Head of Mechanical Engineering

Salient Motion; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 220,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

autonomy

great benefits

Job summary

Salient Motion in Torrance, CA is seeking a technically deep, hands-on Head of Mechanical Engineering to own our mechanical function end-to-end. You’ll set engineering direction, enforce aerospace standards, and build a high-performing team responsible for product integrity from concept through qualification and production.

You will lead the development of electromechanical actuators, guide geartrain and drivetrain design, manage DO-160 and MIL-STD compliance, and mentor engineers while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required or equivalent
• 10+ years in mechanical engineering with senior/leadership experience
• Hands-on experience with electromechanical actuators and precision mechanisms

Responsibilities

• Own mechanical engineering function end-to-end; serve as technical authority for all mechanical designs.
• Lead design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure aerospace/defense compliance.
• Hire and mentor mechanical engineers; build team roadmaps and engineering processes.
• Collaborate with suppliers and contract manufacturers; manage NCRs and production handoffs.

Skills

Leadership

Aerospace engineering

Mechanical engineering

Qualification campaigns

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering

Advanced degree

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

NX

ASME Y14.5 GD&T

Job description

• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) to meet customer and regulatory requirements**
• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) to meet customer and regulatory requirements**

Who We Are

We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries, and passionate about building the financial infrastructure behind cutting‑edge hardware, let's chat!

We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors into the future.

A Couple Other Things

• We offer a lot of autonomy
• We like to run lean for impact
• We have great benefits
• We are well funded, and already generating revenue
• We're currently in Torrance, CA, but will be moving into a new facility in Hawthorne, CA in the summer!

What You'll Do

• We are looking for a technically deep, hands‑on Head of Mechanical Engineering to own our mechanical engineering function end‑to‑end. This is a senior leadership role that combines deep product expertise in electromechanical actuators with the organizational authority to set engineering direction, enforce aerospace standards, and build a high‑performing team. You will serve as the technical authority for all mechanical systems and be accountable for product integrity from concept through qualification and production.

Technical Leadership & Oversight

• Engineering Authority: Serve as the final technical decision‑maker for all mechanical designs. Review and approve engineering drawings, analyses, and design packages across the actuator product line.
• Deep Product Ownership: Maintain comprehensive system‑level knowledge of all actuator products including kinematic architecture, load paths, drivetrain design, thermal management, and qualification status.
• Design Reviews: Lead formal design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure all mechanical work meets internal standards and applicable aerospace/defense requirements.
• Technical Mentorship: Provide hands‑on guidance to the mechanical engineering team, elevating design quality, analytical rigor, and engineering judgment across the group.

Actuator & Mechanism Development

• Electromechanical Actuator Design: Lead development of precision electromechanical actuators integrating motors, geartrains, lead screws, encoders, braking systems, and structural housings for flight and industrial applications.
• Geartrain & Drivetrain Expertise: Apply deep knowledge of gear ratios, backlash control, lubrication, and AGMA standards to drivetrain design decisions.
• Mechanism Integration: Own packaging and integration of actuator sub‑systems including precision bearings, seals, thermal interfaces, and position feedback elements within tight volumetric and mass constraints.
• Requirements Architecture: Translate mission‑level needs into quantified functional, performance, and interface requirements for mechanical assemblies.

Aerospace Standards & Qualification

• Standards Compliance: Own mechanical compliance to applicable aerospace and defense standards including DO‑160, MIL‑STD‑810, MIL‑PRF‑27369, and AS9100. Identify applicable requirements early and drive design‑to‑compliance from inception.
• Qualification Strategy: Architect qualification and acceptance test programs including test equipment design, procedure development, and formal execution. Ensure traceability from requirements to test evidence.
• Environmental & Structural Survivability: Guide design decisions for performance in high‑vibration, thermal extreme, and vacuum environments. Apply fatigue, margin of safety, and life analysis to qualify structural and dynamic hardware.
• GD&T & Drawing Standards: Enforce ASME Y14.5 GD&T on all drawings. Ensure drawing packages support both manufacturing and inspection to aerospace quality levels.

Operations & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Team Building: Hire, develop, and retain mechanical engineers. Define team structure, role responsibilities, and technical development roadmaps.
• Supply Chain Partnership: Work closely with contract manufacturers and suppliers to ensure hardware conformance. Manage NCRs, deviations, and waivers with engineering rigor.
• Production Transition: Lead DFM/DFA efforts to move designs from prototype to production‑ready. Reduce cost, improve yield, and maintain performance margins through production design iterations.
• Hands‑On Culture: Lead by doing. Take on design work alongside the team—own hardware, run analyses, and stay close to the product. Set the standard through personal output, not just direction.
• Program Scheduling: Partner with program management to develop detailed lower‑level schedules that support project milestones. Proactively identify risks, shift resources to address issues, and keep engineering execution on track.
• Engineering Efficiency: Develop workflows, templates, and tools that accelerate design iteration without sacrificing analytical rigor or compliance. Identify and eliminate bottlenecks across the design‑analyze‑release cycle.
• Technology Roadmap: Collaborate with leadership to define and maintain a mechanical technology roadmap. Identify capability gaps, emerging technologies, and strategic investments that keep Salient Motion ahead of the market.

What You Need

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or closely related field. Advanced degree a plus.
• Experience: 10+ years of experience in mechanical engineering, with at least 3 years in a technical leadership or senior engineering role. Deep background in electromechanical actuator or precision mechanism development required.
• Actuator Expertise: Proven, hands‑on design experience with electromechanical actuators—including motor integration, geartrains, output mechanisms, and position sensing—across the full product lifecycle.
• Aerospace Standards: Demonstrated working knowledge of DO‑160, MIL‑STD‑810, and related standards. Experience leading or contributing to formal qualification campaigns.
• Structural Analysis: Proficiency in analytical methods for strength, fatigue, stiffness, and margin of safety. Ability to perform and review hand calculations and FEA.
• CAD Mastery: Expert‑level use of SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, or equivalent 3D CAD platform. Strong configuration management practices.
• GD&T: Advanced command of ASME Y14.5. Ability to define and review tolerance schemes for precision assemblies.
• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead technical teams, drive design reviews, and make high‑stakes engineering decisions under program pressure.

Nice To Have

• Experience in flight hardware programs (UAV, launch vehicle, spacecraft, or crewed systems).
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality management systems.
• Background in motor‑drive integration and thermal‑mechanical co‑design.
• Experience qualifying hardware to MIL‑PRF‑27369 or similar actuation‑specific standards.
• Exposure to both fast‑moving R&D environments and structured compliance‑driven programs.
• Prior experience at a small or scaling aerospace company.

What We Have To Offer

We are not just building components. We are reshaping the future of the Aerospace and Defense component industry, which is a $300B+ market! Come join us and help build next generation systems that will make a massive impact at global scale.

• Competitive compensation: $220,000 to $250,000 base salary + equity
• Exceptional healthcare benefits — Medical is 100% covered by the company
• Life Insurance (2x Salary) 100% covered by the company
• Flexible PTO, 401K, Financial Wellness Resources, and more