Junior Industrial Engineer

Actalent; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 93,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Disability insurance

HSA

Transportation benefits

PTO / Vacation

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Junior Industrial Engineer in Appleton, WI, offering hands-on manufacturing process improvement experience. You will support time studies, process mapping, and continuous improvement initiatives while collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize workflows and resource utilization.

This six-month contract position emphasizes Lean projects, data-driven decisions, and reporting results to stakeholders. Ideal for early-career engineers seeking floor-level exposure.

Qualifications

• This role requires an industrial engineering background with practical exposure to manufacturing environments.
• Experience or training in manufacturing engineering and shop-floor operations is essential.
• Ability to conduct time studies and apply IE methods to improve processes.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement and process improvement methodologies in manufacturing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct time studies to evaluate production processes and identify efficiency gains.
• Develop, update, and maintain detailed process maps for current-state workflows.
• Create, update, and standardize work instructions for consistency and quality.
• Perform bottleneck analyses to identify constraints and propose improvements.
• Assist with capacity modeling and forecasting for production planning.
• Analyze labor utilization to optimize staffing across operations.
• Collect and analyze operational data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement process improvements and monitor results.
• Support Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement projects to reduce waste.
• Prepare clear reports and presentations summarizing findings for stakeholders.

Skills

Time studies

Process mapping

Continuous improvement

Data analysis

Lean manufacturing

Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's in Industrial/Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Excel

Job description

Job Title: Junior Industrial EngineerJob Description

This Junior Industrial Engineer role offers the opportunity to apply industrial engineering principles to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, and productivity. You will support time studies, process mapping, and continuous improvement initiatives while collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize workflows and resource utilization. This position is ideal for an early-career engineer who wants hands-on experience in manufacturing process improvement and Lean projects.

Responsibilities

• Conduct time studies to evaluate production processes and identify opportunities to increase efficiency and throughput.
• Develop, update, and maintain detailed process maps to document current-state workflows and support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Create, update, and standardize work instructions to ensure consistency, quality, and operator compliance across manufacturing operations.
• Perform bottleneck analyses to identify production constraints and recommend targeted process improvements.
• Assist with capacity modeling and forecasting to support production planning and effective resource allocation.
• Analyze labor utilization and support labor balancing efforts to optimize staffing across manufacturing operations.
• Collect, organize, and analyze operational data to identify trends, variances, and improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams in production, engineering, and operations to implement process improvements and monitor results.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement projects focused on reducing waste and increasing productivity.
• Prepare clear reports and presentations summarizing findings, recommendations, and project outcomes for stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• Industrial engineering or closely related engineering background with practical exposure to manufacturing environments.
• Experience or training in manufacturing engineering, including understanding of production workflows and shop floor operations.
• Ability to conduct time studies and apply industrial engineering methods to evaluate and improve processes.
• Knowledge of continuous improvement and process improvement methodologies applied in manufacturing settings.
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and core industrial engineering principles.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including using spreadsheets for data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to use data analysis tools to interpret operational data and support data-driven decision-making.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Effective organizational skills to manage multiple tasks, projects, and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to convey technical information clearly to diverse stakeholders.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.
• 0–3 years of engineering experience, which may include internships or co-op experience in manufacturing or industrial engineering.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing concepts and continuous improvement practices.
• Ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams and contribute to project-based work.
• Interest in developing expertise in capacity modeling, labor balancing, and bottleneck analysis.

Work Environment

This position is offered as a 6-month contract role, providing hands-on experience in a manufacturing-focused environment. You will work closely with production, engineering, and operations teams, using tools such as Microsoft Excel and other data analysis software to support process improvement initiatives. The role involves a mix of office-based analytical work and time spent on the production floor observing processes, conducting time studies, and collaborating with operators and engineers. The environment emphasizes continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and teamwork.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $35.00/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 Appleton,WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 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.