Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer Job Description The Mechanical Engineer will design and develop complex industrial equipment used in the corrugated paper industry, with a strong focus on mechanical design, finite element analysis, and design for manufacturing. This role involves performing detailed engineering calculations, creating and refining 3D and 2D designs, and incorporating customer feedback into engineering change orders to improve performance, manufacturability, and reliability of machinery. Responsibilities

- Design complex industrial equipment for the corrugated paper industry, ensuring robust performance, reliability, and safety.
- Perform finite element analysis (FEA), including stress, thermal, fluid, heat, and steam calculations, to validate and optimize designs.
- Conduct mechanical calculations for drive train selection and other critical mechanical systems.
- Create detailed 3D models and 2D drawings using SolidWorks and AutoCAD for new equipment and components.
- Apply design for manufacturing principles to ensure equipment and components are practical, cost-effective, and efficient to produce.
- Design and detail sheet metal components and assemblies, ensuring structural integrity and manufacturability.
- Use GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) to define critical dimensions, tolerances, and functional relationships on drawings.
- Incorporate hydraulics and pneumatics into machine designs, ensuring proper integration and performance of fluid power systems.
- Prepare, process, and implement engineering change orders (ECOs) to update designs based on test results, customer feedback, and manufacturing input.
- Collaborate with internal teams and customers to understand requirements, gather feedback, and translate needs into effective design modifications.
- Review and refine existing designs to improve performance, reliability, and ease of maintenance.
- Document designs, analyses, and design changes thoroughly to support manufacturing, assembly, and service teams.

Essential Skills

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
- 5+ years of experience with equipment design, preferably in industrial or machine design environments.
- 5+ years of experience performing FEA analysis, including stress, thermal, fluid, heat, and steam evaluations.
- 5+ years of experience using SolidWorks for 3D modeling and mechanical design.
- 5+ years of experience using AutoCAD for 2D drafting and layout.
- 5+ years of experience implementing design changes through engineering change orders (ECOs).
- 5+ years of experience designing sheet metal components and assemblies.
- Proficiency with GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing) for defining and controlling critical dimensions.
- Hands-on experience in mechanical design of industrial equipment, including machine design.
- Knowledge of hydraulics and pneumatics as applied to industrial machinery.
- Strong understanding of mechanical engineering principles, including stress analysis, drive train selection, and fluid and thermal considerations.
- Ability to apply design for manufacturing principles to ensure efficient and cost-effective production.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Experience designing industrial equipment used in manufacturing environments, such as the corrugated paper industry.
- Experience in mechanical engineering with emphasis on machine design and industrial equipment.
- Familiarity with integrating hydraulic and pneumatic systems into mechanical designs.
- Strong attention to detail in creating and reviewing mechanical drawings and documentation.
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and incorporate customer feedback into design improvements.
- Solid problem-solving skills with a focus on root cause analysis and continuous improvement of mechanical systems.

Work Environment The role focuses on the design and development of industrial equipment in a professional engineering environment. You will primarily work with SolidWorks for 3D modeling and AutoCAD for 2D drafting, as well as tools for performing FEA and related engineering analyses. The position involves close collaboration with manufacturing and customer-facing teams to ensure that designs are practical to produce and aligned with customer needs. Work typically takes place in an office or engineering design setting with regular interaction with production and equipment environments for design reviews and feedback.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, WI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $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)
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Madison, WI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 23, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Madison,WI. 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.