Field Data Collection Engineer

Job Title: Field Data Collection Engineer Job Description
The Field Data Collection Engineer will travel extensively across North America to gather, validate, organize, and report precise physical measurements at various industrial, logistics, and operational facilities. This role involves characterizing trailers, loading areas, dock interfaces, floor conditions, and environmental factors that affect the performance of automated material-handling systems. This position is ideal for an early-career engineer, engineering technician, or technically oriented analyst who enjoys hands-on work and frequent travel, transforming physical observations into structured engineering insights.
Responsibilities
- Travel weekly to logistics, fulfillment, distribution, manufacturing, and other industrial facilities across North America.
- Conduct detailed site assessments using standardized engineering measurement procedures.
- Measure and document trailer interior and exterior dimensions, width variations, dock-interface geometry, angles, floor conditions, and environmental constraints.
- Operate laser distance meters, inclinometers, calipers, measurement templates, cameras, and other approved field equipment.
- Capture photographic and video evidence in accordance with applicable security, privacy, and site-access requirements.
- Follow established measurement procedures to ensure consistency across different sites, operators, and operating conditions.
- Verify the accuracy, completeness, and repeatability of collected measurements before leaving each location.
- Identify anomalies, discrepancies, outliers, environmental constraints, and missing information during site assessments.
- Perform field-level quality checks and resolve measurement issues before data submission.
- Maintain complete field notes, measurement records, equipment logs, photographs, and supporting documentation.
- Upload and organize data within designated engineering databases and structured repositories.
- Apply required naming conventions, data-security requirements, document-control practices, and compliance procedures.
- Maintain structured datasets for engineering analysis and database validation.
- Create concise site summaries, technical reports, charts, and measurement packages for engineering stakeholders.
- Convert raw measurements and observations into clear engineering findings and actionable recommendations.
- Support site-level assessments to determine whether a location meets defined automation or equipment-deployment criteria.
- Analyze measurement patterns and physical-property trends across multiple locations.
- Collaborate with engineers and analysts to improve measurement methods, templates, workflows, and data-quality controls.
- Communicate field challenges, access constraints, safety concerns, and data gaps promptly.
- Coordinate with site operations personnel to arrange access and minimize disruption to active operations.
- Work cross-functionally with mechanical engineers, automation engineers, program managers, analysts, and regional operations teams.
- Participate in training, standard operating procedure development, lessons-learned reviews, and continuous-improvement initiatives.
Essential Skills
- Proficiency in Excel, documentation, reporting, and data collection.
- Experience with project management, SQL, dashboard creation, logistics, calipers, laser distance meters, and SOPs.
- Valid drivers license and ability to meet rental-car and corporate travel requirements.
- Ability to maintain a reliable travel schedule and manage airfare, lodging, ground transportation, and expense documentation.
- Strong judgment when working independently in active industrial environments.
- Professional communication skills for coordinating with local site leaders and engineering stakeholders.
- Ability to distinguish observations from conclusions and document both effectively.
- Ability to organize large volumes of photographs, measurements, notes, and supporting records.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Familiarity with gauge repeatability and reproducibility concepts is beneficial.
- OSHA 10, Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Certified Quality Technician, or similar credentials would be advantageous but are not mandatory.
- Ability to comply with site-specific personal protective equipment requirements.
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and bend, reach, kneel, or crouch while taking measurements.
- Ability to carry field equipment and measurement kits.
- Ability to work around loading docks, trailers, material-handling equipment, vehicle traffic, and active industrial operations.
- Strong personal safety awareness and willingness to stop work when conditions are unsafe.
- Passport eligibility is strongly preferred because international travel may be required.
Work Environment
This is a travel-based field position, with up to 100% travel throughout North America and possible international assignments. The primary work locations are active logistics, fulfillment, warehouse, distribution, trailer, loading-dock, and industrial environments. Work is generally during weekday daytime hours but may require early departures, evening travel, Sunday travel, or occasional after-hours site access. The position involves regular standing, walking, bending, reaching, kneeling, and movement around trailers and dock areas. Equipment used includes laser distance meters, inclinometers, calipers, measurement templates, cameras, laptops, and approved data-collection tools. Environmental conditions vary, with temperature, noise, lighting, floor conditions, vehicle traffic, and active material-handling operations expected. Safety footwear, high-visibility apparel, eye protection, hearing protection, or other site-specific PPE may be required. The role involves daily asynchronous and scheduled communication with a distributed engineering team, supplemented by direct coordination with local operations personnel. Engagement duration is initially a two-to-three-month assignment with potential extension.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract position based out of Grand Rapids, MI.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $69.16 - $70.00/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 Grand Rapids, MI.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Nov 11, 2026.
Workplace Type
This is a fully remote position. 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.