Manager R&D Mechanical Engineer Jobs in Vancouver, WA

This Mechanical Engineer role focuses on modeling and designing pumps, including developing new products and updating existing designs with obsolete components. You will own a new piston pump development project, leading the design effort and acting as a project manager while collaborating closely with the broader project management team. The position offers the opportunity to contribute to innovative pump solutions, work with advanced CAD and PLM tools, and grow into senior and future leadership roles within a highly experienced engineering group.

• Model and create detailed drawings for pump products, including both new designs and updates to existing pumps with obsolete parts.
• Lead the design and development of a new piston pump as a dedicated development project, taking ownership of technical direction and deliverables.
• Act as a project manager for the piston pump project, coordinating timelines, priorities, and communication while collaborating with the project management team.
• Perform mechanical design work for pumps and hydraulic pump systems, ensuring performance, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Apply principles of fluid dynamics, fluid mechanics, and fluid systems to optimize pump performance and efficiency.
• Use CAD tools, primarily Creo, to develop 3D models, assemblies, and engineering drawings that meet quality and industry standards.
• Manage product data and documentation through product lifecycle management (PLM) software, contributing to organized and traceable design records.
• Participate in new product development activities from concept through production, supporting design reviews and cross-functional collaboration.
• Support continuous improvement of existing pump designs by analyzing issues and implementing design changes.
• Work closely with a small engineering team to share expertise, review designs, and contribute to a collaborative technical culture.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline, or equivalent practical experience in mechanical design.
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience, ideally in a mid-level role with increasing responsibility.
• Strong proficiency in mechanical design for industrial or commercial products, particularly pump or hydraulic system design.
• Hands-on experience modeling and drafting mechanical components and assemblies using CAD tools.
• MUST have practical experience with Creo for 3D modeling and detailed drawing creation.
• Solid understanding of fluid dynamics, fluid mechanics, and fluid systems as they apply to pump design and performance.
• Experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) software for managing design data and documentation.
• Ability to act as a project manager on engineering projects, coordinating tasks, timelines, and collaboration with project teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills for diagnosing design issues and implementing effective solutions.
• Effective communication skills for working with engineers, project managers, and manufacturing teams.

• Experience designing industrial and commercial products, particularly within pump or hydraulic applications, is highly desired.
• SolidWorks experience is a plus and can complement existing Creo skills.
• Experience with Windchill or similar PLM software is a plus and supports robust product data management.
• Background as a Process Engineer or Tool Design Engineer is relevant and may overlap with the responsibilities of this role.
• Experience with new product development processes, from concept through production launch, is beneficial.
• Interest in growing into senior and leadership positions within an engineering organization.

This role is based onsite five days per week in an office and small manufacturing facility environment. You will work closely with a small, tight-knit engineering team where many employees have long tenure and decades of experience, creating a supportive atmosphere for learning and professional growth. Most manufacturing operations are international, so the local facility focuses on engineering, design, and limited production activities. The environment is professional and engineering-focused, with regular use of CAD tools such as Creo and SolidWorks and PLM systems including Windchill. The culture emphasizes collaboration, technical excellence, and clear pathways to senior and future leadership roles.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Camas, WA.

The pay range for this position is $48.00 - $58.00/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 Camas,WA.

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.

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