Design Engineer

Actalent; Dunlap (TN); On-site; USD 94,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Design Engineer in Dunlap, TN, to develop, modify, and support mechanical designs for parts, systems, and subsystems using 3D modeling tools within the transportation industry. You will collaborate with global teams to manage projects from concept through validation, ensuring designs meet specifications, quality standards, and customer requirements.

This role combines hands-on design work with project management, including cost analysis, documentation, and stakeholder

Qualifications

• Proficient in 3D modeling for designing, drawing, and modifying mechanical parts/systems.
• Ability to interpret customer specs and apply to engineering designs.
• Experience with project management for internal/external customers, including planning, coordination, and status reporting.
• Ability to coordinate with global teams on design and project topics.
• Familiarity with PLM for design data control of models/drawings.
• Experience with ERP for structured BoMs loading and management.
• Understanding of tolerances, standards and quality requirements in mechanical design/manufacturing.
• Strong written/spoken communication for design reviews and technical manuals.
• Support quality and safety standards through collaboration with quality functions.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% annually.

Responsibilities

• Assist in developing project timelines and milestones.
• Support RFQ activities with technical input and estimates.
• Develop project costing analyses with support functions.
• Use 3D modeling to design, draw, and modify parts and systems.
• Translate customer specs into compliant design solutions.
• Lead or support design reviews and recommend improvements.
• Ensure 3D models and drawings are controlled in the PLM system.
• Provide technical support to Quality to meet standards.
• Verify conformity to tolerances and industry norms.
• Create technical manuals and operating instructions for customers.
• Organize prototype validation and testing, with documentation of results.
• Load and maintain BoMs in ERP system with data accuracy.
• Lead or support project management activities with internal/external customers.
• Coordinate with global teams on design topics and PM activities.
• Travel up to 20% for reviews, meetings, testing, or production.
• Perform other engineering duties as needed.

Skills

3D modeling

Customer specs interpretation

Project management

Global collaboration

PLM systems

ERP systems

Tolerances & quality

Technical writing

Quality & safety coordination

Travel readiness

Tools

PLM systems

ERP systems

3D modeling software

Job description

Job Title: Design Engineer

Job Description

This Design Engineer role focuses on developing, modifying, and supporting mechanical designs for parts, systems, and sub-systems using 3D modeling tools within the transportation industry. You will collaborate closely with cross-functional and global teams to manage projects from concept through validation, ensuring designs meet technical specifications, quality standards, and customer requirements. The position combines hands-on design work with project management responsibilities, including cost analysis, documentation, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the development of project timelines and schedules, ensuring tasks align with overall project objectives and milestones.

• Establish and support quoting and request-for-quote (RFQ) activities by providing technical input and design-related estimates.

• Develop project costing analyses and coordinate with appropriate support functions to ensure accurate and timely cost information.

• Utilize 3D modeling applications to design, draw, and modify parts, systems, and sub-systems, ensuring designs are robust and manufacturable.

• Review and interpret customer technical specifications and requirements, translating them into practical and compliant design solutions.

• Manage design review meetings, present design concepts, and make recommendations to improve functionality, cost, and manufacturability.

• Ensure all 3D models and drawings are updated, controlled, and properly recorded in the Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system.

• Provide technical support to the Quality function to ensure adherence to established quality and safety standards throughout the design process.

• Verify conformity to tolerances and standards identified in technical specifications and industry norms.

• Create clear and comprehensive technical manuals and operating instructions for customers, supporting proper installation and use of products.

• Organize and participate in prototype validation and testing, including planning, execution, and documentation of results.

• Load and maintain structured Bills of Materials (BoMs) in the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, ensuring data accuracy and consistency.

• Lead or support project management activities with internal and external customers, including planning, tracking, and reporting on project status.

• Coordinate effectively with global teams on design topics and project management activities to ensure alignment across locations.

• Travel up to 20% per year, depending on project demands, to support design reviews, customer meetings, testing, or production activities.

• Perform other engineering and project-related duties as assigned based on skill level and organizational needs.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in 3D modeling applications for designing, drawing, and modifying mechanical parts, systems, and sub-systems.

• Demonstrated experience interpreting and applying customer technical specifications and requirements to engineering designs.

• Experience with project management involving internal or external customers, including planning, coordination, and status reporting.

• Ability to coordinate and collaborate with global teams on design and project management topics.

• Familiarity with Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems for managing and controlling 3D models and drawings.

• Experience working with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, particularly for loading and managing structured Bills of Materials (BoMs).

• Understanding of tolerances, standards, and quality requirements relevant to mechanical design and manufacturing.

• Strong communication skills to manage design reviews, document technical information, and create technical manuals and operating instructions.

• Ability to support quality and safety standards through collaboration with quality-focused functions.

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 20% per year based on project needs.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with extrusion and injection processes, particularly related to rubber or elastomeric materials.

• Experience in designing components such as windows or similar systems in the transportation industry.

• Exposure to working with rubber or elastomeric materials in engineering or manufacturing environments.

• Familiarity with holiday and leave benefits structures in a professional engineering environment (as part of overall employment expectations).

Work Environment

You will work in a professional engineering environment that emphasizes collaboration across design, quality, and project management functions, including coordination with global teams. The role involves frequent use of 3D modeling software, PLM systems for design data control, and ERP systems for managing structured Bills of Materials. You will participate in design reviews, prototype validation, and testing activities, which may take place in office, lab, or shop-floor settings depending on project needs. The position typically follows standard business hours, with flexibility required to support project deadlines and occasional travel of up to 20% per year for customer visits, testing, or coordination with other sites. The environment supports structured processes, documentation, and continuous improvement in the transportation industry.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Dunlap, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $48.00/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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Dunlap,TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 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 [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.