Product Design Engineer

Job Title: Catia Design Engineer Automotive Plastic Components

Job Description

This role focuses on designing plastic automotive components for exterior car mirrors using Catia V5, supporting both new product launches and existing product lines in a fast paced, collaborative environment.

- Leading the design and DFMEA process to identify and mitigate potential failure modes

Responsibilities

- Design plastic automotive parts for exterior car mirror systems using Catia V5, ensuring robust, manufacturable, and cost-effective solutions.
- Support new automotive product launches by contributing to design concepts, detailed designs, and design validation activities.
- Provide ongoing design support for existing product lines, including design updates, improvements, and issue resolution.
- Own and execute the full DFMEA process for assigned components, identifying potential failure modes, root causes, and implementing design changes to reduce risk.
- Collaborate closely with customers on design requirements, specifications, and changes, ensuring alignment with program objectives and timelines.
- Work with Class A surfaces to integrate styling requirements into functional plastic component designs.
- Partner with component suppliers to ensure designs meet manufacturing capabilities, quality standards, and performance targets.
- Participate in cross-functional design reviews with engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program teams to refine and approve design solutions.
- Prepare and maintain design documentation, models, and drawings in accordance with internal standards and customer requirements.
- Support multiple customer programs simultaneously, managing priorities and delivering high-quality design work within project schedules.
- Contribute to continuous improvement of design processes, standards, and best practices within the product development environment.

Essential Skills

- Proficiency in Catia V5
- 5-10 years of experience in product design
- Experience designing plastic parts
- Experience working with Class A surfaces
- Strong communication and collaboration skills

Additional Skills & Qualifications

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering preferred.
- Automotive supplier experience preferred over OEM experience.
- Experience working with component suppliers and understanding their manufacturing processes is highly desirable.
- Senior-level engineering experience is preferred, with a track record of supporting complex product development programs.
- Previous experience supporting similar automotive product development environments, particularly exterior mirror or plastic component programs.

Work Environment

- 100% onsite in a collaborative, team-oriented environment focused on automotive product development.
- Fast pace, supporting multiple customer programs simultaneously, and emphasizes open communication, cross-functional teamwork, and a positive, supportive atmosphere.
- Engineers work closely with design, engineering, and supplier teams, using Catia V5 and related tools in a modern product development setting.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Zeeland, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $55.00/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 position based out of Zeeland, MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 6, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Zeeland,MI. 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.