Mechanical Design Engineer

Actalent; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

Disability coverage

HSA

PTO / Vacation

Job summary

Actalent in Durham, NC is seeking a Mechanical Designer to generate 2D/3D CAD drawings (Catia) and support prototype generation and mass production specifications for Power Products.

You will lead small project teams, coordinate supplier negotiations, establish BOMs, perform FMEA analyses, and apply CAE principles to improve product features while meeting project timelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 2+ years engineering experience, preferably in Power Products or Powersports.
• Strong ability to guide small development teams.
• Effective communication with staff and management.
• Proficiency with FTA, FMEA, dimensional tolerance stack-ups, and application.

Responsibilities

• Generate high-level drawings using 2D/3D CAD software such as Catia to meet specification targets.
• Utilize tools like FTA/FMEA and Drawing Issue Processing (Endeavor) to facilitate prototype generation and estimates.
• Coordinate supplier negotiations, factory assembly confirmations, and mass production specification setting.
• Drive small project teams through Project Leader Role to meet development targets and schedules.
• Establish bill of materials to track impacts of new technologies, features, and components.
• Develop ideas to improve competitiveness by features and technologies with minimal supervision.
• Analyze root causes using problem-solving methods and implement corrective measures.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Analytical thinking

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

CATIA

Endeavor

FMEA

Job description

Job Title: Mechanical Designer

Join a forward-thinking company that values innovation and strives to achieve a zero environmental footprint. We are looking for individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and a strong work ethic to guide new technologies and mass production developments, primarily in the Power Products category.

Responsibilities

• Generate high-level drawings using 2D/3D CAD software such as Catia to meet specification targets.
• Utilize tools like FTA/FMEA and Drawing Issue Processing (Endeavor) to facilitate prototype generation and engineering estimates.
• Coordinate supplier negotiations, factory assembly confirmations, and mass production specification setting.
• Drive small project teams through Project Leader Role to meet development targets and schedules.
• Establish bill of materials to track impacts of new technologies, features, and components.
• Develop ideas to improve competitiveness by product features and technologies with minimal supervision.
• Analyze root causes using problem-solving methods and implement corrective measures as necessary.
• Support recurrence prevention when appropriate and maintain professional conduct.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 2+ years of engineering experience, preferably in Power Products or Powersports.
• Strong ability to guide small development teams.
• Effective communication and interaction with staff and management.
• Competency in FTA, FMEA, dimensional tolerance stack-ups, and application.
• Competency in analytical, problem-solving, judgment, decision-making, and prioritization.
• Competency in drawing and layout skills/techniques, including understanding of CAE principles.
• Experience with 3D design, FMEA, and design calculations.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in power products/sports such as lawn and garden equipment.
• Knowledge of engine or transmission design, specifically for small engine products.
• Familiarity with gears, metallurgy, heat treatment, die casting, stamped products, and injection molding.

Work Environment

Primarily desk-based work with occasional travel up to 10% and potential overseas travel. Typical hours are 8-9 AM to 4:30-5:30 PM with core business hours from 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. Overtime may be expected based on project demands. The role involves maintaining professional conduct and adhering to safety and company policies.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Durham, NC.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $39.00 - $48.00/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 Durham,NC.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Sep 25, 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.