Manager R&D Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Appleton, WI

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer – R&D

Job Description

The R&D Mechanical Engineer performs advanced mechanical design and documentation work with minimal supervision. This role independently develops detailed designs, ensures technical accuracy, and supports project execution by collaborating closely with cross-functional teams and production. The engineer creates and maintains high-quality design documentation, drives design-for-manufacturability, and provides technical support throughout the product development lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop mechanical designs for parts and assemblies using SolidWorks for a variety of projects.
• Model complex parts and assemblies in SolidWorks, ensuring they meet functional, performance, and manufacturability requirements.
• Create and revise fully detailed engineering drawings in compliance with departmental and drafting standards.
• Develop, validate, and maintain Bills of Materials (BOMs) to support fabrication and production activities.
• Ensure all design documentation and design changes are accurately processed through the Engineering Change (EC) system.
• Maintain strict compliance with drafting standards, departmental procedures, and documentation requirements.
• Review and check engineering drawings for completeness, accuracy, and manufacturability before release.
• Analyze technical issues raised by production or customers and provide timely, practical engineering solutions.
• Respond to technical inquiries and troubleshoot issues related to mechanical and electro-mechanical designs.
• Provide direction and guidance to design team members working on assigned projects to ensure design quality and consistency.
• Support prototype builds and initial production runs, including hands-on involvement as needed to validate designs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including engineering, production, and other departments, to align designs with project objectives.
• Communicate project status, design intent, and technical information clearly and effectively to cross-functional stakeholders.
• Manage multiple complex projects simultaneously while maintaining high levels of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail.
• Apply design-for-manufacturability principles and knowledge of manufacturing methods and materials to optimize designs for production.

Essential Skills

• Professional experience in mechanical engineering, with a focus on mechanical design and documentation.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks for advanced part modeling, assemblies, and detailed engineering drawings.
• Mechanical engineering experience working with electro-mechanical products.
• Solid knowledge of electro-mechanical switchgear design and operation.
• Strong understanding of sheet metal design, including fabrication considerations.
• Knowledge of manufacturing methods, materials, and design-for-manufacturability principles.
• Ability to operate independently and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for conveying technical information across engineering, production, and leadership teams.
• High level of accuracy, organization, and attention to detail, especially under tight deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or in an engineering-related field.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience supporting prototype and initial build activities in a production environment.
• Experience checking and reviewing engineering drawings for completeness, accuracy, and manufacturability.
• Ability to coordinate design work with other departments to ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Skill in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and Word, for documentation and communication.
• Strong problem-solving skills for analyzing and resolving technical issues raised by production or customers.
• Comfort working with electro-mechanical products and systems in an R&D or product development setting.

Work Environment

This role operates within a collaborative R&D and production-focused environment, working closely with cross-functional teams such as engineering, design, and manufacturing. The Mechanical Engineer uses SolidWorks and Microsoft Office tools on a regular basis to create models, drawings, and documentation, and to communicate project information. Work involves both office-based design activities and interaction with production areas to support prototypes and initial builds. The position requires managing multiple projects under tight deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy, organization, and documentation quality.

This is a Permanent position based out of Winneconne, WI.

The pay range for this position is $80000.00 - $95000.00/yr.

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.

Health InsuranceDental InsuranceVision InsurancePTOHoliday Pay401k

This is a fully onsite position in Winneconne,WI.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 11, 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.