Manufacturing Engineer

Actalent; Burnsville (MN); On-site; USD 45,000 - 51,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking an onsite Manufacturing Engineer in Burnsville, MN to develop methods for mechanical assembly and special processes like brazing, welding, and potting. You will write detailed instructions and support shop floor problem solving on the first shift, Monday through Friday.

The candidate should have a BS in Engineering, 1-3 years of manufacturing engineering experience, hands-on assembly experience, and knowledge of lean and Six Sigma methodologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
• 1-3 years of experience as a manufacturing engineer.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly in a production environment.
• Experience with special processes such as brazing, welding, and potting.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight while managing multiple tasks.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex manufacturing issues.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.
• Familiarity with Six Sigma methodologies.
• Ability to analyze defects and manufacturing data to determine root causes and corrective actions.
• Capability to define tool and gage requirements and collaborate effectively with tool design teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting processes and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop clear, detailed methods and instructions for the manufacture and assembly of products, ensuring they are practical and easy to follow on the shop floor.
• Observe, document, and review production builds on the shop floor to understand current practices and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Identify potential fabrication and assembly problems early in the process and propose effective corrective actions.
• Provide analysis and investigations of defects found during the manufacturing process, determine root causes, and define robust solutions to prevent recurrence.
• Develop fixturing concepts and process updates to address fabrication issues and improve product quality and consistency.
• Work closely with internal teams, including production, quality, and tool design, to implement process improvements and engineering changes.
• Establish touch labor cost targets for shop and lab activities as requested, and support efforts to optimize labor efficiency.
• Define tool and gage requirements needed for manufacturing processes and provide comprehensive input and support to the tool design group.
• Ensure correct tools and gages are available when needed in the process and are accurately prescribed by process documentation.
• Propose engineering changes and evaluate them for feasibility, producibility, and impact on labor and overall manufacturing cost.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to enhance productivity and reduce waste.

Skills

Engineering degree

1-3 years experience

Mechanical assembly

Brazing

Welding

Potting

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

Root cause analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Tools

N/A

Job description

Job Title: Manufacturing EngineerJob Description

This role is an onsite Manufacturing Engineer position focused on mechanical assembly and special processes such as brazing, welding, and potting. You will develop manufacturing methods and instructions, resolve fabrication issues, and collaborate with internal teams to implement process improvements. The position requires an independent, detail-oriented engineer who can creatively solve complex manufacturing challenges while supporting production on the shop floor during first shift, Monday through Friday.

Responsibilities

• Develop clear, detailed methods and instructions for the manufacture and assembly of products, ensuring they are practical and easy to follow on the shop floor.
• Observe, document, and review production builds on the shop floor to understand current practices and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Identify potential fabrication and assembly problems early in the process and propose effective corrective actions.
• Provide analysis and investigations of defects found during the manufacturing process, determine root causes, and define robust solutions to prevent recurrence.
• Develop fixturing concepts and process updates to address fabrication issues and improve product quality and consistency.
• Work closely with internal teams, including production, quality, and tool design, to implement process improvements and engineering changes.
• Establish touch labor cost targets for shop and lab activities as requested, and support efforts to optimize labor efficiency.
• Define tool and gage requirements needed for manufacturing processes and provide comprehensive input and support to the tool design group.
• Ensure correct tools and gages are available when needed in the process and are accurately prescribed by process documentation.
• Propose engineering changes and evaluate them for feasibility, producibility, and impact on labor and overall manufacturing cost.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives using lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles to enhance productivity and reduce waste.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.
• 1–3 years of experience as a manufacturing engineer.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly in a production environment.
• Experience with special processes such as brazing, welding, and potting.
• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight while managing multiple tasks.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing high-quality work.
• Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to develop innovative solutions to complex manufacturing issues.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing principles.
• Familiarity with Six Sigma methodologies.
• Ability to analyze defects and manufacturing data to determine root causes and corrective actions.
• Capability to define tool and gage requirements and collaborate effectively with tool design teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting processes and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in the aerospace industry is highly desirable.
• Background in onsite manufacturing operations and shop floor support.
• Experience developing fixturing and process updates to resolve fabrication issues.
• Ability to estimate and establish touch labor cost targets for manufacturing activities.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced production environment with evolving business needs.

Work Environment

This is an onsite manufacturing role supporting production activities directly on the shop floor. The position operates on first shift, Monday through Friday, approximately 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with schedule adjustments possible based on business needs. You will work in a hands-on environment that involves mechanical assembly operations and special processes such as brazing, welding, and potting. Collaboration with production, quality, and tool design teams is frequent, and you will regularly observe and interact with active builds. The environment emphasizes continuous improvement, efficient use of tools and gages, and adherence to documented processes, offering opportunities to contribute meaningfully to manufacturing performance and product quality.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Burnsville, MN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $37.00/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 Burnsville,MN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 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.