Engineering Associate

Job Title:

Manufacturing Engineering Assistant Job Description The Manufacturing Engineering Assistant supports the engineering team by handling day-to-day technical and administrative tasks, enabling engineers to focus on complex projects and customer needs. This role is ideal for a recent high school graduate or early-career professional with basic CAD exposure and a strong interest in manufacturing and steel fabrication. The position offers hands-on experience with drawings, measurements, process documentation, and ERP systems, along with clear opportunities for growth into an engineering role over time. Responsibilities Support manufacturing engineers with day-to-day engineering tasks to help manage growing project and customer workloads. Use CAD software to pull and review files, navigate drawings, and access necessary technical information. Read and interpret drawings to take accurate measurements and dimensions as needed for production and engineering work. Assist with creating and maintaining manufacturing process documentation and provide general process support. Work with steel material specifications and basic fabrication concepts to support engineering and production activities. Enter and retrieve data within the ERP system, following training and established procedures. Perform general computer-based tasks to support both engineering and production operations. Help coordinate and organize engineering workload related to new projects and new customers. Collaborate with a team in a shop-focused environment to ensure smooth communication between engineering and the production floor. Essential Skills High school diploma or GED. Basic CAD experience with the ability to use CAD software to navigate and review drawings. Ability to read, navigate, and dimension drawings, with a focus on interpretation rather than design creation. Comfort working on a computer throughout the day to complete engineering and administrative tasks. Interest in manufacturing, steel fabrication, and engineering support work. Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented, shop-focused environment. General understanding or exposure to manufacturing processes. Comfort working with measurements and dimensions in a technical setting. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience with CAD software in a school, training, or work setting. Exposure to manufacturing or fabrication environments, particularly involving steel materials. Familiarity with or willingness to learn ERP systems and data entry processes. Desire to grow into an engineering role over time within a small, family-oriented company. Strong attention to detail when working with drawings, measurements, and documentation. Willingness to learn manufacturing process documentation and support continuous improvement efforts. Work Environment The role is based in a clean office environment within a very rural area, offering a quiet and focused setting. The position requires occasional time on the shop floor, but not on a frequent basis, in a clean and well-maintained facility. The company operates as a small, family-owned organization with a collaborative, team-oriented culture and a shop-focused atmosphere. Employees have access to multiple health insurance plan options for employees and family, with a high percentage of employee premiums paid by the company, as well as dental and vision insurance, supplemental insurance options, and a company-provided life insurance policy. A Simple IRA with 100% match up to 3% supports long-term savings. The organization offers tuition reimbursement for qualified job-related classes, opportunities for overtime pay, six paid holidays per year, and a structured PTO accrual program that increases with tenure, starting at two weeks for 1-2 years of service, three weeks for 3-5 years, and four weeks for 6 or more years. Dress code aligns with a professional office and light shop environment, with appropriate attire for occasional time on the shop floor. Job Type & Location This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Forrest, IL. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $22.00 - $25.00/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) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Forrest,IL.

Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on May 19, 2026. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through: Hiring diverse talent Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes Ensuring growth opportunities for our people Actalent is an equal opportunity employer. About Actalent Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we've helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day. Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.