Mechanical Design Engineer

Actalent; South Carolina; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Design Engineer to develop, optimize, and validate mechanical designs for large machinery using SolidWorks in a fast-growing fabrication environment. You will collaborate with engineers to improve performance, reliability, and serviceability while ensuring manufacturability of robust designs.

On-site role in South Carolina, hands-on prototyping, documentation, and cross-functional project involvement.

Qualifications

• Four-year college degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Agricultural, or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent education and experience.
• Approximately 3 years of relevant mechanical design or engineering experience.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks for 3D modeling and mechanical design.
• Experience with large or heavy machinery design and related mechanical systems.
• Hands-on experience with fabrication, particularly steel and sheet metal design and welding.
• Knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA), hydraulics, electronics, engine systems, statistics, strength of materials, durability, and product serviceability.
• Ability to create robust, manufacturable designs and identify design changes early in the development process.
• Ability to understand material strengths, fatigue behavior, and manufacturability to select appropriate configurations and materials.
• Capability to operate basic mechanical tools, including wrenches, assembly hand tools, drill press, lathe, band saw, and assembly power tools.

Responsibilities

• Understand and apply engineering principles to analyze data and develop CAD models that optimize design opportunities for large and heavy machinery.
• Invent, design, document, build, and test new mechanical solutions for assigned industries using CAD tools such as SolidWorks and related systems.
• Use SolidWorks, PDMWorks, ECN tools, and other design software to produce detailed models and prototype parts that support fabrication and production.
• Test and validate design changes to improve machine performance, reliability, durability, and serviceability, using appropriate engineering methodologies.
• Collaborate in a team environment with other design engineers to meet shared goals, project milestones, and performance metrics.
• Apply knowledge of fabrication processes, including steel and sheet metal design and welding, to ensure designs are practical and manufacturable.
• Incorporate considerations such as material strength, fatigue strength, hydraulics, electronics, engine systems, and statistics into design decisions.
• Create robust designs that identify potential issues early in the design process and leverage design commonality where possible.
• Operate basic mechanical tools and equipment, including wrenches, assembly hand tools, drill press, lathe, band saw, and assembly power tools, to support prototyping and testing.
• Manage time and resources effectively to meet internal customer needs, production schedules, and project deadlines.
• Respond promptly to production questions and issues, providing practical engineering solutions to support ongoing operations.
• Maintain accurate documentation of designs, changes, and test results in accordance with internal standards and ECN processes.

Skills

SolidWorks

Mechanical design

Fabrication experience

FEA

PDMWorks/ECN

Team collaboration

Documentation

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

PDMWorks

ECN tools

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Design Engineer

Job Description

The Design Engineer develops, optimizes, and validates mechanical designs for large and heavy machinery using advanced CAD tools and sound engineering principles. This role focuses on creating robust, manufacturable solutions in a fast-growing fabrication environment, collaborating closely with a team of engineers to improve machine performance, reliability, and serviceability.

Responsibilities

• Understand and apply engineering principles to analyze data and develop CAD models that optimize design opportunities for large and heavy machinery.
• Invent, design, document, build, and test new mechanical solutions for assigned industries using CAD tools such as SolidWorks and related systems.
• Use SolidWorks, PDMWorks, ECN tools, and other design software to produce detailed models and prototype parts that support fabrication and production.
• Test and validate design changes to improve machine performance, reliability, durability, and serviceability, using appropriate engineering methodologies.
• Collaborate in a team environment with other design engineers to meet shared goals, project milestones, and performance metrics.
• Apply knowledge of fabrication processes, including steel and sheet metal design and welding, to ensure designs are practical and manufacturable.
• Incorporate considerations such as material strength, fatigue strength, hydraulics, electronics, engine systems, and statistics into design decisions.
• Create robust designs that identify potential issues early in the design process and leverage design commonality where possible.
• Operate basic mechanical tools and equipment, including wrenches, assembly hand tools, drill press, lathe, band saw, and assembly power tools, to support prototyping and testing.
• Manage time and resources effectively to meet internal customer needs, production schedules, and project deadlines.
• Respond promptly to production questions and issues, providing practical engineering solutions to support ongoing operations.
• Maintain accurate documentation of designs, changes, and test results in accordance with internal standards and ECN processes.

Essential Skills

• Four-year college degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Agricultural, or Electrical Engineering, or equivalent education and experience.
• Approximately 3 years of relevant mechanical design or engineering experience.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks for 3D modeling and mechanical design.
• Experience with large or heavy machinery design and related mechanical systems.
• Hands-on experience with fabrication, particularly steel and sheet metal design and welding.
• Knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA), hydraulics, electronics, engine systems, statistics, strength of materials, durability, and product serviceability.
• Ability to create robust, manufacturable designs and identify design changes early in the development process.
• Ability to understand material strengths, fatigue behavior, and manufacturability to select appropriate configurations and materials.
• Capability to operate basic mechanical tools, including wrenches, assembly hand tools, drill press, lathe, band saw, and assembly power tools.
• Strong time and resource management skills to meet internal customer needs and production schedules.
• Ability to respond quickly to production questions and issues with practical, well-reasoned engineering solutions.
• Comfort working with PDMWorks, ECN tools, and other design-related systems for documentation and change management.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a team of design engineers in a fabrication or heavy machinery environment.
• Familiarity with design for durability and ease of service in demanding operating conditions.
• Ability to recognize and apply design commonality across products to improve efficiency and reduce complexity.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to interpret engineering data and test results.
• Effective communication skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams and internal customers.
• Adaptability to work in a fast-growing organization with expanding facilities and new projects.
• Attention to detail in CAD modeling, documentation, and prototype development.

Work Environment

The role is based within a collaborative team of design engineers in a rapidly growing fabrication and heavy machinery setting. The facility has recently expanded its square footage to support new projects and increased production, creating opportunities for professional growth and involvement in a variety of design challenges. Work is primarily performed