Find & Apply For Product Development Engineer Jobs in Itasca, Illinois

Job Title:

Product Engineer Job Description The Product Engineer will support a major customer in the distribution sector by driving product validation, design refinement, and manufacturability improvements. Working under the guidance of senior engineers, this role takes over projects after customer concept approval and leads testing, documentation, and supplier collaboration to ensure robust, cost-effective, and reliable products. The position combines hands-on mechanical testing with SolidWorks-based design work and close coordination with third-party testers and global suppliers. Responsibilities Receive direction from senior engineers and execute day-to-day product engineering activities for customer projects in the distribution space. Take ownership of projects after customer concept approval and drive them through testing, validation, and design refinement. Plan and perform load testing, cycle testing, factory acceptance tests (FATs), and other validation activities to confirm product performance and durability. Run racking and related structures through test cycles to validate performance, identify failure modes, and determine corrective actions. Apply DFMEA and PFMEA principles to evaluate design and process risks, document findings, and implement mitigation strategies. Develop and maintain detailed tolerance specifications, coating specifications, and material specifications to ensure product quality and consistency. Select appropriate materials based on performance, cost, and manufacturability requirements, with a focus on steel fabrication and related products. Collaborate with third-party testing organizations by writing clear scope statements, defining test procedures, and ensuring that testing aligns with project requirements. Review, interpret, and validate test results from third-party testers to confirm that outputs are reasonable and meet engineering expectations. Research and propose lower-cost, more reliable product and process alternatives to improve value for customers. Work closely with overseas suppliers and the internal supply chain team to clarify prints, address technical questions, and support material substitutions. Participate in negotiations with suppliers and the supply chain team regarding technical aspects of components and materials. Use SolidWorks to create and update detailed part and assembly models, engineering drawings, and bills of materials (BOMs). Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles to optimize designs for production in a light manufacturing environment. Independently plan and run engineering projects, managing priorities, timelines, and deliverables with minimal supervision. Remain actively involved in hands-on testing, prototyping, and product evaluations in lab or shop environments. Travel approximately 1015% of the time for customer visits, product installations, and on-site support as needed. Essential Skills 25 years of experience in product engineering or a closely related mechanical engineering role. Proficiency in SolidWorks for 3D modeling, assemblies, and detailed engineering drawings. Strong mechanical engineering fundamentals, including stress, materials, and structural behavior. Hands-on testing and validation experience, including load, cycle, and functional testing. Experience writing clear and structured test procedures and scope statements for validation activities. Product design and development experience from concept handoff through validation and release. Experience creating and managing drawings, assemblies, and bills of materials (BOMs). Experience applying Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles to optimize designs for production. Ability to independently run and manage engineering projects with minimal oversight. Comfort working in a hands-on environment with prototypes, test setups, and physical components. Willingness and ability to travel 1015% of the time for customer visits and installations. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience with SolidWorks PDM for data and revision management. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) experience for structural or performance analysis. Project management experience, including planning, coordination, and tracking of engineering tasks. Experience with plastics and injection molding processes. Knowledge of mold design for plastic components. Strong background in steel fabrication and product design. Experience with aluminum product design is preferred. Exposure to plastics work, including injection-molded and rotationally molded components. Work Environment The role operates within a light manufacturing environment where most production activities are supported by an extensive supply chain and third-party suppliers. You will work with modern engineering tools, including SolidWorks and potentially SolidWorks PDM, and collaborate frequently with third-party testing labs and overseas suppliers. The position involves a mix of office-based design and analysis work and hands-on time in testing or lab areas to set up and observe validation activities. Travel of approximately 1015% is required for customer site visits and installations, where you will interact directly with customers and observe products in the field. The culture emphasizes practical problem-solving, cost-conscious design, and close cross-functional collaboration across engineering, supply chain, and external partners. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Itasca, IL. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $45.00 - $48.00/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) Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Itasca, IL. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Oct 29, 2026. Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Itasca,IL. 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.

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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.