Lead Mechanical Engineer

Actalent; Piscataway Township (NJ); On-site; USD 125,000 - 136,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Health, dental, and vision insurance

PTO/Holidays

401(k) retirement plan with company-mt

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Job summary

Actalent in New Jersey seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead design, analysis, and development of mechanical systems and facility layouts for chemical production plants, from concept to commissioning.

The role requires 10+ years of facility design experience and a strong background in GD&T, root cause analysis, and cross-functional collaboration across manufacturing, QA, and supply chain. Travel 20%–50% for three site launches is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering-related field required.
• 10+ years of facility design and plant engineering experience in a chemical manufacturing setting.
• Strong background in facility layout and plant engineering for production environments.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical system design from concept through production.
• Proficiency with applying advanced engineering principles to solve complex technical problems.
• Experience leading root cause analysis and corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, analysis, and development of mechanical systems and components from concept through production readiness.
• Own facility layout/design activities for chemical plants ensuring safe, efficient operations.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain for implementation of designs.
• Support testing, validation, and documentation of mechanical systems and facility equipment.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions to improve reliability and safety.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for quality, cost, and reliability across sites.

Skills

Facility design

Plant engineering

Root cause analysis

Continuous improvement

GD&T

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Chemical manufacturing experience

Mechanical design concepts

Materials evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Job description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer – Facility and Plant Design

This role leads the design, analysis, and development of mechanical systems and production facilities from concept through full-scale operation. You apply advanced engineering principles to solve complex technical challenges in a chemical manufacturing environment, drive continuous improvement in quality and cost efficiency, and provide technical leadership for major expansion projects, including bringing multiple new sites online over the next several years.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, analysis, and development of mechanical systems and components from initial concept through production readiness.
• Own facility layout and facility design activities for chemical manufacturing plants, ensuring safe, efficient, and scalable operations.
• Apply advanced engineering principles to solve complex technical challenges and improve product and process performance.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams to ensure effective implementation of mechanical and facility designs.
• Support testing, validation, and documentation of mechanical systems, tooling, and facility-related equipment.
• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for product and process issues, focusing on reliability, safety, and long-term solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, cost efficiency, and production reliability across multiple sites.
• Evaluate and select materials, processes, and technologies to meet operational, safety, and product performance requirements in a chemical manufacturing environment.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and cross-functional teams involved in plant engineering and facility design.
• Support facility expansions, capital projects, shutdown planning, and commissioning activities for new and existing plants.
• Contribute to the development of technical standards, intellectual property, and engineering best practices related to mechanical and facility design.
• Apply GD&T principles to ensure precise, manufacturable designs and effective communication of dimensional requirements.
• Define and oversee tooling requirements to support production and facility operations.
• Act as a key engineering partner in planning and executing the launch of three new manufacturing sites over the next three years.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering-related field.
• 10+ years of experience in facility design and plant engineering.
• Proven experience working in a chemical manufacturing company.
• Strong background in facility layout and plant engineering for production environments.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical system design from concept through production.
• Proficiency in applying advanced engineering principles to solve complex technical problems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead root cause analysis and implement effective corrective actions.
• Experience driving continuous improvement initiatives focused on quality, cost, and reliability.
• Ability to evaluate and select appropriate materials, processes, and technologies for chemical manufacturing operations.
• Proficiency with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) for precise mechanical design.
• Experience defining and overseeing tooling requirements for manufacturing.
• Strong collaboration skills with manufacturing, quality, and supply chain teams.
• Ability to provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and cross-functional teams.
• Experience supporting facility expansions, capital projects, shutdown planning, and commissioning.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience contributing to technical standards, intellectual property, and engineering best practices.
• background in new product development environments within manufacturing settings.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in rapidly growing and expanding organizations.
• Comfort with leading multiple concurrent projects across different sites.
• Strong communication skills to coordinate with diverse stakeholders and project teams.
• Leadership experience in guiding engineering decisions for large-scale facility and plant initiatives.

The role supports a large, established operation with approximately 200 team members at a key New Jersey site, where most new product development activities take place. You work in a chemical manufacturing and plant engineering environment, collaborating closely with production, quality, and supply chain teams and engaging in facility design and expansion projects. Travel is an integral part of the position and varies based on project stage, typically ranging from about 20% to 50% as you support multiple sites and help bring three new facilities online over the next three years. The environment is fast-paced and growth-oriented, offering significant opportunities for technical leadership and influence on long-term manufacturing strategy.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Piscataway, NJ.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $125000.00 - $136000.00/yr.

We are Offering... Challenge Yourself and Impact the Future - We are committed to solving the complete and evolving needs of our customers through innovation and high-quality standards. We are focused on brining cutting edge and environmentally sustainable solutions to the market. Our people are the critical resource required to make that happen. We support your success by creating a strong, inclusive culture, competitive total rewards and an appropriate work-life balance. As part of the MAES Team, you will have ... Opportunities for career growth, competitive compensation (competitive base salary and performance related bonus plan) and benefits packages (health, dental, and vision insurance, Wellness Program, PTO/Holidays, as well as a 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match). The typical base salary range for this position is between $109,000 to $164,000 annually. Innovated work environment where you will be a part of a dynamic and collaborative team. Perks and Incentives such as paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and opportunities for professional development.

• competitive compensation (competitive base salary and performance related bonus plan)
• health, dental, and vision insurance
• Wellness Program
• PTO/Holidays
• 401(k)-retirement plan with a company match
• paid parental leave
• tuition reimbursement
• opportunities for professional development

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Piscataway,NJ.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 27, 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.