Mechanical Design Engineer

Actalent; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Referral program

Tuition reimbursement

Parental leave

401(k)

Health insurance

Retirement plan

401(k) matching

Paid time off

Vision insurance

Health savings account

Dental insurance

Flexible spending account

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Job summary

Actalent in Lexington, KY is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to develop, improve, and support mobile equipment products throughout their lifecycle. You will partner with manufacturing and other teams to deliver high-quality, reliable designs, from concept through validation and production.

The role requires strong CAD skills (NX/IDEAS), hands-on testing, and experience with MRP systems, Six Sigma, and lean manufacturing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physical Sciences.
• 3+ years of product engineering designing mobile equipment.
• Strong mechanical engineering knowledge in mobile equipment.
• Proficiency with CAD software NX or IDEAS.
• Experience with mechanical design and tooling considerations.
• Experience with testing, validation, and troubleshooting of mechanical and electro-mechanical systems.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally.
• US work authorization.

Responsibilities

• Analyze customer feedback and data to identify design improvements.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, vendors, customers, and teams throughout product lifecycle.
• Perform engineering calculations for mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
• Create and maintain CAD drawings, layouts, 3D models, and documentation.
• Develop, test prototypes and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure designs meet performance, cost, and quality objectives.
• Communicate design changes and project status to cross-functional teams.
• Apply lean and Six Sigma to improve processes.
• Coordinate with production to ensure manufacturability.
• Plan and manage engineering tasks with timelines.
• Ensure compliance with UL, NFPA, ANSI, ISO, ITA.
• Travel as needed for field investigations and launches.

Skills

Bachelor's degree

3+ years exp

Mechanical engineering

CAD NX/IDEAS

Mechanical design

Testing & troubleshooting

MRP system

Industry standards

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Domestic/international travel

Work authorization US

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physical Sciences

Tools

NX

IDEAS

AutoCAD

Creo

Job description

Job Title

Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Description

The Mechanical Design Engineer develops, improves, and supports mobile equipment products throughout their lifecycle by combining strong mechanical engineering expertise with hands-on design, testing, and cross-functional collaboration. This role analyzes real-world performance data, leads design improvements, creates detailed engineering documentation, and partners closely with manufacturing and other teams to deliver high-quality, reliable products.

Responsibilities

• Analyze customer feedback, warranty data, testing results, and field performance to identify opportunities for product and design improvement.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, purchasing, vendors, customers, marketing, and engineering teams throughout the product lifecycle to ensure designs meet performance, cost, and quality objectives.
• Perform engineering calculations and analyses involving mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems to support robust and reliable product designs.
• Create, update, and maintain engineering drawings, layouts, 3D models, and product documentation in CAD systems.
• Develop, build, and test prototypes of new or improved designs; analyze test results and implement corrective actions based on findings.
• Conduct quality checks and investigate product performance issues in the field, recommending design changes or process improvements as needed.
• Communicate design changes, technical recommendations, and project status through presentations, written reports, and technical discussions with cross-functional teams.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on enhancing product quality, improving manufacturing efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing customer satisfaction.
• Apply principles of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process engineering to improve manufacturing processes and product performance.
• Participate in new product development activities, including concept generation, design reviews, and validation testing.
• Coordinate with production and assembly teams to ensure designs are manufacturable and align with existing tooling, automation, and manufacturing processes.
• Use project management skills to plan, prioritize, and execute engineering tasks and design projects within established timelines.
• Ensure designs comply with relevant industry standards and regulations, including UL, NFPA, ANSI, ISO, and ITA.
• Utilize an MRP system to support engineering changes, bill of materials management, and product configuration.
• Travel domestically and internationally as needed to support field investigations, customer visits, vendor collaboration, and product launches.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physical Sciences.
• 3+ years of product engineering experience designing mobile equipment, or 5+ years of related product design experience.
• Strong mechanical engineering knowledge, particularly in mobile equipment and mechanical systems.
• Proficiency with CAD design software, preferably NX or IDEAS, for 3D modeling, layouts, and detailed drawings.
• Experience with mechanical design and machine design, including assembly and tooling considerations.
• Experience with testing, validation, and troubleshooting of mechanical and electro-mechanical systems.
• Ability to perform engineering calculations and analyses involving mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
• Experience using an MRP system to support product design and manufacturing processes.
• Understanding of mechanical systems and mobile equipment design principles.
• Familiarity with industry standards such as UL, NFPA, ANSI, ISO, and ITA, and ability to design in accordance with these standards.
• Demonstrated cross-functional collaboration experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication skills to present technical information, write reports, and participate in technical discussions.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
• Authorization to work in the U.S. indefinitely without sponsorship.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with NX or similar CAD platforms and familiarity with other tools such as AutoCAD and Creo.
• Background in mobile equipment design and development engineering.
• Exposure to electrical and automation aspects of equipment design.
• Experience with Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Process engineering and process improvement experience in a production or manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting manufacturing processes, production, and assembly operations.
• Project management capabilities, including planning, prioritizing, and tracking engineering work.
• Ability to develop, build, and test prototypes and interpret test data to drive design changes.
• Strong problem-solving skills for investigating field performance issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Comfort working with tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing equipment in support of design and process optimization.

Work Environment

This role operates within a stable, well-established manufacturing environment that focuses on mobile equipment products. You work closely with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, purchasing, vendors, customers, marketing, and engineering, using modern CAD tools such as NX, IDEAS, AutoCAD, and Creo, as well as MRP systems and standard engineering software. The facility emphasizes continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and quality-focused processes, offering long-term career growth and strong benefits. The organization has a large local presence with hundreds of employees and a history of very long employee tenure, reflecting a people-first culture and a supportive, collaborative atmosphere. Domestic and international travel may be required to visit customer sites, vendors, or field locations to support product investigations, testing, and launches. Attire is typical for an engineering role in a manufacturing setting, with office-appropriate clothing and appropriate safety gear when working on the production floor or in field environments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Lexington, KY.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $105000.00/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.

• Referral program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Parental leave
• 401(k)
• Health insurance
• Retirement plan
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Life insurance
• Employee assistance program

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Lexington,KY.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 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.