Design Engineer

Actalent; Wichita (KS); On-site; USD 83,000 - 124,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

PTO

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Design Engineer in Wichita, KS to tackle complex aircraft design and build issues, focusing on primary/secondary structural design, special missions, and aftermarket modifications.

You will develop structural solutions, author instructions, review non-conformances, and coordinate with cross-functional teams to ensure compliance with aerospace standards and safety requirements.

Qualifications

• Experience in primary and secondary structural design for aerospace applications.
• Strong CATIA V5 experience with workbenches and drafting standards.
• Ability to author clear engineering instructions and flight test change requests.

Responsibilities

• Investigate design and build issues on aircraft and develop robust structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions.
• Author temporary engineering instructions to resolve build issues promptly.
• Review and disposition aircraft non-conformances and develop rework instructions (MRB).
• Coordinate findings with engineering disciplines, QA, and operations/manufacturing.
• Design flight test engineering change requests and coordinate implementation with stakeholders.
• Author engineering documentation defining structural restrictions for aircraft structures and systems.
• Design and release structural and systems installations for Special Missions and aftermarket mods.
• Support manufacturing and aircraft modification activities with engineering guidance.
• Ensure designs align with aerospace standards, processes, safety and reliability.
• Communicate engineering solutions clearly through written and verbal discussions.

Skills

CATIA V5

Aerospace structural design

2D drawings

Engineering documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering

Tools

Teamcenter PLM

Job description

Job Title: Design Engineer

Job Description

The Design Engineer investigates and resolves complex aircraft design and build issues, develops structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions, and authors temporary and permanent engineering instructions to support manufacturing and flight test activities. This role focuses on primary and secondary structural design, special missions and aftermarket modifications, and the disposition of non-conformances, ensuring aircraft integrity and compliance with engineering standards.

Responsibilities

• Investigate design and build issues on aircraft and develop robust structural engineering and instrumentation installation solutions.

• Author temporary engineering instructions to resolve build issues in a timely and efficient manner.

• Review and disposition aircraft non-conformances, including developing clear and actionable rework instructions (MRB).

• Perform detailed investigations of aircraft and engineering drawings and coordinate findings with affected engineering disciplines, Quality Assurance, and operations/manufacturing representatives.

• Design Flight Test engineering change requests and coordinate implementation with work package owners and other stakeholders.

• Author engineering documentation to define structural special instructions or restrictions for aircraft structures and systems.

• Design and release structural and systems installations for Special Missions Engineering and aftermarket modifications.

• Support manufacturing and aircraft modification activities by providing engineering guidance and resolving technical issues on the shop floor.

• Ensure all designs and modifications align with aerospace standards, internal processes, and safety and reliability requirements.

• Communicate engineering solutions and decisions clearly through written documentation and verbal discussions with cross-functional teams.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 15 years of primary structural design experience on aircraft, including defense and special missions platforms.

• Strong background in structural design for aerospace applications, with experience in special missions or aftermarket modifications.

• Extensive experience in primary and secondary structural design using CATIA V5.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, or a related discipline from an accredited university.

• Minimum of 15 years of industry experience in aerospace or closely related fields.

• Minimum of 6,000 hours of hands‑on experience with CATIA V5.

• Recent, practical experience with 2D drawings and related drafting standards.

• Demonstrated experience supporting manufacturing and aircraft modification activities.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex engineering concepts clearly.

• Ability to work as a highly motivated self‑starter, taking initiative and driving tasks to completion.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in special missions or aftermarket modifications is required and highly valued.

• Experience with munitions integrations is considered an asset.

• Proficiency in CATIA V5 workbenches such as Assembly Design, Part Design (including Boolean operations), Aerospace Sheetmetal, Tubing Design, Kinematics, and Electrical Harness Routing is a strong plus.

• Experience with Teamcenter PLM or similar product lifecycle management tools is a plus.

• Experience in defense‑related aircraft programs and special missions configurations is beneficial.

• Strong coordination skills for working with engineering, Quality Assurance, and manufacturing teams.

• Demonstrated ability to author clear engineering instructions, special structural restrictions, and flight test change requests.

Work Environment

This is a long‑term contract role supporting a large aerospace and defense original equipment manufacturer in Wichita, working Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in an office setting. The work environment is professional and engineering‑focused, with regular collaboration among design engineering, manufacturing, quality, and flight test teams. You will primarily use CATIA V5 and PLM tools, work with engineering drawings and documentation, and support aircraft modification and special missions programs in a structured, process‑driven setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Wichita, KS.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $90.00/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.

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 Wichita,KS.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 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.