Design Engineer

Actalent; Pleasant Valley Township (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) with match

EAP

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Profit sharing

Job summary

Actalent in Bettendorf, IA is seeking a Design Engineer to design and modify permanent molds, patterns, fixtures and tooling for aluminum casting and machining. You will create 3D models and drawings from concept through production launch, and work on the production floor with foundry, machining, quality, and production teams.

The role requires at least 5 years of 3D CAD experience (SolidWorks), strong GD&T and tolerancing skills, and a background in manufacturing tooling.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience with 3D CAD modeling and mechanical design.
• Proven experience designing tooling, fixtures, patterns, molds, or similar manufacturing equipment.
• Ability to read, create, and develop engineering drawings with GD&T knowledge.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and production floor realities.

Responsibilities

• Design and modify permanent molds, foundry patterns, fixtures, and production tooling for aluminum casting and machining.
• Create 3D models and drawings from concept through production launch.
• Collaborate with foundry, machining, quality, and production to resolve tooling and dimensional issues.

Skills

3D CAD modeling

SolidWorks

GD&T

engineering drawings

Manufacturing tooling

tolerance analysis

Design for manufacturing

production floor troubleshooting

cross-functional collaboration

attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's or Associate degree in Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineering or related

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Job Title: Design Engineer

Job Description

The Design Engineer supports aluminum foundry and machining operations by designing and modifying permanent molds, foundry patterns, machining fixtures, and production tooling. This role takes projects from initial concept through production launch, creating detailed 3D models, drawings, and documentation. The position works closely with cross-functional manufacturing teams to troubleshoot tooling, casting, and dimensional issues, and to continuously improve tooling for quality, repeatability, productivity, and tool life.

Responsibilities

• Design and modify permanent molds, foundry patterns, machining fixtures, and production tooling to support aluminum casting and machining operations.
• Create accurate 3D models, detailed drawings, and supporting documentation, taking projects from concept through production launch.
• Collaborate directly with foundry, machining, quality, and production teams to troubleshoot tooling, casting, and dimensional issues on the manufacturing floor.
• Improve existing tooling to enhance quality, repeatability, productivity, and tool life, while supporting new product launches and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Apply design for manufacturing principles to ensure that parts and tooling are practical, manufacturable, and aligned with production capabilities.
• Use GD&T and tolerance analysis to develop and interpret engineering drawings that ensure dimensional accuracy and functional performance.
• Support continuous improvement activities by identifying opportunities to optimize tooling designs and manufacturing processes.
• Provide technical input and hands‑on support during tooling build, tryout, and production ramp‑up.
• Maintain organized design files, revision histories, and documentation to support traceability and effective communication with production teams.

Essential Skills

• At least 5 years of experience with 3D CAD modeling and mechanical design using Solidworks.
• Proven experience designing tooling, fixtures, patterns, molds, or similar manufacturing equipment.
• Ability to read, create, and develop engineering drawings with strong knowledge of GD&T and tolerancing.
• Practical understanding of how parts and tooling are manufactured within a production environment.
• Strong troubleshooting skills and comfort working directly on the manufacturing floor.
• Solid foundation in mechanical design and design for manufacturing principles.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with foundry, machining, quality, and production teams.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to produce accurate, production‑ready documentation.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Engineering Technology, or Design/Drafting, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience with permanent mold tooling or foundry pattern design.
• Experience designing machining fixtures for CNC or other machining operations.
• Background in aluminum casting processes and related tooling requirements.
• Knowledge of CNC machining and general manufacturing processes.
• Ability to apply design for manufacturing and design for assembly best practices.
• Interest in working closely with experienced manufacturing professionals and learning from hands‑on production exposure.

Work Environment

This is a full‑time, on‑site role in a manufacturing environment focused on aluminum casting and machining operations. Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You will spend time both in an office or engineering area using Solidworks and related tools for 3D modeling and drawing creation, and on the manufacturing floor working directly with foundry, machining, quality, and production personnel. Engineers in this environment stay closely connected to production, with the opportunity to design tooling, see it built, observe it running in the plant, and continuously improve it based on real‑world performance. The culture emphasizes collaboration, practical problem‑solving, and visible impact on how products are produced, with direct interaction in a hands‑on, production‑focused setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Bettendorf, IA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $95000.00/yr.

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.

• Medical and dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k) with matching contributions
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short-term and long‑term disability
• Life insurance
• Semi‑annual profit‑sharing

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 16, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Bettendorf,IA.

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.