Sr. Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Sr. Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a sr Mechanical Engineer to lead mechanical engineering activities for flight hardware and associated ground/test hardware. The role involves developing payload mechanical architecture, packaging concepts, layouts, and detailed designs. You will lead structural and thermal design and analysis activities, develop and maintain mechanical models, assemblies, drawings, and manufacturing documentation, and establish mechanical interfaces while supporting the development of Interface Control Documents.

Responsibilities

• Develop payload mechanical architecture, packaging concepts, layouts, and detailed designs.

• Lead structural and thermal design and analysis activities.

• Maintain mechanical models, assemblies, drawings, and manufacturing documentation.

• Establish mechanical interfaces and support the development of Interface Control Documents.

• Perform tolerance analysis, material selection, thermal management, fastener selection, and other detailed mechanical design activities.

• Design RF housings, chassis, brackets, thermal interfaces, waveguide structures, fixtures, and related hardware.

• Collaborate with RF engineers to maintain RF performance while meeting mechanical, thermal, and manufacturing constraints.

• Support make/buy decisions and coordinate fabrication with internal machining resources and outside suppliers.

• Review drawings and designs for producibility, inspectability, assembly, and test.

• Support prototype fabrication, assembly, troubleshooting, environmental testing, and payload integration.

• Coordinate mechanical verification activities and provide supporting analysis and test evidence.

• Lead mechanical design reviews and support program technical reviews.

• Maintain configuration control of mechanical design data.

• Provide technical direction to mechanical designers, PCB layout personnel where mechanical coordination is required, interns, technicians, and fabrication personnel.

Essential Skills

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.

• Significant experience designing complex aerospace, RF, electronic, or electromechanical hardware.

• Strong 3D CAD and detailed drawing experience (Autodesk Inventor or similar CAD experience).

• Practical understanding of machining, fabrication, assembly, tolerancing, and inspection.

• Experience with thermal and structural considerations for electronic equipment.

• Ability to manage the lifecycle of hardware from concept through detailed design, analysis, fabrication, assembly, and test.

• Strong technical judgment and ability to lead a small engineering team.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with RF/microwave hardware, waveguide, precision machined housings, or high-frequency electronic packaging.

• Experience with environmental qualification including vibration, thermal vacuum, and mechanical testing.

• Familiarity with NASA or aerospace configuration management and drawing practices.

Work Environment

The work environment consists of an engineering and lab setting with a small team of 5 full-time engineers and 4 part-time engineers. This position serves as the mechanical engineering lead for the Nexus program. The role is onsite full-time, with some flexibility for telework (1-2 days per week). The company, a small business, offers in-house anechoic chambers, test labs, CNC machines, and test equipment for RF prototype and full-rate production. A recent large contract award to support NASA will double the company size and result in a move to a new facility.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Columbia, MD.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $72.12 - $95.00/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)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract position based out of Columbia, MD.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 27, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Columbia,MD.

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.