manufacturing, operations, and shop-floor personnel, engaging directly with production parts, tooling, and hand tools to ensure practical, robust solutions. CAD tools such as SolidWorks and Creo form a core part of the daily workflow, along with collaboration with internal machinists, fixture builders, and external machine shops. The environment emphasizes quality, precision, continuous improvement, and efficiency, with a strong focus on developing durable, cost-effective fixtures and tooling that support reliable, right-first-time manufacturing.

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 - $52.88/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 Aug 4, 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.