Design Engineer

Job Title: Design Engineer

Job Description

This Design Engineer role focuses on creating custom mechanical solutions using SolidWorks, including jigs, fixtures, end effectors, and specialized equipment that support production operations. You will own projects from concept through implementation, performing structural design and FEA analysis when needed, and working closely with customers to align designs and schedules with their operational needs. The position offers the opportunity to contribute directly to a growing, stable company, collaborate with a close-knit team, and see your designs through fabrication, assembly, and installation in real production environments.

Responsibilities

• Use SolidWorks to design jigs, fixtures, end effector tooling, material handling systems, and other custom mechanical equipment for production environments.
• Create complex mechanical designs from scratch, including detailed 3D models and engineering drawings, rather than only modifying existing designs.
• Perform structural design and FEA analysis when needed to validate design integrity, safety, and performance.
• Own projects from cradle to grave, taking responsibility from initial concept and design through fabrication, assembly, installation, and final implementation.
• Work closely with customers to understand requirements, develop design plans, and provide regular updates on project schedules and progress.
• Lead or participate in design reviews, incorporating feedback from customers and internal stakeholders to refine and improve solutions.
• Support the assembly of your designs in the shop, collaborating with machinists, fabricators, and technicians to ensure manufacturability and quality.
• Provide on-site support during installation at customer locations, helping to integrate equipment into production lines and resolve any technical issues.
• Ensure designs are manufacturable, cost-effective, and suitable for production environments by applying strong knowledge of machining, fabrication, and assembly processes.
• Optimize tooling, jigs, fixtures, and material handling systems to improve production precision, repeatability, efficiency, and ergonomics.
• Document designs, changes, and project details using SolidWorks, drafting standards, and relevant software tools such as Microsoft products.
• Collaborate with the plant and production teams to enhance safety, reduce downtime, and streamline workflows through better equipment and process design.

Essential Skills

• Expert-level proficiency in SolidWorks, with the ability to create complex mechanical designs, tooling, fixtures, and custom equipment from scratch.
• Strong experience in custom machine and tooling design, including jigs, fixtures, end effectors, and material handling equipment for production environments.
• Proven track record of full project ownership from concept through design, fabrication, assembly, installation, and implementation.
• Solid project management skills, including managing timelines, deliverables, design reviews, and customer communication.
• Strong understanding of machining, fabrication, assembly, and shop processes to ensure designs are manufacturable and cost-effective.
• Mechanical design and machine design experience in a production or manufacturing context.
• Ability to perform FEA analysis and structural design when required to validate and improve designs.
• Proficiency with computer tools, particularly SolidWorks and Microsoft products.
• Experience with machining, fabrication, and new product development.
• Mechanical engineering background or equivalent experience in mechanical design and engineering.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Familiarity with AutoCAD for supplemental drafting and layout work.
• Basic sheet metal design knowledge and experience.
• Degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field is favorable.
• Experience working in fabrication machine shops or similar environments.
• Exposure to material handling systems and production tooling for manufacturing operations.
• Strong communication skills for effective customer interaction and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative, close-knit team.
• Interest in owning projects end-to-end and taking accountability for outcomes.

Work Environment

You will work in a small, growing engineering and fabrication environment that designs, builds, and implements custom manufacturing solutions for production operations. The team focuses heavily on tooling, jigs, fixtures, and material handling systems that support plant-floor activities. You will collaborate closely with plant personnel to engineer and develop custom tooling that improves precision and repeatability on the line, optimize production processes and workflows to increase efficiency and reduce downtime, and enhance ergonomics and safety for operators through better equipment design. The organization fabricates, assembles, and installs solutions onsite, acting as a full-service partner from concept through implementation, so you can expect a mix of office-based design work and hands-on involvement in the shop and at customer locations. The culture emphasizes long-term stability, with a history of avoiding layoffs, and offers high visibility, direct impact on company growth, and the opportunity to own projects from cradle to grave as part of a close-knit, collaborative team.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Georgetown, KY.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $38.00 - $45.00/hr.

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 Georgetown,KY.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 27, 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 actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com 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.