Mechanical Project Engineer

Actalent; Washington; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Mechanical Project Engineer to lead the design, procurement, fabrication, assembly, integration, start-up, and commissioning of large-scale aerospace tooling systems. The role provides technical leadership across the full project lifecycle, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet technical, budget, and schedule objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a BS in Mechanical Engineering, 8+ years in heavy machinery design or aerospace tooling, and proficiency in

Qualifications

• BS in mechanical engineering or related field.
• 8+ years in heavy machinery design or aerospace tooling.
• Manufacturing/machine shop background preferred.
• CATIA/NX/SolidWorks proficiency.
• FEA experience (Ansys/Femap preferred).
• Ability to obtain/maintain Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead long-term engineering projects with emphasis on quality, budget, and schedule.
• Perform design evaluations and develop customer-aligned solutions.
• Plan and achieve project goals using extensive engineering experience.
• Lead designers, stress analysts, and fabrication partners.
• Develop concept models and detailed system plans for bids.
• Provide leadership to ensure realistic design schedules and clear communications.
• Support proposals with technical input for bids and business development.
• Travel domestically and internationally for design reviews and commissioning activities.

Skills

Mechanical design experience

Aerospace tooling

Leadership

CATIA

FEA

Security clearance

Project leadership

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

CATIA V5

NX

SolidWorks

FEA software (Ansys/Femap)

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Mechanical Project Engineer

Top Skills:

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, related discipline, or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Minimum eight years prior work experience in one or more of the following: Heavy Machine Design, Structural Design Aerospace Tooling Assembly Systems and Automation.
• Manufacturing and machine shop background or relevant experience preferred.
• CAD Software Knowledge:
• CATIA V5, NX or Equivalent software knowledge (Solidworks, Pro E, etc.)
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis (FEA) software (Ansys or Femap is preferred)
• Must be able to obtain, maintain and/or currently possess a Secret security clearance.

Job Description

The Mechanical Project Engineer leads the design, procurement, fabrication, assembly, integration, start-up, and commissioning of very large-scale automated aerospace assembly systems. This role provides technical leadership across the full project lifecycle, from concept development and bid proposals through system commissioning and customer handover. The engineer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to develop conventional and automated tooling systems and customized machine tools for aerospace applications, while ensuring projects meet technical, budget, and schedule objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the completion of long-term engineering projects, ensuring technical quality, budget compliance, and adherence to schedule.
• Perform engineering design evaluations and develop solutions that meet customer specifications and project requirements.
• Plan and accomplish project goals by leveraging extensive engineering experience and sound judgment.
• Lead by example and manage the work of designers, stress analysts, offload design resources, and offload fabrication partners.
• Collaborate with designers to develop concept models in response to customer specifications and define detailed system plans, processes, and sequences of operations for bid proposals.
• Define, organize, and prioritize project goals to align with overall program objectives.
• Provide leadership to ensure design schedules are realistic, clearly communicated, and consistently met.
• Work with the marketing team to support new design considerations and contribute technical input for proposals and business development activities.
• Provide engineering support for new product introduction into manufacturing, including tooling, fixtures, and process integration.
• Participate in and occasionally lead integration activities for large-scale automated aerospace assembly systems, including start-up and commissioning.
• Work autonomously in concept creation, detailed design, engineering drawings, and preparation of technical publications.
• Apply developing skills in advanced analysis and stress engineering with appropriate support, while independently executing core mechanical engineering tasks.
• Work autonomously in technologies such as jigs and tools, platforms, machine design, integration, and operations, while developing capabilities in heating and controls.
• Use CATIA and related tools independently to generate and manage 3D models, 2D drawings, and engineering documentation.
• Provide leadership in customer interface, including requirements clarification, status updates, and technical discussions.
• Apply process-based thinking and requirements management to ensure traceability from customer needs through delivered systems.
• Develop, maintain, and track schedules and estimates for engineering tasks and deliverables.
• Coordinate engineering resources across concept development, mechanical design, procurement support, fabrication, integration, and commissioning.
• Provide independent review, checks, and feedback on engineering deliverables such as 3D models, 2D drawings, and design presentations.
• Respond to customer inquiries and issues in a timely and effective manner, ensuring clear communication and follow-through.
• Identify technical and project-related problems, review relevant information, develop options, and implement practical solutions.
• Support proposal activities by contributing to concept development, system architecture, and technical content for bids.
• Travel domestically and internationally to customer sites as needed for design reviews, integration support, start-up, and commissioning activities.
• Perform other engineering and project-related duties as assigned to support overall program success.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in aerospace engineering, aerospace tooling, or larg