Mechanical Engineer

About the role

This Mechanical Engineer role supports the Purchased Finished and Product Health team, focusing on components used within electrified powertrain systems such as electric motors, generators, and resistor grids. The position emphasizes product development, troubleshooting, supplier management, lifecycle planning, and cost and quality improvements rather than detailed component design.

Responsibilities

• Lead product development efforts for purchased finished components and existing production components used in electrified powertrain systems.
• Troubleshoot technical, quality, and performance issues related to electric machines and associated components, including electric motors, generators, and resistor grids.
• Work directly with suppliers to resolve manufacturing and quality issues while mitigating supply chain risks and ensuring continuity of supply.
• Develop alternate sourcing strategies and supplier plans to reduce risk and improve cost, quality, and delivery performance.
• Support product lifecycle activities, including lifecycle planning, replacement component strategies, and dealer service support for in-field products.
• Drive cost reduction and value engineering initiatives that improve product competitiveness without compromising performance or reliability.
• Lead engineering projects from concept through implementation, including planning, execution, risk management, and closure.
• Cook up activities across Purchasing, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Product Development, Dealer Services, and external suppliers to align on requirements and deliverables.
• Support and apply quality processes such as Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA), Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R), validation testing, root cause investigations, and corrective actions.
• Provide clear project updates to stakeholders, manage competing priorities, and drive execution with minimal day-to-day direction.
• Define work scopes, develop execution plans, and set timelines proactively without waiting for detailed instructions.
• Lead cross-functional problem-solving efforts to address product issues, supplier challenges, and field concerns.
• Support supplier manufacturing environments by addressing engineering questions, resolving nonconformances, and improving process capability.
• Contribute to product health activities by monitoring performance, addressing recurring issues, and implementing robust corrective actions.
• Collaborate with dealer services teams to ensure effective service solutions, replacement strategies, and technical support for customers.

  Essential Skills

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field.
  • 8+ years of engineering experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 6+ years with a Master’s degree, or 12+ years with an Associate’s degree.
  • Strong product development and mechanical engineering experience, particularly with production and purchased components.
  • Demonstrated experience leading engineering projects from initiation through implementation.
  • Experience working directly with suppliers in areas such as supplier development, supplier quality, and manufacturing support.
  • Proven troubleshooting and engineering problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and corrective action implementation.
  • Able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and work independently with minimal supervision.
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to convey technical information clearly to engineers, suppliers, leadership, and dealer services teams.
  • Strong organizational and prioritization skills to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
  • Demonstrated cross-functional collaboration and leadership capabilities in engineering, purchasing, and manufacturing environments.
  • Proactive problem-solving mindset with a high degree of project ownership and accountability.
  • Comfort working in ambiguous or evolving situations and making sound decisions with incomplete information.

  Additional Skills & Qualifications

  • Experience with electric motors, generators, electric machines, and electrified powertrain systems.
  • Background in product development, supplier-facing engineering, and project leadership roles.
  • Experience designing electric motors or generators, even though the role focuses more on troubleshooting and product support than detailed design.
  • Knowledge of Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) processes.
  • Experience performing or interpreting Design Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (DFMEA).
  • Familiarity with Design Verification Plan and Report (DVP&R) and product validation and testing methodologies.
  • Experience in root cause analysis, including structured problem-solving tools and techniques.
  • Understanding of supplier quality processes, including PPAP and quality engineering practices.
  • Experience supporting production products, purchased finished components, and supplier manufacturing environments.
  • Familiarity with new product development processes such as NPI (New Product Introduction) and NTI or similar stage-gate development frameworks.
  • Experience in mechanical design, product engineering, and new product development, including tools such as Creo or comparable CAD platforms.
  • Exposure to electrical engineering concepts related to electric power, electric machines, and electrified systems.
  • Ability to navigate complex cross-functional challenges and drive results across multiple stakeholders.

  Work Environment

  The role is based in a facility environment with building air conditioning, providing a comfortable indoor workspace for engineering activities, collaboration, and supplier interactions. You will work closely with cross-functional teams including Purchasing, Supplier Quality, Manufacturing, Product Development, and Dealer Services, as well as external suppliers and manufacturing partners. The position involves a mix of office-based work, virtual collaboration, and occasional visits to supplier or manufacturing sites to support product and process issues. Standard business hours are typical, with flexibility required at times to support project deadlines, supplier coordination, and critical product health activities.

  Job Type & Location

  This is a Contract position based out of Peoria, IL.

  Pay And Benefits

  The pay range for this position is $33.00 - $47.00/hr.

  Requirements

  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)

  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 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 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.