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Job Description

Overview

Our client is seeking a Mechanical Development Engineer to support the design, development, testing, and production of advanced electromechanical systems, focusing on motion control technologies, system validation, and mechanical design.

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop mechanical and electromechanical assemblies and subassemblies for new and existing products.
  • Evaluate customer requirements and translate them into technical solutions.
  • Perform engineering analysis including statics, dynamics, structural analysis, and motor sizing calculations.
  • Design and model components and assemblies using SolidWorks.
  • Conduct Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and structural simulations.
  • Select, test, and validate motors, drives, sensors, encoders, bearings, and related motion control components.
  • Perform hands-on testing, product validation, and performance evaluations at the component and system level.
  • Support manufacturing, suppliers, and production teams with troubleshooting and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Participate throughout the product lifecycle, from concept development through production support.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline.
  • 3-5+ years of mechanical engineering experience in product development or R&D environments.
  • Experience designing and validating electromechanical systems.
  • Strong mechanical design experience involving assemblies and subassemblies.
  • SolidWorks proficiency.
  • Experience with FEA and structural analysis.
  • Hands-on testing and validation experience.
  • Knowledge of motion control systems including motors, drives, sensors, and encoders.
  • Experience supporting manufacturing and supplier-related engineering activities.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • 401k
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Northbrook, IL.
  • This is a fully onsite position in Northbrook, IL.
  • The position is anticipated to close on Sep 22, 2026.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
PTO
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How this job compares in Northbrook, IL

Pay in context

At roughly $49/hr, this posting sits about 63% above the $30/hr median for welding jobs across Illinois — toward the top of a $25–$38/hr middle band drawn from 276 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 88% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Northbrook, IL

Northbrook, IL is a small market in our index: 1 other active welding opening alongside this one, from 1 employer. Across Illinois as a whole we're tracking 373 other active welding openings from 233 employers. With this few local postings, most welders here end up either commuting or looking at travel work. Browse welding jobs across Illinois.

Actalent currently has 1 other opening live in Illinois, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in Illinois at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are S&C Electric Company (18), Gerber Collision & Glass (14), and Staff on Site (13). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Illinois, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Downers Grove at $46/hr, Chicago at $36/hr, and Addison at $32/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Northbrook, IL

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Mechanical Engineer figures were last recalculated when this page was built.