Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: III Mechanical Switchgear Engineer

Job Description

This role leads the mechanical design of custom low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear, focusing on enclosures, assemblies, and components. The engineer uses advanced 3D CAD tools to develop and review designs, ensure compliance with mechanical, UL, and NEMA standards, and support the full product lifecycle from concept through fabrication. The position includes guiding an engineering team, mentoring junior engineers, and contributing to continuous improvement in a rapidly growing organization with significant exposure to leadership and major data center projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical design of custom low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear enclosures, assemblies, and components.
• Create detailed 3D models, assemblies, and engineering drawings using CAD tools such as Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD.
• Oversee and conduct design reviews to ensure mechanical integrity and compliance with UL, NEMA, and internal standards.
• Collaborate closely with electrical engineering, manufacturing, and project teams to ensure cohesive and manufacturable designs.
• Support the full product lifecycle, including research and development, design, prototyping, validation, and transition to production.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles to sheet metal design and industrial equipment applications.
• Use drawing software and 3D modeling tools to maintain accurate documentation and revision control for all designs.
• Participate in and lead continuous improvement initiatives in design processes, standards, and tools.
• Mentor and guide junior mechanical engineers and mechanical designers, providing technical direction and feedback.
• Contribute to project planning and project management activities, including estimating effort, managing priorities, and tracking progress across multiple projects.
• Ensure designs meet requirements for low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear applications, including mechanical robustness and safety.
• Engage in regular communication with cross-functional stakeholders to resolve design issues and support timely project delivery.
• Support and, when needed, lead design-related problem solving on the shop floor during fabrication and assembly.
• Prepare and present design concepts, options, and trade-offs during internal design reviews and cross-functional meetings.
• Demonstrate leadership capabilities with the potential to step into a formal leadership or manager role within 2–3 years.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in mechanical design for industrial equipment, preferably with low-voltage and medium-voltage switchgear or similar products.
• Strong 3D modeling skills and proficiency with Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD or comparable 3D CAD and drawing software.
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.
• Experience in product development, including research and development and full product lifecycle involvement.
• Knowledge of UL and NEMA standards and their application to mechanical design of switchgear or industrial equipment.
• Hands-on experience with sheet metal design and fabrication considerations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, ideally including leading a team of engineers or designers.
• Ability to conduct and lead design reviews, ensuring technical rigor and compliance.
• Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including familiarity with finite element analysis (FEA) concepts and tools.
• Effective collaboration skills for working with electrical, manufacturing, and project teams.
• Solid project management and organizational skills to handle multiple concurrent projects.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills for documentation, presentations, and cross-functional coordination.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working with low-voltage and medium-voltage (LV/MV) switchgear or related power distribution equipment.
• Experience in industrial equipment design within a fast-growing or dynamic environment.
• Familiarity with Autodesk design tools and broader Autodesk ecosystems.
• Exposure to continuous improvement initiatives in engineering processes and standards.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers or designers and contributing to team development.
• Interest in growing into a leadership or managerial position within a 2–3 year timeframe.
• Ability to adapt to evolving project demands and prioritize effectively across multiple assignments.

Work Environment

The role follows a Monday through Friday schedule, typically from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with the expectation of approximately 10 hours of overtime per week due to high project demand. Occasional weekend work may be required when projects reach the fabrication stage, with an average of about one Saturday per month. The engineer supports projects from design through fabrication, maintaining close interaction with the shop floor and manufacturing operations. The team consists of around 13 professionals, including mechanical engineers and mechanical designers, fostering a collaborative environment with opportunities for mentorship and leadership. The organization operates with a flat hierarchy, providing regular interaction with leadership and exposure to strategic initiatives. The company is experiencing rapid growth, including significant expansion in data center and other large-scale projects, offering substantial opportunities for career advancement and professional development.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

The pay range for this position is $36.00 - $38.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 4, 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.