Manufacturing Engineer

Actalent; Sussex (WI); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

401k

Profit sharing

Bonus potential

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Manufacturing Engineer in Sussex, WI to drive front-end process development and tooling projects. You will work with customers on concept design and manufacturability, lead tooling construction, and support program launches from concept to production.

The role emphasizes APQP leadership, cost reduction, and close collaboration with shop personnel. A technical engineering degree and hands-on tooling experience are valued for success.

Qualifications

• 2- or 4-year engineering or related technical degree required.
• Experience as Tool & Die Maker may substitute for formal degree.
• Experience in tooling, fixtures, dies, gages, or related manufacturing aids.
• Strong communication for collaboration with customers and internal teams.
• Data-driven decision-making and budget performance analysis.
• Experience facilitating team development and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong customer relationships with timely engineering support.
• Support new customer programs from concept to production launch.
• Coordinate tooling design and construction, including dies, gages, and fixtures.
• Lead APQP process for new programs to ensure quality and manufacturability.
• Review performance against plans and budgets; adjust as needed.
• Develop budgets and objectives for engineering and tooling projects.
• Implement productivity improvements and cost-down initiatives.
• Promote teamwork and continuous improvement in the shop environment.
• Prepare accurate quotes with tooling and part lead times.
• Address technical questions and provide ongoing customer support.

Skills

Front-end process

Tool & Die concepts

Sheet metal fabrication

Cost estimation

Manufacturability evaluation

CNC fabrication

Machining knowledge

Documentation creation

Team leadership

Quality standards

Education

Engineering degree (2- or 4-year)

Job description

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer

Job Description

The Manufacturing Engineer plays a key role at the front end of the manufacturing process, working closely with customers to support concept design and determine manufacturability. This role develops and maintains customer relationships, leads engineering activities for new program launches, and drives productivity and cost improvement initiatives. The Manufacturing Engineer also coordinates the design and construction of tooling and provides technical support throughout the production lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong customer relationships by providing timely, professional engineering support.
• Provide engineering and program launch support for new customer programs, ensuring smooth transition from concept to production.
• Coordinate and supervise the research, design, and construction of tools, fixtures, dies, gages, and other tooling required for manufacturing.
• Lead the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process for new customer programs to ensure quality and manufacturability standards are met.
• Review performance against operating plans, standards, and budgets, and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Develop budgets and objectives for engineering and tooling projects to align with organizational goals.
• Develop and implement productivity improvement and cost-down plans to enhance efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs.
• Facilitate team development activities, promoting collaboration and continuous improvement within the manufacturing environment.
• Prepare accurate and timely quotes for customers, including costs and lead times for tooling and manufactured parts.
• Provide ongoing customer support, addressing technical questions and resolving issues related to tooling and manufacturing processes.
• Follow all company policies and procedures applicable to the position.
• Understand and adhere to health, safety, security, quality, and environmental practices as required for IATF and ISO 9001:2015 compliance.

Essential Skills

• Manufacturing engineering experience with a focus on front-end process development.
• Hands‑on knowledge of tool and die concepts and practices.
• Ability to fabricate sheet metal components and understand related manufacturing processes.
• Experience with quoting and estimating costs and lead times for tooling and manufactured parts.
• Competence in concept design, including evaluating and determining product manufacturability.
• Experience with CNC fabrication and tooling processes.
• Strong engineering and machining knowledge applicable to tooling and manufacturing operations.
• Ability to create clear and accurate work instructions and manufacturing documentation.
• Experience leading teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Understanding of IATF and ISO 9001:2015 quality and environmental standards.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• 2- or 4-year engineering or related technical degree required.
• Experienced Tool & Die Maker or relevant manufacturing experience may be considered in place of formal degree.
• Experience in design related to tooling, fixtures, dies, gages, or other manufacturing aids.
• Strong communication skills for effective collaboration with customers and internal teams.
• Ability to analyze performance against plans and budgets and support data‑driven decision‑making.
• Experience facilitating team development and continuous improvement activities.

Work Environment

This role is primarily based in a shop environment closely connected to the front end of the manufacturing process. The Manufacturing Engineer works with production equipment, tooling, CNC fabrication resources, and design tools while collaborating with shop personnel and engineering teams. The position involves regular interaction with customers on concept design and manufacturability, as well as hands‑on engagement with tooling and manufacturing processes in a typical industrial facility setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Sussex, WI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $90000.00 - $90000.00/yr.

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.

Health, 401k, profit sharing is based on growth. There is an opportunity for % bonus

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Sussex,WI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 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.