Mechanical Engineer

Actalent; Minnesota; On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the design, analysis, and validation of custom mechanical and structural systems used in wind tunnel and ground test environments. This role involves taking concepts from early design through validation, documentation, fabrication support, installation, and commissioning.

You will leverage expertise in mechanical design, FEA, welded steel structures, pressure vessels, and piping systems to deliver technically challenging projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering or equivalent.
• 5+ years in mechanical design or design engineering.
• Experience with large industrial equipment and complex mechanical systems.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools; SolidWorks preferred.
• Strong FEA experience using ANSYS or similar.
• Experience with welded steel structures and pressure vessels.
• Familiarity with GD&T and engineering documentation standards.
• Ability to travel up to 10% domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Design and validate mechanical subsystems for custom equipment.
• Perform FEA and supporting calculations.
• Develop design criteria, calculation packages, and specs.
• Create drawings, BOMs, and manufacturing docs.
• Review designs for manufacturability, safety, and customer requirements.
• Support procurement, subcontractors, and field installation.
• Coordinate with project teams and cross-functional engineers.
• Contribute to proposals with technical concepts and cost estimates.

Skills

Mechanical design

FEA analysis

3D CAD

Communication

Project management

Fabrication knowledge

Welding & pressure vessels knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

ANSYS

3D CAD software

Job description

Job Description

Mechanical Engineer - Advanced Mechanical SystemsDesign Complex Systems. Solve Technical Challenges. Support Next-Generation Testing.

Are you a Mechanical Engineer who enjoys working on highly custom equipment, complex mechanical systems, and challenging engineering problems that do not come with a one-size-fits-all solution?

We are seeking a skilled Mechanical Engineer to support the design, analysis, and validation of custom mechanical and structural systems used in advanced wind tunnel and ground test environments. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys taking concepts from early design through analysis, documentation, fabrication support, installation, and commissioning.

If you have experience with mechanical design, FEA, welded steel structures, pressure vessels, piping systems, process equipment, and large industrial systems, this is a great opportunity to work on technically challenging projects in a collaborative engineering environment.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Mechanical Engineer, you will help design and validate custom mechanical systems and equipment for new facilities, major upgrades, and complex test environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical subsystems for custom engineered equipment and facility upgrades.
• Work on systems that may include:
  • Welded steel structures
  • Pressure vessels
  • Piping systems
  • Mechanical mechanisms
  • Rotating equipment
  • Pneumatic systems
  • Hydraulic systems
  • Fuel systems
  • Cooling water systems
  • Process equipment
• Perform FEA and supporting calculations to validate mechanical and structural designs.
• Develop design criteria, calculation packages, procurement specifications, technical reports, and verification plans.
• Collaborate with designers to create accurate drawings, bills of material, and manufacturing documentation.
• Review designs for manufacturability, performance, safety, and customer requirements.
• Support procurement and subcontractor coordination when components or systems are outsourced.
• Participate in internal and customer design reviews.
• Provide technical support to fabrication, procurement, assembly, installation, and commissioning teams.
• Assist with vendor selection, quality review, site surveys, and equipment installation.
• Coordinate with project managers, chief engineers, and cross‑functional engineering teams.
• Support future project proposals through technical concepts, cost estimates, and written proposal content.

What We’re Looking For

Required Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or equivalent education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, systems engineering, or design engineering.
• Experience with large industrial equipment, complex mechanical systems, or facility‑based engineering projects.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools for mechanical design.
• SolidWorks experience preferred, but other 3D CAD platforms will be considered.
• Strong FEA experience for mechanical and structural analysis.
• ANSYS experience preferred, or similar FEA software.
• Experience designing and analyzing welded steel structures.
• Experience with fluid/process systems including valves, filters, pumps, instrumentation, and piping.
• Knowledge of fabrication methods such as forming, welding, machining, and additive manufacturing.
• Experience with pressure vessels and piping systems using applicable codes such as B31.3, PED, or similar standards.
• Familiarity with GD&T and engineering documentation standards.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary engineering environment.
• Strong communication, organization, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities independently.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed, typically less than 10%.
• Must meet US Person requirements based on applicable security requirements.

Preferred Background

Candidates with experience in any of the following areas are highly encouraged to apply:

• Aerospace engineering environments
• Wind tunnel or ground test facilities
• Large industrial equipment
• Custom mechanical equipment
• High‑temperature systems
• Mechanical test systems
• Pressure vessels and process piping
• Structural analysis and mechanical substantiation
• Advanced manufacturing environments
• New facility development or major facility upgrades

Additional strengths include:

• Experience with high-temperature environments above approximately 2000&degree;F
• Transient heat t