Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

This role offers an opportunity for an experienced Mechanical Engineer to take end-to-end ownership of advanced mechanical designs that support cutting-edge quantum infrastructure technology. You will lead designs from initial concept through drawing release, perform detailed thermal and structural analyses, and translate complex engineering requirements into robust, manufacturable solutions. The position focuses on heat transfer, thermodynamics, thermal modeling, and structural evaluation, using modern CAD and simulation tools within a highly technical, fast-paced deep-tech environment.

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical designs from concept through print-ready drawing release, ensuring that all designs meet performance, manufacturability, and reliability requirements.
• Advance mechanical designs to a fully detailed, print-ready state, including models, assemblies, and engineering drawings with appropriate tolerances and documentation.
• Perform heat transfer analysis, thermodynamic assessments, and thermal modeling to evaluate and optimize system performance.
• Analyze and understand heat transfer mechanisms relevant to cryogenic and thermal engineering challenges, and incorporate these insights into design decisions.
• Conduct structural evaluation and design analysis to verify that components and assemblies meet strength, stiffness, and safety requirements.
• Use FEA and CFD tools (such as ANSYS, Abaqus, SolidWorks Simulation, COMSOL, or similar platforms) to simulate and validate thermal and structural performance.
• Make sound engineering decisions based on analysis results, trade-offs, and system-level requirements, and clearly communicate the rationale behind these decisions.
• Develop and refine 3D CAD models and assemblies using platforms such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, Onshape, or similar tools, ensuring high-quality, parametric design practices.
• Create and maintain detailed engineering drawings, including dimensions, tolerances, materials, and notes that support efficient fabrication and assembly.
• Collaborate closely with highly technical, cross-functional design teams in a deep-tech engineering organization to solve complex engineering problems.
• Support projects related to dilution refrigerators and other highly specialized cryogenic systems used in quantum computing and advanced scientific applications.
• Contribute to the development of high-tech products in areas such as vacuum systems, advanced manufacturing equipment, and scientific instrumentation.
• Participate in a fast-paced startup environment by adapting quickly to evolving requirements, priorities, and project scopes.
• Protect and contribute to significant intellectual property by generating innovative design concepts and documenting novel solutions.
• Provide CAD and drawing support to broader engineering projects, especially when working as part of a multi-consultant design team.

Essential Skills

• Advanced mechanical design experience with demonstrated ability to take ownership of complex systems and components.
• Proven experience owning mechanical designs from concept through drawing release and print-ready status.
• Strong proficiency in heat transfer analysis, thermodynamics, and thermal modeling.
• Deep understanding of heat transfer mechanisms and their application to real-world engineering problems.
• Experience with structural evaluation and design analysis for mechanical components and assemblies.
• Ability to make informed engineering decisions based on FEA, CFD, and other analysis results.
• Hands-on experience with FEA and CFD tools; open to any major platform, including ANSYS, Abaqus, SolidWorks Simulation, COMSOL, or similar.
• Strong 3D CAD modeling skills, with experience in tools such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, Onshape, or comparable platforms.
• Ability to produce high-quality engineering drawings suitable for manufacturing, including appropriate tolerances and specifications.
• Ideally 7 or more years of mechanical engineering experience; will consider candidates with less experience who can quickly contribute at a high level.
• Not a new graduate role; prior professional mechanical engineering experience is required.
• Availability during core hours from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM MST to support collaboration with the engineering team.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in industries such as aerospace, defense, semiconductor, green technology, deep technology, scientific instrumentation, vacuum systems, advanced manufacturing equipment, or high-tech product development.
• Experience with cryogenic systems or refrigeration systems.
• Exposure to quantum computing hardware or quantum infrastructure technology.
• Vacuum system design or analysis experience.
• Experience with deep-tech product development and highly specialized scientific or industrial equipment.
• Thermal fluids expertise and familiarity with complex thermal-fluid systems.
• Experience working on scientific instrumentation and precision engineering systems.
• Comfort working in highly technical, emerging technology environments with complex engineering challenges.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup setting with evolving requirements and multiple concurrent projects.
• Interest in contributing to significant intellectual property and advanced engineering solutions.

Work Environment

The role is based in a fast-paced startup environment within a deep-tech engineering organization focused on emerging quantum infrastructure technology. You will work remotely, with the possibility of onsite onboarding for the first few weeks, and you will receive a company laptop to support your work. The team expects availability during core hours from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM MST to enable close collaboration with highly technical design teams. There is no travel required for this position. You will work on highly specialized cryogenic systems, including dilution refrigerators that cool quantum computing hardware to temperatures just fractions of a degree above absolute zero, as well as related vacuum systems, advanced manufacturing equipment, and scientific instrumentation. The organization uses modern CAD and simulation tools, including Onshape and other major CAD, FEA, and CFD platforms, and operates in an environment with significant intellectual property and complex engineering challenges. The initial engagement is planned for approximately 34 months, with potential extension and possible conversion to permanent employment for top performers. You will collaborate with multiple consultants and engineering professionals on highly collaborative design teams dedicated to solving challenging thermal, structural, and mechanical problems in an emerging technology space.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Denver, CO.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $100.00/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)

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 9, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

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 View email address on click.appcast.io 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