Contract Industrial Engineer

Actalent; Waukesha (WI); On-site; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an Industrial Engineer for a five-month contract in Waukesha, WI. The role focuses on designing, analyzing, and improving production processes using lean principles to boost safety, quality, and productivity while reducing costs.

You will collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain to develop standardized work, perform time studies, and apply PFMEA for risk mitigation. On-site, with competitive hourly pay and benefits eligibility.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a manufacturing or industrial engineer.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field.
• Six Sigma and lean manufacturing background with practical CI experience.
• Experience conducting time studies to establish labor standards.
• Hands-on PFMEA experience to identify and mitigate process risks.
• Proficiency in process mapping and root cause analysis to diagnose issues.
• Experience supporting new product development and introduction into manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and optimize production processes to support manufacturing operations and meet performance targets.
• Collaborate with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production teams to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.
• Apply lean manufacturing principles to identify and eliminate waste, streamline workflows, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Conduct time studies to evaluate current processes, determine labor standards, and support the development of standardized work.
• Perform failure analysis and root cause analysis to resolve process issues and prevent recurrence.
• Develop, update, and maintain clear and accurate work instructions to support consistent and reliable production activities.
• Use PFMEA and process mapping to assess process risks, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions.
• Support new product development and introductions by designing and refining manufacturing processes and documentation.
• Analyze production data, including cycle counts and other metrics, to monitor performance and drive continuous improvement.
• Contribute to a culture of operational excellence by promoting best practices in industrial and manufacturing engineering.

Skills

Time studies

Six Sigma/Lean

Data analysis

Root cause analysis

Standardized work

Labor standards

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Process optimization

Operational excellence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PFMEA

Process mapping

Job description

Job Title: Contract Industrial EngineerJob Description

The Industrial Engineer supports manufacturing operations by designing, analyzing, and continuously improving production processes. This role works closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production teams to enhance safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance across the facility. Using lean manufacturing principles, data analysis, and process optimization techniques, the Industrial Engineer increases operational efficiency, reduces waste, improves material flow, and establishes sustainable standardized work. This position plays a key role in achieving production goals, supporting new product introductions, and driving continuous improvement initiatives while fostering a culture of operational excellence.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and optimize production processes to support manufacturing operations and meet performance targets.

• Collaborate closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production teams to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance.

• Apply lean manufacturing principles to identify and eliminate waste, streamline workflows, and enhance operational efficiency.

• Conduct time studies to evaluate current processes, determine labor standards, and support the development of standardized work.

• Perform failure analysis and root cause analysis to resolve process issues and prevent recurrence.

• Develop, update, and maintain clear and accurate work instructions to support consistent and reliable production activities.

• Use PFMEA and process mapping to assess process risks, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions.

• Support new product development and new product introductions by designing and refining manufacturing processes and documentation.

• Analyze production data, including cycle counts and other metrics, to monitor performance and drive continuous improvement.

• Contribute to a culture of operational excellence by promoting best practices in industrial and manufacturing engineering.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 5 years of experience as a manufacturing or industrial engineer.

• Bachelors degree.

• Strong background in manufacturing engineering and industrial engineering.

• Experience conducting time studies to establish labor standards and optimize processes.

• Six Sigma and lean manufacturing background, with practical experience applying continuous improvement methodologies.

• Hands-on experience with PFMEA (Process Failure Mode and Effects Analysis) to identify and mitigate process risks.

• Proficiency in process mapping and root cause analysis to diagnose issues and implement effective solutions.

• Experience with failure analysis in a manufacturing environment.

• Ability to develop and maintain detailed work instructions to support standardized work.

• Experience supporting new product development and introduction into manufacturing operations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams including Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret production data and cycle counts to drive process improvements.

• Solid understanding of lean principles and continuous improvement tools to enhance material flow and operational efficiency.

• Proven capability to improve safety, quality, productivity, and cost performance through structured engineering approaches.

• Ability to drive and support a culture of operational excellence within a manufacturing environment.

Work Environment

This position is a contract role with an expected duration of approximately five months. The Industrial Engineer works in a manufacturing facility environment, partnering closely with Operations, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Production teams to support day-to-day production activities and improvement projects. The role focuses on data-driven process optimization, lean initiatives, and standardized work within active manufacturing operations.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Waukesha, WI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $50.00/hr.

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.

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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Waukesha, WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Waukesha,WI.

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 [e-mail] 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.