Contract Design Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Actively Hiring! | Design Engineer | Pella, IA | Apply Now!

Job Description

The Design Engineer drives continuous improvement of utility equipment across the entire product lifecycle. In this role, you develop and implement design enhancements that improve performance, reliability, quality, safety, and cost, while collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to support customer satisfaction through product improvements and effective issue resolution.

Responsibilities

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives for utility equipment throughout the product lifecycle, focusing on performance, reliability, quality, safety, and cost.
• Develop and implement design enhancements that optimize product functionality and manufacturability.
• Create and refine mechanical designs, including sheet metal components and assemblies, using SolidWorks and other CAD tools.
• Support new product development activities from concept through prototype and production release.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams to ensure designs meet operational and customer requirements.
• Participate in prototype build activities and provide engineering support during testing and validation.
• Use finite element analysis (FEA) and other engineering tools to evaluate and improve design robustness.
• Contribute to resolving product issues in the field and implement design changes that enhance customer satisfaction.
• Document design changes and maintain accurate engineering records and models.
• Engage in ongoing professional development and mentorship opportunities to expand engineering skills and explore related disciplines.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Agricultural Engineering.
• At least 1 year of experience using SolidWorks, which may include internships or academic projects.
• Proficiency in mechanical design, including component and assembly design.
• Experience with sheet metal design and fabrication considerations.
• Ability to support new product development and prototype activities.
• Basic knowledge of finite element analysis (FEA) for evaluating design performance.
• Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with Manufacturing, Quality, Service, Supply Chain, and Product Management teams.
• Ability to analyze and resolve product issues and contribute to continuous improvement efforts.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with Creo or Pro/ENGINEER is beneficial.
• Background in mechanical engineering design for utility or industrial equipment is an advantage.
• Interest in expanding into electrical, embedded, or systems engineering roles over time.
• Willingness to participate in advanced engineering training and mentorship programs.
• Motivation to work on a team that is behind schedule and contribute to catching up through strong engineering performance.
• Enthusiasm for personal and professional development opportunities, including internal learning platforms and online training resources.

Work Environment

This is a full-time, on-site role in a cubicle-based office and manufacturing floor environment. The schedule runs Monday through Friday with a 6:30 AM start time and a 40-hour workweek. Approximately 70% of the time is spent working in SolidWorks at a workstation, and about 30% is spent on the production floor supporting prototypes and collaborating with operations. The dress code follows a 'dress for your day' approach, with jeans worn the majority of the time and a polo-style shirt or similar professional casual top. The culture emphasizes a family-like environment within a large organization, offering advanced engineering training, mentorship programs, and access to internal development resources and online learning platforms. Employees have opportunities to get involved in social and recreational activities, such as company sports leagues. The role offers 11 paid holidays and two weeks of vacation, along with strong support for career growth and the ability for mechanical engineers to transition into electrical, embedded, or systems engineering disciplines.

This is a Contract position based out of Pella, IA.

The pay range for this position is $31.25 - $33.65/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 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 Pella,IA.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 30, 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 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.

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.