Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

I’m working with a growing space startup in El Segundo that is looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer specialising in mechanisms and complex mechanical assemblies
.

This is a hands‑on engineering position working on novel space hardware from early design and analysis through prototype builds, environmental testing and eventual flight hardware.

• Space‑rated mechanisms and moving assemblies
• Actuators, gear trains, bearings, linkages and precision motion systems
• Release and deployment mechanisms
• Kinematic studies, torque and friction calculations
• Tolerance analysis and component selection
• 3D CAD, detailed assemblies and engineering drawings
• Prototype build and test
• Root‑causing hardware failures and implementing design changes
• TVAC, vibration, shock and deployment testing
• DFM/DFA and transitioning designs towards flight‑ready hardware

• 5+ years of mechanical design experience, ideally focused on mechanisms
• Strong understanding of gears, bearings, springs, cams, linkages, kinematics and power transmission
• Solid GD&T and tolerance stack‑up experience
• Strong CAD capability in Solid Works, Creo, CATIA, NX or similar
• Hands‑on experience taking designs beyond CAD into build and test

Experience with
space mechanisms, deployables, high‑reliability aerospace hardware, payload integration or fast‑paced space programmes would be particularly interesting. The role also requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Due to the nature of the hardware, this position is subject to U.S. export‑control requirements. Candidates must meet applicable ITAR requirements, including being a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee/asylee, or otherwise eligible for the necessary U.S. Department of State authorisation.

If your background sits somewhere between mechanical design, mechanisms and hands‑on space hardware development
, I’d be interested in speaking.