Design Engineer

Actalent; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 43,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent in Pella, IA, is seeking a Design Engineer to drive continuous improvement of utility equipment across the product lifecycle. You will develop design enhancements to boost performance, reliability, and cost, while collaborating with cross-functional teams to satisfy customers through product improvements and issue resolution.

Responsibilities include creating mechanical designs (sheet metal), using SolidWorks, supporting new product development from concept to prototype and production

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Agricultural Engineering.
• At least 1 year of experience using SolidWorks (internships or academic projects count).
• Proficiency in mechanical design, including component and assembly design.
• Experience with sheet metal design and fabrication considerations.
• Ability to support new product development and prototype activities.
• Basic knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA) for evaluating design performance.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams.
• Ability to analyze and resolve product issues and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for utility equipment throughout the product lifecycle, focusing on performance, reliability, quality, safety, and cost.
• Develop and implement design enhancements that optimize product functionality and manufacturability.
• Create and refine mechanical designs, including sheet metal components and assemblies, using SolidWorks and other CAD tools.
• Support new product development activities from concept through prototype and production release.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams to ensure designs meet operational and customer requirements.
• Participate in prototype build activities and provide engineering support during testing and validation.
• Use finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate and improve design robustness.
• Contribute to resolving product issues in the field and implement design changes that enhance customer satisfaction.

Skills

SolidWorks

Sheet metal design

Mechanical design

Creo

Pro/ENGINEER

FEA basics

Cross-functional collaboration

Prototype support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Agricultural Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

Pro/ENGINEER

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Design Engineer

The Design Engineer drives continuous improvement of utility equipment across the entire product lifecycle. In this role, you develop and implement design enhancements that improve performance, reliability, quality, safety, and cost, while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to support customer satisfaction through product improvements and effective issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for utility equipment throughout the product lifecycle, focusing on performance, reliability, quality, safety, and cost.
• Develop and implement design enhancements that optimize product functionality and manufacturability.
• Create and refine mechanical designs, including sheet metal components and assemblies, using SolidWorks and other CAD tools.
• Support new product development activities from concept through prototype and production release.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams to ensure designs meet operational and customer requirements.
• Participate in prototype build activities and provide engineering support during testing and validation.
• Use finite element analysis (FEA) and other engineering tools to evaluate and improve design robustness.
• Contribute to resolving product issues in the field and implement design changes that enhance customer satisfaction.
• Document design changes and maintain accurate engineering records and models.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and mentorship opportunities to expand engineering skills and explore related disciplines.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Agricultural Engineering.
• At least 1 year of experience using SolidWorks, which may include internships or academic projects.
• Proficiency in mechanical design, including component and assembly design.
• Experience with sheet metal design and fabrication considerations.
• Ability to support new product development and prototype activities.
• Basic knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA) for evaluating design performance.
• Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams.
• Ability to analyze and resolve product issues and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Creo or Pro/ENGINEER is beneficial.
• Background in mechanical engineering design for utility or industrial equipment is an advantage.
• Interest in expanding into electrical, embedded, or systems engineering roles over time.
• Willingness to participate in advanced engineering training and mentorship programs.
• Motivation to work on a team that is behind schedule and contribute to catching up through strong engineering performance.
• Enthusiasm for personal and professional development opportunities, including internal learning platforms and online training resources.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, on‑site role in a cubicle‑based office and manufacturing floor environment. The schedule runs Monday through Friday with a 6:30 AM start time and a 40-hour workweek. Approximately 70% of the time is spent working in SolidWorks at a workstation, and about 30% is spent on the production floor supporting prototypes and collaborating with operations. The dress code follows a 'dress for your day' approach, with jeans worn the majority of the time and a polo-style shirt or similar professional casual top. The culture emphasizes a family‑like environment within a large organization, offering advanced engineering training, mentorship programs, and access to internal development resources and online learning platforms. Employees have opportunities to get involved in social and recreational activities, such as company sports leagues. The role offers 11 paid holidays and two weeks of vacation, along with strong support for career growth and the ability for mechanical engineers to transition into electrical, embedded, or systems engineering disciplines.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Pella, IA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $31.25 - $33.65/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 Cr