Mechanical Designer

Actalent; Midlothian (VA); On-site; USD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Tuition reimbursement

Employee stock ownership

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Mechanical Designer in Midlothian, VA to perform detailed piping and HVAC design for heavy industrial projects. You will support bids, prepare drawings and schedules, and conduct field verification to validate assumptions.

The role emphasizes design accuracy, documentation control, and collaboration with project teams. The position is office-based with occasional field work, offering a contract-to-hire path, competitive pay, and benefits.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of piping and HVAC design experience.
• Experience in a heavy industrial field.
• Piping design across process, service and utility systems.
• Knowledge of Plant 3D and plant piping modeling.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD and 3D design tools for mechanical layouts.
• Hands-on pipefitting experience in the field.
• Ability to manage scope, schedule and budget for tasks.

Responsibilities

• Perform mechanical design for piping, HVAC, and supports.
• Assist PM in bids, proposals, estimates, and scopes of work.
• Prepare design drawings and schedules and maintain project docs.
• Conduct field work and data collection to verify conditions.
• Certify deliverables and ensure traceability throughout the project.
• Monitor scope, schedule, and budget; escalate issues.
• Guide junior staff and ensure quality outputs.
• Coordinate with internal and external teams on design issues.

Skills

Piping design

HVAC design

Heavy industry

Plant 3D

AutoCAD

Pipefitter experience

Project scope management

Field work

Documentation & records

Mentoring juniors

Attention to detail

Field data collection

Tools

Plant 3D

AutoCAD

3D design tools

Job description

Job Title: Mechanical Designer

Job Description

The Mechanical Designer performs detailed design work on projects involving process, service, and utility piping, supports, HVAC systems, equipment layouts, and other mechanically related components. This role collaborates closely with project managers to support bids, proposals, estimates, scopes of work, schedules, material lists, design concepts, and design drawings, while ensuring all deliverables meet customer and corporate standards. The Mechanical Designer also conducts field work and technical research to validate designs and supports project execution from concept through completion.

Responsibilities

• Perform mechanical design duties for process, service, and utility piping, piping supports, HVAC systems, equipment layouts, and related mechanical systems.
• Assist the project manager in developing bids, proposals, estimates, and scopes of work for mechanical and piping projects.
• Prepare and support project schedules, material lists, design concepts, design drawings, and related project documentation in alignment with customer and corporate standards.
• Conduct field work and technical research to gather data, verify existing conditions, and validate design assumptions.
• Maintain organized project files and documentation to ensure accurate records and traceability throughout the project lifecycle.
• Certify the accuracy and completeness of all deliverable products and services within assigned areas of responsibility.
• Monitor and maintain project scope, schedule, and budget for assigned tasks, escalating issues as needed to ensure project success.
• Provide day-to-day guidance and assistance to subordinate staff members, supporting their development and ensuring quality work output.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to coordinate design efforts and resolve technical issues during project execution.

Essential Skills

• 3+ years of experience in piping and HVAC design.
• Experience in a heavy industrial field.
• Proficiency in piping design, including process, service, and utility piping systems.
• Working knowledge and exposure to Plant 3D.
• Experience with AutoCAD and 3D design tools for mechanical and piping layouts.
• Mechanical design experience with piping, HVAC, CAD design, and HVAC design.
• Practical experience as a pipefitter in the field, providing hands-on understanding of piping systems and installation.
• Ability to maintain project scope, schedule, and budget within assigned responsibilities.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to certify accuracy and completeness of deliverables.
• Ability to perform field work and technical research to support design decisions.
• Organizational skills to maintain project files and documentation effectively.
• Capability to provide guidance and assistance to junior or subordinate staff members.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience using Plant 3D for plant and piping modeling in an industrial environment.
• Strong understanding of mechanical systems, including HVAC and equipment layout in industrial settings.
• Ability to support proposal development, including estimates, material lists, and design concepts.
• Comfort working across multiple projects and clients in heavy industrial sectors.
• Interest in ongoing professional development, supported by tuition reimbursement and training opportunities.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a growing office environment with cross-functional teams.

Work Environment

This role is primarily office-based, with approximately 80% of the time spent in the office and 20% of the time performing field visits. The office currently has around 100 employees and is expected to grow to about 115, offering a stable and expanding work environment. Most work involves projects for heavy industrial clients in Virginia, providing consistent and long-term project opportunities. The standard work schedule is Monday through Friday. The dress code is business casual. The organization offers paid overtime, a year-end bonus, tuition reimbursement, and an employee-owned structure that allows team members to gain stock, contributing to a collaborative and ownership-focused culture.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Midlothian, VA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $55.00/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 Midlothian,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 19, 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.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

Reasonable Accommodation

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.