Mechanical Engineer

Actalent; Pleasant Valley Township (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401K

PTO

Holiday Pay

Job summary

Actalent, Riverdale, IA, is seeking a Mechanical Engineer for the Sheet Finishing department to improve safety, efficiency, and product quality in a large-scale aluminum rolling operation. You will manage mechanical system integration and lead sustaining and capital projects from concept through commissioning.

The role requires independent work and close collaboration with engineering, maintenance, and production teams, with occasional off-shift support for critical projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals for complex manufacturing processes.
• Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills across all levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools for analysis and reporting.
• Familiarity with project tools like Microsoft Project to plan and track activities.

Responsibilities

• Support Sheet Finishing by driving safety, efficiency, output, and quality improvements.
• Lead project management for sustaining and capital improvement projects from concept to closure.
• Manage all phases of mechanical engineering projects from concept to commissioning and closure.
• Oversee mechanical system integration to enhance manufacturing infrastructure and processes.
• Collaborate with engineers, maintenance, and production teams to meet goals.
• Coordinate external vendors/contractors for design, procurement, installation, and support.
• Drive safety, infrastructure reliability, training, and production improvements.

Skills

Mechanical fundamentals

Independent & team work

Communication skills

Microsoft Office proficiency

Project management awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Office (Word/Excel/PowerPoint)

Job description

Job Title

Mechanical Engineer Sheet Finishing

Job Description

This Mechanical Engineer role supports the Sheet Finishing department to improve safety, efficiency, output, and product quality in a large-scale aluminum rolling operation. You will be responsible for mechanical system integration to create, sustain, and enhance manufacturing infrastructure and processes. The position requires both independent work and close collaboration with engineers, technical staff, maintenance, and production teams. You will lead and execute project management activities for sustaining and capital improvement projects, managing all phases from concept through commissioning and closure. The role typical follows a MondayFriday daytime schedule, with occasional offshift support as project needs arise.

Responsibilities

• Support the Sheet Finishing department by driving improvements in safety, efficiency, output, and product quality.
• Lead and execute project management activities for sustaining and capital improvement projects, ensuring delivery on scope, schedule, and quality.
• Manage all phases of mechanical engineering projects, including concept development, scope definition, specification creation, safety reviews, bidding, design, manufacturing, commissioning, and project closure.
• Take responsibility for mechanical system integration to create, sustain, and enhance manufacturing infrastructure and production processes.
• Work both independently and collaboratively with engineers, technical staff, maintenance personnel, and production teams to achieve project and operational goals.
• Coordinate and oversee external vendors and contractors for design, material procurement, installation, and ongoing technical support.
• Drive tactical improvements in safety, infrastructure reliability, training, and production performance across the Sheet Finishing area.
• Lead and support structured problemsolving efforts to improve process and machine performance, including root cause analysis and implementation of corrective actions.
• Interpret and work with mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and utility system designs, and implement improvement modifications where needed.
• Develop, document, and implement mechanical engineering project work, including detailed plans, technical documentation, and commissioning procedures.
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels of the organization to provide project updates, gather requirements, and ensure alignment.
• Provide occasional offshift support as required to execute projects, troubleshoot equipment, or support critical production activities.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural Engineering, or a closely related engineering field from an accredited institution.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals with the ability to support complex manufacturing processes and equipment.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team of engineers, technicians, maintenance, and production personnel.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact comfortably across all levels of the organization.
• Solid proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) for analysis, documentation, and reporting.
• Proficiency with project tools, including Microsoft Project or similar software, to plan, track, and report on project activities.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• 3+ years of engineering experience in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Experience working with aluminum rolling mills or similar heavy industrial technologies.
• Ability to interpret and work with mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic, and utility system designs, including making improvement modifications.
• Handson experience developing and implementing mechanical engineering project work from concept through commissioning.
• Experience coordinating and overseeing external vendors and contractors for design, materials, installation, and technical support.
• Demonstrated ability to lead problemsolving efforts focused on process and machine performance improvements.
• Experience driving improvements in safety, infrastructure reliability, training, and production within a manufacturing environment.

Work Environment

This role is based in a large aluminum rolling mill facility that spans approximately one mile in length, offering a unique, largescale industrial environment often described as a full course under one roof. The operation is part of a global rolled products network that supplies highquality materials to aerospace, automotive, commercial transportation, building and construction, industrial, packaging, and consumer goods markets. The site has a long history in American manufacturing and has benefited from significant modernization investments, supporting its position as a premier aerospace supply plant. You will work in a team environment alongside other engineers, technicians, and production staff, with frequent collaboration across departments. The typical schedule is MondayFriday days, with occasional offshift work to support critical projects or commissioning activities. The facility culture encourages involvement through employee resource groups, outside activities, and newemployee events, fostering connection and engagement beyond daytoday work. The company offers a signon bonus and a relocation package to support new hires joining the team. Standard industrial safety practices apply, and attire is consistent with a heavy manufacturing setting, including appropriate personal protective equipment as required by plant policies.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Riverdale, IA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $80000.00/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.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401K
• PTO
• Holiday Pay

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 13, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Riverdale,IA.

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.