Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer Job Description
The Mechanical Design Engineer develops, improves, and supports mobile equipment products throughout their lifecycle by combining strong mechanical engineering expertise with hands-on design, testing, and cross-functional collaboration. This role analyzes real-world performance data, leads design improvements, creates detailed engineering documentation, and partners closely with manufacturing and other teams to deliver high-quality, reliable products.
Responsibilities
- Analyze customer feedback, warranty data, testing results, and field performance to identify opportunities for product and design improvement.
- Collaborate with manufacturing, purchasing, vendors, customers, marketing, and engineering teams throughout the product lifecycle to ensure designs meet performance, cost, and quality objectives.
- Perform engineering calculations and analyses involving mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems to support robust and reliable product designs.
- Create, update, and maintain engineering drawings, layouts, 3D models, and product documentation in CAD systems.
- Develop, build, and test prototypes of new or improved designs; analyze test results and implement corrective actions based on findings.
- Conduct quality checks and investigate product performance issues in the field, recommending design changes or process improvements as needed.
- Communicate design changes, technical recommendations, and project status through presentations, written reports, and technical discussions with cross-functional teams.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on enhancing product quality, improving manufacturing efficiency, reducing costs, and increasing customer satisfaction.
- Apply principles of lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and process engineering to improve manufacturing processes and product performance.
- Participate in new product development activities, including concept generation, design reviews, and validation testing.
- Coordinate with production and assembly teams to ensure designs are manufacturable and align with existing tooling, automation, and manufacturing processes.
- Use project management skills to plan, prioritize, and execute engineering tasks and design projects within established timelines.
- Ensure designs comply with relevant industry standards and regulations, including UL, NFPA, ANSI, ISO, and ITA.
- Utilize an MRP system to support engineering changes, bill of materials management, and product configuration.
- Travel domestically and internationally as needed to support field investigations, customer visits, vendor collaboration, and product launches.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Physical Sciences.
- 3+ years of product engineering experience designing mobile equipment, or 5+ years of related product design experience.
- Strong mechanical engineering knowledge, particularly in mobile equipment and mechanical systems.
- Proficiency with CAD design software, preferably NX or IDEAS, for 3D modeling, layouts, and detailed drawings.
- Experience with mechanical design and machine design, including assembly and tooling considerations.
- Experience with testing, validation, and troubleshooting of mechanical and electro-mechanical systems.
- Ability to perform engineering calculations and analyses involving mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic systems.
- Experience using an MRP system to support product design and manufacturing processes.
- Understanding of mechanical systems and mobile equipment design principles.
- Familiarity with industry standards such as UL, NFPA, ANSI, ISO, and ITA, and ability to design in accordance with these standards.
- Demonstrated cross-functional collaboration experience in a manufacturing environment.
- Strong communication skills to present technical information, write reports, and participate in technical discussions.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
- Authorization to work in the U.S. indefinitely without sponsorship.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Experience with NX or similar CAD platforms and familiarity with other tools such as AutoCAD and Creo.
- Background in mobile equipment design and development engineering.
- Exposure to electrical and automation aspects of equipment design.
- Experience with Six Sigma, lean manufacturing, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Process engineering and process improvement experience in a production or manufacturing environment.
- Experience supporting manufacturing processes, production, and assembly operations.
- Project management capabilities, including planning, prioritizing, and tracking engineering work.
- Ability to develop, build, and test prototypes and interpret test data to drive design changes.
- Strong problem-solving skills for investigating field performance issues and implementing corrective actions.
- Comfort working with tooling, fixtures, and manufacturing equipment in support of design and process optimization.
Work Environment
This role operates within a stable, well-established manufacturing environment that focuses on mobile equipment products. You work closely with cross-functional teams including manufacturing, purchasing, vendors, customers, marketing, and engineering, using modern CAD tools such as NX, IDEAS, AutoCAD, and Creo, as well as MRP systems and standard engineering software. The facility emphasizes continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and quality-focused processes, offering long-term career growth and strong benefits. The organization has a large local presence with hundreds of employees and a history of very long employee tenure, reflecting a people-first culture and a supportive, collaborative atmosphere. Domestic and international travel may be required to visit customer sites, vendors, or field locations to support product investigations, testing, and launches. Attire is typical for an engineering role in a manufacturing setting, with office-appropriate clothing and appropriate safety gear when working on the production floor or in field environments.
Job Type & Location
This is a Permanent position based out of Lexington, KY.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $105000.00/yr. 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. Referral program
Tuition reimbursement
Parental leave
401(k)
Health insurance
Retirement plan
401(k) matching
Paid time off
Vision insurance
Health savings account
Dental insurance
Flexible spending account
Life insurance
Employee assistance program
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Lexington,KY.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Sep 30, 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 [email protected] 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.