Entry Level Design Engineer Jobs in Jacksonville, FL

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Description

This role leads cross-functional teams to design, develop, and deliver optical tooling and mold inserts that enable high-quality lens production. The Optical Tooling Design Engineer collaborates closely with lens design, metrology, injection molding, quality engineering, operations, and process engineering to translate lens design intent into robust plastic and insert designs, while managing projects from concept through commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Lead, define, and execute optical tooling design activities to deliver mold insert designs that produce lenses meeting defined design specifications.
• Collaborate with lens designers to understand lens design intent and translate it into plastic and insert designs within ISAAC.
• Translate insert designs from pilot line injection molding machine (IMM) platforms and technologies to targeted commercial IMM platforms and technologies in support of new product introduction (NPI) across GNPP 1 through GNPP 4.
• Define, implement, and execute strategies for optical tooling calibration to understand and minimize sources of variation and to best estimate true mean values for key parameters.
• Prepare and deliver detailed tooling calibration reports in support of operational qualification (OQ) and performance qualification (PQ) activities.
• Work independently to manage the development, roll-out, and establishment of new plastic and insert designs, ensuring they align with lens performance and manufacturing requirements.
• Coordinate project activities using established project timelines with clear milestones, ensuring progress is tracked and communicated effectively.
• Develop project plans, timelines, and resource requirements to ensure successful and timely delivery of tooling that meets correct lens design specifications.
• Interface with lens design, tooling, metrology, injection molding, quality engineering, operations, and process engineering teams to secure necessary design input, resource support, and alignment to project goals.
• Provide technical direction and guidance within cross-functional teams to ensure tooling designs are manufacturable, reliable, and aligned with quality standards.
• Apply strong analytical and problem-solving skills to resolve design, process, and cross-functional issues that arise during tooling development and implementation.
• Prioritize and manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously in a matrixed environment, ensuring critical deadlines and quality targets are met.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline such as Engineering, Physics, or Chemistry.
• Minimum of 3 years of project experience.
• Proven track record of successfully completing projects from initiation through delivery.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to quickly grasp new technical concepts and skills.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks in a cross-functional or matrix environment.
• Ability to facilitate and resolve issues across cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities, including motivating and providing direction in a team setting (sub-team or project leadership experience preferred).
• Experience with 2D and 3D mechanical design, including tolerancing, with at least 1 year of experience preferred.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD software such as Solidworks, Pro-E, Unigraphics, or AutoCAD.
• Experience or familiarity with tooling design and mechanical fixture design.
• Ability to interface effectively with lens design, tooling, metrology, injection molding, quality engineering, operations, and process engineering teams.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working as a sub-team project leader or project leader in a cross-functional environment.
• Preferred proficiency in 3D CAD tools such as Solidworks, Pro-E, Unigraphics, or AutoCAD for mechanical and tooling design.
• Experience or interest in optical tooling, mold insert design, and injection molding processes.
• Experience developing and executing calibration strategies and documenting results in formal reports.
• Strong communication skills to clearly convey technical concepts and project status to diverse stakeholders.
• Comfort working with structured project methodologies, including defined milestones and phase-gate processes such as GNPP stages.
• Interest in continuous improvement of tooling design approaches, calibration methods, and cross-functional collaboration.

Work Environment

The role operates in a highly collaborative, cross-functional environment that brings together lens design, tooling, metrology, injection molding, quality engineering, operations, and process engineering. You will work extensively with 2D and 3D mechanical design tools and modern 3D CAD software such as Solidworks, Pro-E, Unigraphics, or AutoCAD to develop plastic and insert designs. The position involves close interaction with pilot line and commercial injection molding machine platforms, as well as participation in structured new product introduction processes (GNPP stages) and qualification activities (OQ/PQ). Work typically follows standard business hours, with flexibility required to meet project milestones and coordinate across teams. The environment emphasizes technical rigor, clear documentation, and structured project planning, while supporting independent work and ownership of deliverables.

This is a Contract position based out of Jacksonville, FL.

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $37.00/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.

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 Jacksonville,FL.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 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 withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment 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 thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall 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 applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.