Machine Designer

Job Description

The Machine Designer is responsible for the mechanical design and engineering of custom automated equipment from initial concept through final review.

This role develops conceptual and detailed solutions that meet functional, performance, manufacturability, quality, and timeline requirements while acting as a technical expert on customer processes and products.

The Machine Designer collaborates closely with cross-functional teams and customers, validates third-party equipment, mitigates technical risks, and provides ongoing support during production and system commissioning.

This position offers the opportunity to work on highly technical, custom automation and factory automation projects that enhance long-term career growth and exposure to cutting-edge technologies.

Responsibilities

• Play an active role as a core member of the Mechanical Design Engineering team, contributing technical expertise and collaborating effectively with colleagues.
• Develop and design mechanical components, subassemblies, and complete systems for custom automated production equipment.
• Create clear, accurate engineering drawings and documentation in accordance with industry standards and internal guidelines.
• Ensure all mechanical designs meet functional, performance, manufacturability, and reliability requirements for automated systems.
• Stay current with mechanical engineering technologies, tools, and industry trends, continuously expanding technical knowledge and skills.
• Collaborate closely with other mechanical engineers, designers, electrical engineers, controls engineers, project managers, and other cross-functional team members to ensure project success.
• Provide technical support to manufacturing and assembly teams, addressing design-related questions and resolving issues to ensure smooth production processes.
• Troubleshoot design and manufacturing issues by analyzing problems, identifying root causes, and implementing effective corrective actions.
• Demonstrate strong communication and teamwork skills to foster positive working relationships with colleagues, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Present conceptual and detailed designs to customers in regular design review meetings, clearly explaining design intent and trade-offs.
• Ensure technical solutions align with committed functional requirements across all projects within the division.
• Own and develop project technical requirements, guiding design teams and stakeholders to resolve technical gaps and ambiguities.
• Act as an internal expert on customer processes and products to inform sound mechanical design decisions.
• Select, evaluate, and validate third-party equipment to ensure it meets project scope, specifications, and integration requirements.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks throughout the project lifecycle, from concept development through factory and site acceptance testing.
• Lead, present, and actively participate in design reviews to ensure alignment with project timelines, budgets, and quality expectations.
• Collaborate with Project Managers to assess and manage scope changes, ensuring alignment between customer expectations and company capabilities.
• Provide constructive feedback to Engineering Leaders to improve design standards, enhance best practices, and reduce design errors.
• Support resolution of design issues that impact Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) and Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) approvals.
• Participate in proposal reviews, providing technical input and feasibility assessments for new opportunities.
• Support customer site visits to capture as-built conditions and ensure accurate integration of new automated systems.
• Serve as a technical point of contact during production, helping to address issues, optimize performance, and ensure successful system deployment.
• Travel as needed within the US and Canada to support design reviews, installations, and project milestones, while maintaining effective communication with remote and onsite teams.
• Lead project teams from a technical perspective, coordinating mechanical design activities and ensuring alignment with overall project objectives, even without direct reports.

Essential Skills

• Demonstrated proficiency in designing automated production equipment, including both conceptual designs and fully detailed solutions.
• Experience developing and evaluating complete system processes, including material flow, inputs and outputs, throughput, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), product handling, and process validation.
• Proficiency in Solid Works CAD software, including the use of finite element analysis (FEA) and simulation tools.
• Strong analytical and methodical approach to problem solving, with the ability to break down complex problems into clear, manageable steps.
• Project management experience, including the ability to process information, organize and prioritize tasks, exercise sound judgment, and work effectively without direct supervision in a team environment.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams, including mechanical, electrical, controls, and project management disciplines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for presenting designs, participating in design reviews, and interacting with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to travel within the US and Canada as required to support meetings, reviews, and build phases.
• Capability to provide technical support during manufacturing, assembly, and debug activities for automated equipment.
• Comfort working on highly technical, custom automation and factory automation systems, including automated test stands.
• Additional Skills & Qualifications
• Engineering degree in a relevant discipline (such as Mechanical Engineering) is preferred.
• Experience using NX CAD software is an asset.
• Experience with process validation and verification for automated systems is beneficial.
• Experience in factory automation, automated test stands, or custom production equipment is advantageous.
• Experience participating in or leading design reviews with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Familiarity with evaluating and integrating third‑party equipment into automated systems.
• Interest in staying current with advancements in automation technologies and applying new methods to improve system performance.
• Ability to work effectively in both onsite and remote settings, maintaining productivity and communication across distributed teams.

Work Environment

The role is part of a large, multidisciplinary engineering organization of more than 80 professionals, including mechanical engineers, designers, controls engineers, electrical engineers, project managers, and applications specialists.

The team focuses on designing, building, testing, and integrating custom automation solutions that address complex industrial challenges across diverse markets.

The culture emphasizes continuous improvement, collaboration, and a shared mission to elevate the automation industry by solving unique automation challenges with passionate people and robust processes.

The work environment is professional yet laid back, with colleagues who enjoy maintaining a friendly atmosphere and using humor to help manage the stress that can come with tight project timelines.

The Machine Designer will primarily sit in an engineering center, with a manufacturing plant located across the parking lot and an additional plant approximately 15 minutes away.

The typical workweek is around 45 hours.

On a typical day, approximately 75% of the time is spent at the desk performing design work, modeling, and documentation, while about 25% is spent on debug and hands‑on support in the plant environment.

Occasional travel to customer sites may be required for installations, reviews, or site visits; however, installation issues are often electrical in nature, so travel for mechanical issues is relatively rare.

This role can be performed remotely for individuals who are highly experienced and able to operate independently.

Even in a remote arrangement, periodic onsite presence is required to attend internal and customer meetings and to support the build and debug phases of projects.

Team members work with cutting‑edge, custom automation and factory automation technologies, including automated test stands, providing significant exposure to advanced equipment and processes.

The position offers paid holidays and paid time off.

Dress expectations are typical of a professional engineering and manufacturing environment, with standard office attire in the engineering center and appropriate safety‑conscious clothing and personal protective equipment as required when working in the plant.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Bridgman, MI.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $64.90/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 jobclassification and length of employment.

Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms.

• If eligible, the benefitsavailable 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)
• Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Bridgman, MI.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 10, 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 Clearly Rated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment 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 thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment.

An employer who violates this lawshall 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 applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team.

By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.

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