Manufacturing Engineer

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

About the role

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.

Responsibilities

• Lead the coordination of plant funded projects for gear manufacturing and machining operations from initial concept and business case development through installation, launch, and financial closeout.
• Partner with gear machining engineering teams to define project scope, timelines, and resource requirements for both capital and quality improvement projects involving hobbing, shaving, grinding, blanking, and heat treatment equipment.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, ensuring alignment with gear production schedules and shutdown/downtime windows.
• Track project milestones and proactively escalate risks or delays to engineering and plant leadership.
• Support development of Appropriation Requests (ARs) and project cost justifications for new gear-cutting equipment, tooling, and fixtures.
• Monitor project spending against approved budgets, reconcile invoices/purchase orders, and report variances.
• Coordinate with finance and purchasing to ensure timely processing of vendor payments and capital asset documentation.
• Translate gear quality concerns identified through 8D, 5-Why, and containment activities into scoped, actionable improvement projects.
• Coordinate the design, procurement, and installation of error-proofing devices, gauges, fixtures, and process changes for gear tooth profile, runout, surface finish, and heat treatment consistency.
• Track corrective action projects through verification of effectiveness, ensuring gear quality concerns are permanently resolved.
• Solicit and evaluate quotes from outside vendors/contractors specializing in gear-cutting machinery, tooling, gauging, and furnace systems.
• Coordinate contractor scheduling, site access, safety orientation, and permitting in accordance with plant policies.
• Serve as the on-site point of contact for contractors during installation and commissioning of gear manufacturing equipment.
• Maintain organized project files, including scope documents, schedules, budgets, and change logs for gear manufacturing projects.
• Prepare and deliver regular project status updates and reports to engineering and plant management.
• Support audits related to project documentation, capital spending, and quality system compliance for gear operations.
• Act as a liaison between gear machining engineering, quality, maintenance/skilled trades, purchasing, and finance throughout the project lifecycle.
• Support new program launches by coordinating tooling and equipment-related plant funded projects for new gear part numbers.
• Assist gear manufacturing engineers with administrative and coordination tasks to allow engineers to focus on technical design and process work.

This role requires flexibility to support project timelines and plant schedules. The successful candidate may occasionally need to work off-shift hours, including evenings or weekends, to accommodate contractor access, equipment installs, or gear production downtime windows.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED
• 1+ year of experience in project coordination, project management, or a related administrative/technical support role (can include co-op/internships)
• 1+ years of experience working in a manufacturing environment, preferably gear manufacturing or machining (internship and co-op experience will be considered)
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, Project) for tracking budgets, schedules, and status reports

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field
• Effective oral and written communication skills, with experience presenting to leadership
• 2 or more years in the automotive or gear/powertrain manufacturing industry
• Familiarity with gear manufacturing processes such as blanking, hobbing, shaving, chamfering, deburring, grinding, and heat treatment (carburizing, quenching, tempering)
• Experience developing or managing capital project justifications (Appropriation Requests/ARs) and budget tracking
• Familiarity with quality tools such as FMEA, 8D, 5-Why, and PPAP
• Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma exposure, including Poka-yoke and Kaizen concepts
• Experience coordinating with outside vendors, contractors, and skilled trades, particularly for machine tool or furnace installations
• Project Management certification (PMP, CAPM) a plus

Pay

The pay range for this position is $37.00 - $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.

Benefits

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)

Schedule

This is a fully onsite position in Sterling Heights, MI.