Entry Level Mechanical Design Engineer Jobs in Reno, NV

Job Title: Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Description

This Mechanical Design Engineer role focuses on equipment and machine design rather than product design. You will design fixtures, tools, and equipment to resolve process issues on production lines and modify existing machinery as part of factory commissioning. The position requires a strong understanding of automation, a solid mathematical foundation for developing practical solutions, and deep proficiency in SolidWorks. You will work in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment, addressing real-time factory issues and delivering designs that have a direct impact on production performance.

Responsibilities

• Design machines, equipment, and mechanical systems with an emphasis on production equipment rather than end products.
• Create fixtures and tools to resolve process issues on the production line, including applications in areas such as body-in-white and drivetrain.
• Modify and improve existing equipment during factory commissioning to meet production requirements and performance targets.
• Develop mechanical designs primarily in SolidWorks, using Catia models as a source for part geometry and reference data.
• Determine processing times and ensure designs meet required cycle times, making adjustments to improve throughput and efficiency.
• Identify and troubleshoot issues with mechanical models and designs, resolving problems quickly to maintain factory operations.
• Apply a strong mathematical foundation to develop robust, practical engineering solutions for automation and equipment challenges.
• Incorporate true position and other geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GDT) details into designs to ensure accuracy and manufacturability.
• Design components and systems that deform parts, develop fixturing, and select appropriate components such as sensors and servos.
• Specify and integrate distributed I/O and related automation elements into mechanical designs in collaboration with controls and automation partners.
• Work on-site during machine builds to address issues in real time, support installation and commissioning activities, and refine designs as needed.
• Collaborate with internal partners and peer mentors to address gaps in secondary or nice-to-have skills while maintaining strong core competencies.
• Maintain a portfolio-worthy standard of machine design work, documenting solutions and contributing to continuous improvement of equipment and processes.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of three years of strong, deep experience using SolidWorks for mechanical and machine design.
• Proven experience in machine design with a focus on equipment rather than product design.
• Familiarity and understanding of automation concepts and their application in factory and production environments.
• Strong foundation in mathematics to support the development of engineering solutions and design calculations.
• Experience at an engineer (level two) or (level three) level; this role is not open to entry-level candidates.
• Ability to determine processing time and ensure designs meet required cycle times.
• Ability to identify and resolve issues with mechanical models and designs.
• Understanding of true position and other geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GDT) details.
• Knowledge of distributed I/O and its role in automated equipment.
• Proficiency in mechanical design, including equipment design, fixture design, and mechanical engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to design fixtures or tools to resolve process issues on production lines, particularly in body-in-white or drivetrain areas.
• Capability to modify existing equipment during factory commissioning to meet evolving requirements.
• Ability to design components that deform parts, develop fixturing, and select components such as sensors and size servos appropriately.
• Willingness and ability to be on-site during machine builds to address issues and support real-time problem solving.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience using Catia to receive and interpret part models for use in SolidWorks-based designs.
• Skills and experience consistent with a level three engineer are highly desirable, with the expectation that level two competencies are also present.
• A portfolio of previous machine design work demonstrating depth and breadth of experience.
• Broad mechanical and automation skill set, with openness to learning and filling gaps in nice-to-have areas through peer mentorship.
• Experience working in fast-paced, dynamic factory environments where rapid problem solving is required.
• Comfort working on critical, real-time factory issues and delivering solutions at the “speed of relevance.”

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Sparks, NV.

The pay range for this position is $49.00 - $74.00/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)

This is a fully onsite position in Sparks,NV.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 28, 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.