Designer

Job Description: Designer

The Designer will use solid modeling tools to create and maintain engineering drawings and bills of materials for heavy fabrication and sheet metal products in a manufacturing environment. This role collaborates closely with project management, sales, purchasing, manufacturing, and quality teams to ensure customer specifications are accurately translated into engineered solutions and delivered on schedule. The position is ideal for someone who enjoys both detailed design work and frequent interaction with the manufacturing floor and cross-functional departments.

Responsibilities

• Use solid modeling software, primarily SolidWorks, to create, update, and maintain accurate engineering drawings for sheet metal and fabricated components.

• Create, check, and maintain bills of materials (BOMs) within the Made2Manage MRP system to support manufacturing and procurement activities.

• Work closely with the Project Manager to oversee project schedules, track design progress, and communicate technical information to customers as needed.

• Collaborate with Purchasing by providing clear drawings, specifications, and technical details to support sourcing of materials and components.

• Partner with Manufacturing to provide technical support, clarify design intent, and assist with production-related questions on the manufacturing floor.

• Process engineering change notices, ensuring all documentation, drawings, and BOMs are updated and communicated to relevant stakeholders.

• Review and interpret customer specifications, ensuring designs meet performance, quality, and compliance requirements while supporting the sales team in technical discussions.

• Interact with Quality to confirm that customer requirements are understood, incorporated into designs, and met in production.

• Support the sales team by translating customer needs into practical engineered solutions and by providing technical input on fan, blower, rotary equipment, or related products.

• Maintain organized design files and documentation, following internal standards and any applicable AWS or ASME requirements for welding and fabrication.

• Engage regularly with the manufacturing floor and other departments, responding to questions and providing design-related guidance throughout the day.

Essential Skills

• At least 2 years of hands-on experience using SolidWorks for solid modeling and mechanical design.

• Practical experience with sheet metal fabrication, such as work in a weld shop or machine shop.

• Experience working with MRP systems to manage bills of materials and production-related data.

• Understanding of engineering concepts related to fabrication, mechanical components, and manufacturing processes.

• Ability to interpret and create detailed engineering drawings that are clear and usable for manufacturing and purchasing.

• Comfort working in a heavy fabrication environment and interacting regularly with the manufacturing floor and cross-functional teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in a sheet metal or fabrication shop, particularly in a metal fabrication or welding facility.

• Prior experience with fans, blowers, compressors, rotating equipment, bearings, specialty coatings, or seals, including axial blowers and drive trains.

• CSWA or CSWP SolidWorks certification, demonstrating advanced proficiency in SolidWorks.

• Knowledge of welding processes and ability to document designs in alignment with AWS or ASME requirements.

• Ability to create drawings using CadKey or DraftSight in addition to SolidWorks.

• Experience using the Made2Manage MRP system.

• Experience working on a manufacturing floor, such as experience as a machinist, assembler, or similar role.

• Strong collaboration skills and willingness to be frequently interrupted to support manufacturing, sales, purchasing, and quality teams throughout the day.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Cary, IL.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $24.00 - $33.00/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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Cary,IL.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 27, 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 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.