Lead Mechanical Design Engineer – Prototyping and Production

ACTalent; Nevada (IA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

ACTalent is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for a contract-to-hire position based in Nevada, IA. The role focuses on designing and refining mechanical and electro-mechanical products, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and transitioning designs into production.

You will lead prototype development, conduct testing, and perform FEA to optimize structural integrity and manufacturability. On-site work with manufacturing in a small, autonomous team offers broad project exposure and growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or Agricultural Engineering.
• 5+ years of mechanical design experience using SolidWorks.
• Strong background in mechanical engineering and mechanical design, including structural design principles.
• Hands-on experience working with manufacturing environments and processes.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, such as leading projects or guiding engineering activities.
• Previous experience performing FEA (finite element analysis) for structural and mechanical components.
• Proficiency with CAD tools, including SolidWorks; familiarity with additional platforms such as AutoCAD and Creo is highly beneficial.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with engineers and cross-functional teams.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to translate requirements into practical design solutions.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineers and cross-functional teams to design, develop, and improve mechanical and electro-mechanical products.
• Create and refine mechanical designs using CAD tools, ensuring robustness, manufacturability, and alignment with project requirements.
• Work directly with manufacturing teams to move designs into production, including resolving design-for-manufacturing issues and supporting production ramp-up.
• Lead and support prototype development, including building, evaluating, and iterating on prototype designs.
• Plan and execute testing activities to validate product performance, reliability, and safety, and incorporate test results into design improvements.
• Perform finite element analysis (FEA) and other engineering calculations to evaluate structural integrity and optimize designs.
• Contribute to structural and hydraulic design aspects of custom equipment, particularly for agricultural and related applications.
• Provide technical guidance and informal leadership to team members, helping to coach and support project execution.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across engineering, manufacturing, and other functions to ensure project goals, timelines, and quality standards are met.
• Participate in continuous product improvement initiatives, identifying opportunities to enhance performance, reduce cost, and improve manufacturability.
• Prepare and maintain detailed engineering documentation, including drawings, models, specifications, and test reports.
• Support troubleshooting and problem-solving activities for products in development and in production.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Eng

SolidWorks experience

Mechanical design & structural design

Manufacturing experience

Leadership experience

FEA experience

CAD tools (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, Creo)

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Aerospace/Agricultural Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

AutoCAD

Creo

Job description

ACTalent is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for a contract-to-hire position based in Nevada, IA. The role focuses on designing and refining mechanical and electro-mechanical products, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and transitioning designs into production.

You will lead prototype development, conduct testing, and perform FEA to optimize structural integrity and manufacturability. On-site work with manufacturing in a small, autonomous team offers broad project exposure and growth.