Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer
Job Description

This role offers an experienced Mechanical Engineer the opportunity to own the finite element analysis (FEA) process and contribute directly to the design and validation of space cameras and avionics hardware. You will perform advanced simulations for thermal, shock, vibration, and dynamic environments, and translate those results into robust mechanical designs suitable for demanding space and defense applications. Working in a small, highly collaborative site with the backing of a larger organization, you will see projects through their full lifecycle—from planning and design to execution, testing, and delivery—on programs that support critical space missions.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead the finite element analysis (FEA) process for mechanical systems and components, ensuring simulations accurately represent real-world conditions.
• Perform detailed simulations for thermal analysis, shock, vibration, and dynamic loading to validate designs for spaceflight and defense environments.
• Develop and refine mechanical designs using SolidWorks or other CAD tools, producing robust, manufacturable components and assemblies.
• Create and maintain detailed engineering drawings, applying GD&T and proper tolerancing to ensure clear communication of design intent.
• Design with manufacturability in mind, including design for machining and CNC machined parts, to support efficient and cost-effective production.
• Collaborate closely with other engineers to design and support simulations for space cameras, avionics, and other spaceflight hardware.
• Support new product development and machine design activities, ensuring designs meet performance, reliability, and safety requirements for aerospace and defense applications.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles and fundamentals to solve complex design challenges in space, aerospace, and avionics systems.
• Contribute to project planning, execution, and delivery, taking ownership of engineering tasks throughout the product lifecycle rather than working in a compartmentalized role.
• Ensure designs and processes align with aerospace quality standards, including AS9100 and other relevant engineering and industry practices.
• Support testing activities such as vibration table testing and other environmental tests by correlating results with FEA models and updating designs as needed.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support government and commercial space and defense programs, aligning engineering solutions with mission requirements.

• Minimum 5+ years of experience in Mechanical Engineering for aerospace, space, or defense products, preferably with electro-mechanical components.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience with finite element analysis (FEA), with strong proficiency in simulations for thermal analysis, shock analysis, vibration analysis, and dynamics.
• Solid understanding of mechanical engineering principles, fundamentals, and mechanical design practices.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or other CAD tools for mechanical design and modeling.
• Experience creating detailed mechanical drawings with GD&T and proper tolerancing.
• Demonstrated ability in design for manufacturability, including design for machining and CNC machined parts.
• Experience working on space, aerospace, avionics systems, or defense aerospace projects.
• Familiarity with aerospace quality standards such as AS9100.
• Strong background in new product development and machine design.
• Ability to interpret and apply results from vibration table and other environmental tests to refine designs.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to work effectively with other engineers and project stakeholders.

• Preferred experience working on government space or defense programs.
• Experience supporting space missions involving satellites, rockets, spacecraft, or related payloads and experiments.
• Exposure to data management equipment, control systems, sequencing systems, or sensor systems for space applications.
• background working with commercial and defense space customers and programs.
• Experience in environments where products support major space missions such as orbital platforms, exploration programs, or other large-scale space initiatives.

The role is based at a small site that combines office space with assembly and lab areas in a modest office building located in a small business park. The environment offers a close-knit, family-like atmosphere with the financial backing and stability of a larger organization, including strong funding and a robust pipeline of programs and projects for at least the next several years. The company focuses on space avionics and sensor systems for commercial, space, and defense markets, developing, manufacturing, and testing video systems integrated into satellites, rockets, and spacecraft; control systems for experiments and payloads; data management equipment; and sequencing systems for timing, control, and capture of spacecraft ejection telemetry. All work centers on the total success of the missions, and the team has contributed to numerous major space missions, including crewed and uncrewed platforms and exploration programs. Engineers have the opportunity to see the full lifecycle of projects—planning, execution, testing, and delivery—rather than working in highly compartmentalized roles. The site uses modern CAD tools, FEA software, and test equipment such as vibration tables and other environmental test systems to validate hardware for demanding space and defense environments.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Pasadena, CA.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $60.00/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 Pasadena,CA.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 6, 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 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 ziprecruiter.com 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.