Manufacturing Engineer

Actalent; Pontiac (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401(k) plan

Paid time off

Life Insurance

Job summary

Actalent in Pontiac, IL is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer III to provide hands-on support in a precision CNC machining environment. You will troubleshoot, drive process improvements, and maintain accurate engineering documentation while collaborating with production teams on the shop floor.

You'll spend most of your time on the shop floor (about 75%), ensuring tight tolerances and GD&T conformance, and you will contribute to new processes and DFx initiatives in a highly technical setting.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of manufacturing engineering experience, with focus on CNC machining environments.
• Experience supporting production of precision components on the shop floor.
• Strong ability to troubleshoot issues and drive corrective actions.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on manufacturing engineering support to CNC operations with small, high-precision parts.
• Split time between shop floor (75%) and office (25%) collaborating with production staff.
• Troubleshoot issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions to improve quality and throughput.
• Develop and implement process improvements and changes to enhance efficiency and tolerances.
• Support setup and ongoing production of high-tolerance components in a machining environment.
• Apply GD&T to ensure parts meet geometric requirements and accurate drawings.
• Create and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation and change records.
• Communicate changes to shop floor and engineering stakeholders.
• Collaborate with machinists, technicians, and engineers to resolve challenges.
• Participate in special projects involving new processes or equipment while maintaining daily production support.

Skills

CNC machining

GD&T

Troubleshooting

Shop floor

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Mechanical engineering

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer III

Job Description

This Manufacturing Engineer III role focuses on providing daily, hands‑on support to a precision machining operation that produces very small, high‑tolerance components. You spend most of your time on the shop floor troubleshooting manufacturing issues, driving process improvements, and implementing manufacturing changes, while also maintaining accurate engineering and manufacturing documentation. The position is ideal for an experienced manufacturing engineer who enjoys close collaboration with production teams and is comfortable working in a highly technical CNC machining environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily, hands‑on manufacturing engineering support to CNC machining operations, with a primary focus on very small, high‑precision components.

• Spend approximately 75% of your time on the shop floor and 25% in the office, closely partnering with production staff to resolve issues in real time.

• Troubleshoot manufacturing problems, identify root causes, and implement effective corrective actions to improve quality, throughput, and reliability.

• Develop, refine, and implement process improvements and manufacturing changes to enhance efficiency and maintain tight tolerances.

• Support the setup, optimization, and ongoing production of very small components in a high‑tolerance machining environment.

• Apply GD&T principles to ensure parts meet dimensional and geometric requirements and to support clear, accurate engineering drawings.

• Create, update, and maintain engineering and manufacturing documentation, including process instructions, work instructions, and change records.

• Ensure that all process changes and improvements are properly documented and communicated to relevant stakeholders on the shop floor and in engineering.

• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams, including machinists, technicians, and other engineers, to improve manufacturability and resolve technical challenges.

• Participate in occasional special projects that may involve new processes, new equipment, or design‑for‑manufacturing initiatives, while maintaining focus on daily production support.

Essential Skills

• 5–7 years of manufacturing engineering experience, with flexibility depending on overall experience and capabilities.

• Proven experience working in a CNC machining environment, supporting production of precision components.

• Strong, hands‑on experience supporting manufacturing operations and working directly on the shop floor.

• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot manufacturing issues and implement effective process improvements and manufacturing changes.

• Comfort working in a high‑tolerance production setting with very small components and complex machining requirements.

• Experience or familiarity with Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and its application to engineering drawings and inspection criteria.

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, preferably in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) processes.

• Experience in abrasive flow or media flow polishing processes, such as AFM‑type processes, used for internal surface finishing and deburring.

• Hands‑on experience with tight or high‑tolerance grinding operations for precision components.

• Proficiency with AutoCAD or other CAD/design software to support drawing creation, modification, and process documentation.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with production and engineering teams, communicating clearly and professionally in both shop floor and office environments.

Work Environment

The role is based in a precision manufacturing environment where you spend the majority of your time on the shop floor working directly with CNC machining equipment and related processes. You will regularly interact with machinists, technicians, and other engineers in a setting focused on producing very small, high‑tolerance components. The remaining portion of your time is spent in an office environment updating documentation, reviewing drawings, and planning process improvements. The facility uses technologies such as CNC machining, EDM, abrasive flow or media flow polishing, and high‑tolerance grinding, supported by CAD tools like AutoCAD. The work schedule aligns with typical manufacturing operations, and you should be comfortable moving between shop floor and office settings throughout the day, following standard safety practices and appropriate industrial attire.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Pontiac, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $29.00 - $33.00/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 Pontiac,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 5, 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.