Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Manufacturing Process Engineer

Job Description

This hands-on Engineer role focuses on driving operational excellence on the production floor within a high-mix manufacturing environment. You will lead continuous improvement initiatives that increase throughput, reduce waste, optimize labor utilization, and support the transition of outsourced sheet metal fabrication work back in-house. The position offers significant visibility, direct impact on manufacturing efficiency and cost, and the opportunity to help build and shape a newly created Continuous Improvement department.

Responsibilities

• Lead continuous improvement (CI) projects focused on improving process flow, reducing cycle and setup times, and eliminating waste on the production floor.
• Conduct detailed time studies and workflow analyses to identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and opportunities for process optimization.
• Perform root-cause investigations to resolve recurring production issues and prevent defects.
• Partner closely with Manufacturing Engineering, Fabrication, and Production leadership to streamline processes and improve overall manufacturing performance.
• Support design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and design-for-assembly (DFA) improvements related to sheet metal fabrication and in-house manufacturing capabilities.
• Develop standardized work instructions, visual controls, and clear process documentation to ensure repeatable and reliable operations.
• Track, quantify, and report measurable improvements, including cost savings, throughput gains, and labor utilization enhancements.
• Present project outcomes, metrics, and recommendations to continuous improvement leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Mentor and support junior engineers, interns, and co-ops as the CI team grows, sharing best practices in Lean and continuous improvement.
• Use ERP systems to manage and enter structured bill of material (BOM) data and support accurate production planning.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering and 2–3 years of engineering experience (internship experience may count), or an associate’s degree in mechanical design technology with 5–7 years of engineering experience.
• Experience with common manufacturing processes, including sheet metal fabrication, stamping, aluminum and steel welding, and machining.
• Design experience with sheet metal fabrications and electro-mechanical systems.
• Familiarity with ERP systems, including structured bill of material (BOM) data entry and basic navigation.
• Hands-on exposure to Lean tools such as 5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping (VSM), SMED, and root cause analysis.
• Clear verbal and written communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and presenting project outcomes.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Fort Atkinson, WI.

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $53.00/hr.

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Fort Atkinson,WI.

This position is anticipated to close on May 1, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.

Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.