Mechanical engineer Jobs in Pasadena, CA

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

This Mechanical Engineer role focuses on the design and development of precision, machined components and assemblies that support cutting-edge space, aerospace, and avionics systems. You will work in a small, highly collaborative environment where you own the planning, execution, and delivery of projects rather than being compartmentalized. The position combines hands-on mechanical design, close collaboration with machine shops, and cross-functional project leadership to help ensure the total success of space missions across commercial, government, and defense markets.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical components and assemblies using SolidWorks or other 3D CAD tools, ensuring robust, manufacturable designs for CNC machined parts.
• Create, review, and maintain detailed engineering drawings with proper GD&T and tolerancing to support high-precision manufacturing.
• Apply principles of Design for Manufacturability and design for machining to ensure parts can be produced efficiently and reliably by machine shops.
• Collaborate closely with internal and external machine shops, providing clear technical direction, resolving manufacturability issues, and supporting production of CNC machined components.
• Incorporate an understanding of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) into the design process by working with analysts or using FEA results to improve mechanical robustness and performance.
• Participate in new product development and machine design activities for space, aerospace, avionics, and sensor systems, supporting both development and R&D programs.
• Lead or support project management activities for development and R&D projects, including planning, scheduling, and coordinating work across mechanical, software, firmware, and electrical engineering teams.
• Manage or contribute to the management of project budgets, schedules, and timelines for deliverables, helping to keep programs on track and within agreed constraints.
• Serve as a key technical point of contact for customers, supporting communication on requirements, design status, issues, and delivery milestones.
• Support compliance with aerospace and space industry standards, such as AS9100, as applicable to mechanical design and documentation practices.
• Contribute to the planning, execution, and delivery of projects associated with space programs, including systems used on lunar and Mars missions and other US space customer programs.
• Participate in continuous improvement of design processes, documentation standards, and collaboration methods to enhance quality and efficiency across programs.

Essential Skills

• 3–5 years of experience as a Mechanical Engineer or Mechanical Design Engineer working on mechanical design and development.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks or other 3D CAD software for mechanical design.
• Strong knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerancing practices for precision parts.
• Hands-on experience creating and interpreting detailed mechanical drawings for manufacturing.
• Experience working with machine shops and CNC machined parts, including design for machining and Design for Manufacturability.
• Understanding of Finite Element Analysis (FEA) principles and how to use FEA results in design decisions, even if not performing FEA directly.
• Background in mechanical engineering and mechanical design for complex systems, ideally in space, aerospace, avionics, or related industries.
• Experience in new product development and machine design for development or R&D projects rather than only built-to-print or contract manufacturing.
• 3+ years of experience in project management, program management, or project engineering for development and R&D projects.
• Proven experience leading projects or programs with technical scope and collaborating closely with software, firmware, and electrical engineers.
• Direct experience managing project budgets, schedules, and timelines for deliverables, as well as handling customer communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Familiarity with aerospace quality and process standards such as AS9100.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with space, aerospace, avionics systems, or defense aerospace programs.
• Exposure to or training in Finite Element Analysis (FEA) tools and workflows.
• Experience supporting or working on government space or defense programs is preferred.
• Background in project engineering or program management within space, commercial, or defense markets.
• Experience contributing to systems used on satellites, rockets, spacecraft, or related mission-critical equipment.
• Ability to work effectively in a small, cross-functional team environment and take ownership of projects from concept through delivery.
• Strong communication skills for interfacing with multidisciplinary engineering teams and external customers.
• Comfort working in an environment focused on mission success for high-visibility space programs, including lunar and Mars missions.

Work Environment

The role is based at a small site that combines office space with assembly and lab areas in a modest office building within a small business park. The company operates as a space avionics and sensor systems organization serving commercial, space, and defense markets. The environment offers a close-knit, family feel with the financial backing of a larger organization and a strong, well-funded pipeline of programs and projects over the next five or more years. You will work with modern CAD tools and collaborate directly with engineering, assembly, and test teams developing, manufacturing, and testing video systems for 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. The culture centers on the total success of each mission, with products that have supported major space efforts including the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, and Artemis. The work environment emphasizes end-to-end project ownership, allowing engineers to see the full lifecycle of their designs from planning through execution and delivery.

Job Type & Location

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

Pay and Benefits

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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Pasadena,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on May 5, 2026.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:

• Hiring diverse talent
• Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
• Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
• Ensuring growth opportunities for our people

Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.