Larkin - Manufacturing Engineer 2

Job Title: Manufacturing Engineer II

Job Description

This role focuses on supporting and improving manufacturing processes within a foundry environment, with a strong emphasis on hands-on work with casting operations and production equipment. The Manufacturing Engineer II prepares and starts up equipment, executes daily experiments and process improvement tasks, and collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operations on the shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and start up manufacturing equipment at the start of each day to ensure production readiness and safe operation.
• Document results from prior day experiments, tests, and process trials in a clear and organized manner for ongoing analysis and continuous improvement.
• Execute daily Design of Experiments (DOE) tasks to optimize manufacturing processes, improve quality, and enhance equipment performance.
• Provide a thorough handoff to the counterpart on the trailing shift, including status updates, key findings, and any open issues or actions.
• Discuss and review results from prior day activities with team members to identify trends, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Document process adjustments and changes required for the daily tasks, ensuring accurate records for traceability and future reference.
• Communicate any operational needs, equipment issues, or roadblocks promptly to leadership, maintenance, and technical teams.
• Participate in weekly update meetings with leadership to report progress, share insights from DOE work, and propose improvements.
• Work closely with maintenance personnel to troubleshoot equipment issues, perform basic adjustments, and support maintenance activities.
• Collaborate with vendors and the technical department to address equipment concerns, source parts, and implement process enhancements.
• Apply strong mechanical aptitude to diagnose problems, make practical modifications, and support reliable operation of foundry and casting equipment.
• Engage in hands-on work with foundry processes, including casting, centrifugal casting, and molten metal operations, following all safety procedures.
• Use tools such as Power BI and Microsoft PowerApps to analyze data, track performance, and support decision-making for process improvements.
• Support machining and related manufacturing operations as needed, ensuring alignment with overall process and quality requirements.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, or an associate degree in a related field combined with approximately 4 years of manufacturing engineering experience.
• At least 2 years of manufacturing engineering experience, preferably in a foundry or heavy industrial environment.
• Strong hands-on mechanical aptitude and comfort working directly with production equipment and tools.
• Ability to lift up to 35 pounds as part of regular job duties.
• Experience with manufacturing processes and manufacturing engineering principles.
• Familiarity with foundry operations, including casting and centrifugal casting.
• Experience working with molten metal processes and related safety practices.
• Experience in equipment maintenance support, troubleshooting, and making adjustments to improve reliability and performance.
• Working knowledge of machining operations and their relationship to upstream casting and manufacturing processes.
• Ability to use Power BI for data analysis and reporting.
• Ability to work with Microsoft PowerApps to support process and data workflows.
• Strong communication skills to coordinate with maintenance, technical teams, vendors, and leadership.
• Comfort working in close proximity to electromagnetic fields, with appropriate safety awareness.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Prior casting experience, particularly with molten metal, is highly beneficial.
• Experience in a foundry or heavy industrial environment where equipment troubleshooting and adjustments are part of daily work.
• Demonstrated ability to document experiments, process changes, and equipment performance clearly and accurately.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across shifts to ensure smooth handoffs and continuity of operations.
• Interest in using data-driven tools such as Power BI and PowerApps to support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to evolving manufacturing technologies and processes.

Work Environment

This role is primarily based on the shop floor within a foundry-style manufacturing environment, with approximately 60-75% of time spent on the production floor and the remainder at a desk handling documentation, emails, and coordination with technical teams and vendors. The work involves regular interaction with maintenance staff, troubleshooting equipment issues, making adjustments to machinery, and working around molten metal and casting operations. The environment is hands-on and can be physically demanding, and the role suits individuals who are comfortable getting dirty and working around heavy industrial equipment. The standard schedule runs Monday through Thursday on a four 10-hour day arrangement, totaling about 40 hours per week. Required personal protective equipment includes metatarsal guards, steel-toed boots, foam-sealed safety glasses with strap, flame-resistant pants and jacket, and a bump cap, reflecting a strong emphasis on safety and proper attire in the facility.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Mapleton, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $28.00 - $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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Mapleton,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 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.