Mechanical Engineer (Entry-level)

ACTalent; Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and R​-

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick)

Job summary

Actalent, Lafayette, IN, is seeking an Entry-Level Design Engineer to join a growing engineering team. You will support the development, validation, and implementation of mechanical products and systems while collaborating with engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to drive new product introduction and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field and has 0–2 years of hands-on experience from internships or co-ops.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or aerospace engineering or related discipline.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on problem solving.
• Excellent communication, organization, and follow-up skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• 0–2 years of engineering experience, including internships, co-ops, or relevant project work.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and development of mechanical components and systems.
• Support new product introduction and existing product improvement projects.
• Collaborate with internal teams to define product requirements and resolve technical challenges.
• Work with suppliers and external partners to support design and manufacturing objectives.
• Participate in product testing, validation, and documentation activities.
• Analyze performance data and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Support project planning, scheduling, and progress tracking.
• Participate in design reviews and communicate project status to stakeholders.
• Assist with troubleshooting manufacturing and field-related issues.
• Stay current on engineering principles, technologies, and industry best practices.

Skills

Mechanical Engineering

Product Design

Engineering Fundamentals

Problem Solving

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or related

Job description

Entry-Level Design EngineerPosition Overview

Our client is seeking an Entry-Level Design Engineer to join a growing engineering team. This role will support the development, improvement, validation, and implementation of mechanical products and systems. The ideal candidate will work cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, and supplier teams to support new product development and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the design and development of mechanical components and systems
• Support new product introduction and existing product improvement projects
• Collaborate with internal teams to define product requirements and resolve technical challenges
• Work with suppliers and external partners to support design and manufacturing objectives
• Participate in product testing, validation, and documentation activities
• Analyze performance data and identify opportunities for improvement
• Support project planning, scheduling, and progress tracking
• Participate in design reviews and communicate project status to stakeholders
• Assist with troubleshooting manufacturing and field-related issues
• Stay current on engineering principles, technologies, and industry best practices

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
• Strong mechanical aptitude and interest in hands-on problem solving
• Excellent communication, organization, and follow-up skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment
• 0-2 years of engineering experience, including internships, co-ops, or relevant project work

Preferred Experience

• Hands-on experience through automotive work, farm equipment, machinery, fabrication, maintenance, or similar mechanical environments
• Experience with engineering design projects through coursework, internships, or extracurricular activities

Skills

• Mechanical Engineering
• Product Design
• Engineering Fundamentals
• Problem Solving
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Lafayette, IN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $33.00/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)

• 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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Lafayette, IN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 23, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Lafayette,IN.

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.