Product Design Engineer

Actalent; Zeeland (MI); On-site; USD 62,000 - 69,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) retirement plan

Life Insurance

PTO / Vacation leave

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Catia Design Engineer in Zeeland, MI for 100% onsite work on automotive plastics. You will lead design from concept to DFMEA, ensuring robust parts and customer satisfaction.

Ideal candidates have 5–10 years in automotive product design, strong Catia V5 skills, and experience with Class A surfaces, while collaborating across teams and suppliers to meet program goals.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience in product design, preferably within the automotive industry.
• Hands-on experience designing plastic parts for automotive applications.
• Experience with Class A surfaces for high-quality aesthetic and functional finishes.
• Background in automotive product development and launch processes.

Responsibilities

• Design plastic automotive parts using Catia V5, focusing on manufacturability.
• Develop and refine 3D models and drawings, including Class A surfaces.
• Lead and manage the full DFMEA process to enhance reliability.
• Support new product launches by translating customer requirements into designs.
• Collaborate with customers and internal teams to review concepts and resolve issues.
• Coordinate with suppliers to ensure feasible, cost-effective designs.
• Provide ongoing design support for existing product lines and updates.
• Participate in design reviews and cross-functional meetings to communicate intent.
• Document design decisions, specifications and DFMEA findings.
• Mentor less experienced engineers and support multiple customer programs.

Skills

Catia V5

DFMEA

Class A surfaces

Automotive design

Team collaboration

Communication skills

Product development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Job description

Job Description

The Catia Design Engineer will support both new automotive product launches and ongoing development of existing product lines, with a primary focus on designing plastic components. This role works fully onsite in a collaborative, fast-paced product development environment and involves owning the design process from concept through DFMEA, ensuring robust, reliable parts that meet customer requirements.

Job Title: Catia Design Engineer

Job Description

The Catia Design Engineer will support both new automotive product launches and ongoing development of existing product lines, with a primary focus on designing plastic components. This role works fully onsite in a collaborative, fast-paced product development environment and involves owning the design process from concept through DFMEA, ensuring robust, reliable parts that meet customer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design plastic automotive parts using Catia V5, focusing on high-quality, manufacturable components.
• Develop and refine 3D models and drawings, including work with Class A surfaces to achieve precise fit and finish.
• Lead and manage the full DFMEA process, identifying potential failure modes, root causes, and design improvements to enhance product reliability.
• Support new automotive product launches by translating customer requirements into practical, production-ready designs.
• Collaborate closely with customers and internal teams to review design concepts, incorporate feedback, and resolve technical issues.
• Work with component suppliers to ensure designs are feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with manufacturing capabilities.
• Provide ongoing design support for existing product lines, including updates, enhancements, and issue resolution.
• Participate in design reviews and cross-functional meetings to communicate design intent and ensure alignment with program goals.
• Document design decisions, specifications, and DFMEA findings in accordance with established product development processes.
• Contribute to a positive, team-oriented culture by sharing knowledge, mentoring less experienced engineers, and supporting multiple customer programs.

Essential Skills

• Proficiency in Catia V5 for 3D modeling and detailed design of mechanical components.
• 5–10 years of experience in product design, preferably within the automotive industry.
• Hands-on experience designing plastic parts for automotive applications.
• Experience working with Class A surfaces to achieve high-quality aesthetic and functional surfaces.
• Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment and contribute to shared project goals.
• Understanding of the DFMEA process and its application to identifying and mitigating potential product failures.
• Background in automotive product development and launch processes.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering preferred.
• Experience with automotive suppliers preferred over OEM experience.
• Experience working with component suppliers is highly desirable.
• Senior-level engineering experience is preferred, with a track record of supporting similar product development environments.
• Previous experience in fast-paced product development settings supporting multiple customer programs.

Work Environment

This role is 100% onsite in a collaborative, team-oriented environment focused on automotive product development. The workplace operates at a fast pace, supporting multiple customer programs simultaneously, and emphasizes open communication, cooperation, and a positive team atmosphere. The engineer will work closely with cross-functional colleagues and external partners, using Catia V5 and related engineering tools in a structured product development process.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Zeeland, MI.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $50.00/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) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Zeeland,MI. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 2, 2026.

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.