Mechanical Engineer

ACTalent; Battle Creek (MI); On-site; USD 34,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager for an on-site role in Battle Creek, MI. You will lead a safety assessment of ~80 machines, identify OSHA gaps, and drive machine guarding improvements from analysis through implementation.

You will coordinate quotes, materials, and downtime with production teams, update quality documentation, and ensure all work meets safety standards and project timelines in an automotive Tier 1 environment.

Qualifications

• Experience evaluating and working with industrial machinery.
• Strong project management skills: planning, scheduling, coordinating multiple activities.
• Familiarity with OSHA requirements and safety guidelines for machine guarding.
• Ability to obtain and evaluate contractor quotes and manage external service providers.
• Ability to coordinate equipment downtime with production teams to minimize disruption.

Responsibilities

• Assess approximately 80 machines in the plant to identify safety and machine-guarding gaps.
• Review equipment guarding for OSHA compliance and safety guidelines.
• Document safety concerns, risks, and non-compliance clearly.
• Develop recommendations and plans for safety improvements, including guarding.
• Obtain contractor quotes and ensure accurate scope and cost estimates.
• Coordinate purchase of materials and components for safety upgrades.
• Collaborate with production teams to schedule downtime for modifications.
• Oversee implementation of safety improvements and guarding installations.
• Monitor progress and ensure work meets safety standards and timelines.
• Update quality documentation into new formats for automotive Tier 1 supplier.
• Communicate project status and safety findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Machine equipment

Project management

OSHA requirements

Safety standards

Contractor quotes

Stakeholder communication

Documentation

Job description

Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager

This role focuses on evaluating and improving the safety and machine guarding of approximately 80 pieces of equipment in a manufacturing plant. The Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager will lead a comprehensive safety assessment, identify gaps in compliance with OSHA requirements, and manage the full lifecycle of safety improvement projects from initial analysis through implementation and completion. In addition, this position offers the opportunity to update and modernize quality documentation for an automotive Tier 1 supplier, contributing to safer operations and more efficient processes across the facility.

Responsibilities

• Assess approximately 80 machines throughout the plant to identify safety and machine-guarding gaps.
• Review existing equipment designs and guarding to determine compliance with OSHA requirements and safety guidelines.
• Document safety concerns, risks, and non-compliance issues in a clear and organized manner.
• Develop recommendations and plans for safety improvements, including machine guarding and related modifications.
• Obtain contractor quotes for required safety and guarding work, ensuring accurate scope and cost estimates.
• Coordinate the purchase of required materials, machine guarding, and related components for safety upgrades.
• Work closely with production teams to schedule equipment downtime and ensure machines are available for modifications.
• Oversee the implementation of safety improvements, including installation of guarding and other protective measures.
• Monitor project progress, address issues, and ensure all work is completed according to safety standards and project timelines.
• Update quality documents into a new format for an automotive Tier 1 supplier, ensuring accuracy and alignment with safety and quality standards.
• Communicate project status and safety findings to stakeholders in a clear and professional manner.
• Ensure all safety improvements and documentation align with OSHA regulations and internal plant safety policies.

Essential Skills

• Mechanical engineering with experience working with machine equipment.
• Hands‑on experience assessing and working with industrial machinery and equipment.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, scheduling, and coordinating multiple activities.
• Familiarity with OSHA requirements, regulations, and safety guidelines related to machine guarding and industrial safety.
• Ability to interpret and apply OSHA safety standards in a manufacturing environment.
• Capability to obtain and evaluate contractor quotes and manage external service providers.
• Skill in coordinating equipment availability with production teams to minimize disruption.
• Attention to detail in documenting safety gaps, improvement plans, and quality updates.
• Strong organizational and communication skills to manage projects from assessment through completion.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working in a manufacturing plant environment.
• Experience in automotive or Tier 1 supplier operations is beneficial.
• Ability to update and reformat quality documentation to meet current standards and practices.
• Comfort working on a contract basis, with an expected duration of at least 12 months and potential extension depending on project needs.
• Proactive, safety‑focused mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement.

Work Environment

This position is based in a plant environment, working on‑site Monday through Friday. The role involves regular presence on the production floor to assess machinery, coordinate equipment availability, and oversee safety modifications. The work setting includes industrial equipment and typical manufacturing facility conditions, where adherence to plant safety rules and appropriate attire, such as any required personal protective equipment, is expected. The Mechanical Engineer / Project Manager will collaborate closely with production and other operational teams while managing projects within a dynamic and safety‑focused environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Battle Creek, MI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $25.00 - $35.00/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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Battle Creek,MI.

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.