Mechanical Design Engineer

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Job Description

This role offers an opportunity for an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, development, integration, testing, and qualification of complex mechanical systems that support human spaceflight and space exploration programs. The position focuses on advanced product development within high-technology industries such as aerospace, spacecraft, transportation, and robotics. You will apply deep mechanical design expertise across the full product lifecycle, from concept through production, while collaborating closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver robust, high-performance hardware for next-generation station-side systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design and development of complex mechanical systems, mechanisms, and mechatronic hardware for human spaceflight and space exploration applications.

• Drive product development activities from initial concept through detailed design, prototyping, testing, qualification, and transition to production.

• Develop, decompose, and manage engineering requirements, ensuring that mechanical designs meet performance, reliability, safety, and regulatory expectations.

• Plan and execute risk mitigation activities, including design reviews, trade studies, and failure mode and effects analyses (FMEA/DFMEA).

• Create, review, and maintain detailed 3D CAD models and engineering drawings using SOLIDWORKS or equivalent tools, ensuring adherence to ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards.

• Perform or oversee structural, thermal, and dynamic analyses using finite element analysis (FEA) tools such as ANSYS and Nastran, and support modeling and simulation using MATLAB and Simulink.

• Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles to optimize designs for producibility, cost, and reliability.

• Define and support qualification testing and acceptance testing plans, ensuring that hardware meets all verification and validation requirements.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including systems, electrical, software, manufacturing, and test engineering, to integrate mechanical designs into complex hardware systems.

• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering team members, fostering best practices in mechanical design, analysis, and documentation.

• Support functional management responsibilities by contributing to planning, resource allocation, and technical decision-making in a highly regulated engineering environment.

• Ensure compliance with relevant aerospace and spaceflight standards, including NASA standards and verification processes where applicable.

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex engineering issues, exercising sound judgment to drive timely, effective solutions in a fast-paced development environment.

• Coordinate with stakeholders to support program milestones, design reviews, and customer or regulatory audits related to mechanical systems.

Essential Skills

• Minimum of 8 years of experience as a Mechanical Design Engineer or Mechanical Engineer in aerospace, spacecraft, automotive, robotics, oil and gas, transportation, or related high-technology industries.

• Extensive experience in mechanical design with emphasis on mechanisms, mechatronic systems, and motion-control hardware.

• Proficiency with 3D CAD software, including at least 8 years of experience using SOLIDWORKS or equivalent modeling platforms.

• Demonstrated ability to create, interpret, and review engineering drawings with geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) in accordance with ASME Y14.5 standards.

• Experience utilizing finite element analysis (FEA) tools such as ANSYS and Nastran for structural, thermal, and dynamic analysis.

• Proficiency with MATLAB and Simulink for engineering analysis, modeling, and simulation.

• Strong foundation in statics, dynamics, structural analysis, fracture control, fatigue, thermal effects, materials engineering, and lubrication systems.

• Proven experience leading product development efforts from concept through production, including requirements development, risk mitigation, verification, validation, and system qualification.

• Strong understanding and practical application of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles, as well as qualification and acceptance testing methodologies.

• Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership and mentor engineering teams in a multidisciplinary environment.

• Experience supporting the design, development, and integration of complex hardware systems in highly regulated engineering environments.

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related engineering discipline is preferred.

• Experience in aerospace, spaceflight, oil and gas, transportation, or mechanical engineering industries.

• Experience with new product development processes, including DFMEA and other structured risk assessment techniques.

• Familiarity with NASA standards, requirements, and verification processes for spaceflight hardware is preferred.

• Experience in project management or leading cross-functional engineering initiatives.

• Ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, advanced product development environments and to manage multiple priorities.

• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to exercise sound engineering judgment and drive practical, innovative solutions.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work closely with diverse engineering disciplines and stakeholders.

Work Environment

The position is based in an office environment where you will collaborate closely with other engineers on the next generation station-side systems. You will regularly use advanced engineering tools such as SOLIDWORKS or equivalent CAD platforms, ANSYS, Nastran, MATLAB, and Simulink to design, analyze, and document complex mechanical hardware. The work setting emphasizes cross-functional coordination, structured engineering processes, and adherence to high regulatory and quality standards typical of aerospace and spaceflight programs. The environment supports focused technical work, frequent design reviews, and ongoing interaction with multidisciplinary teams to bring sophisticated mechanical systems from concept to qualified hardware.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $70.00/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)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Houston,TX.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 9, 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 [email protected] 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.