Manufacturing Engineering Assistant

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.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Forrest, IL.

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)

This is a fully onsite position in Forrest,IL.

This position is anticipated to close on May 26, 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 30,000 consultants and more than 4,500 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500.

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 for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: 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.