Senior Mechanical Engineer

The role

You will lead the development of mission-critical hardware from concept to environmental qualification. This includes designing precision mechanisms, ruggedized avionics, and managing hardware assembly and testing.

What you will do

• Translate mission needs into functional and operational requirements for electromechanical systems.
• Design and iterate on electromagnetic actuators and intricate mechanisms.
• Develop high-performance avionics enclosures with thermal management and structural survivability.
• Architect test equipment and methodologies for hardware qualification.
• Guide integration efforts and support multidisciplinary teams through system testing.
• Partner with external suppliers to ensure delivery of conforming hardware.
• Manage manufacturing deviations to maintain quality and schedule standards.
• Assemble, bring-up, and debug hardware prototypes.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of experience through the full product lifecycle.
• Deep intuition for electromagnetic principles.
• Mastery of mechanical load paths and load cases.
• Proficiency in sizing analysis for strength, fatigue, and life cycles of actuator components.
• Advanced design experience in SolidWorks or equivalent 3D modeling packages.
• Fluency in ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.
• Ability to produce high-quality 2D drawings.
• Ability to collaborate with vendors to solve DFM hurdles.
• Proven track record of qualifying hardware against DO-160 and MIL-STD-810 standards.
• A builder mindset comfortable with lab work and debugging hardware.

Nice to have

• Experience designing custom test equipment, writing formal procedures, and executing complex qualification test campaigns.
• Detailed knowledge of AGMA Standards, gearbox design analysis, and specialized fabrication methods.
• Experience navigating both high-compliance programs and fast-paced, lean R&D environments.

Benefits

• Medical is 100% covered by the company
• Flexible PTO
• 401K

Before you apply

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders)

About the company

salientmotion pioneers modular motion technologies for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. They are located in a new large hangar facility in Hawthorne, CA.