Lead Mechanical Design Engineer – Spacecraft & MGSE

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 160,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA seeks a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead spacecraft and MGSE mechanical design efforts. You will develop complex CAD models, produce drawings, and collaborate with expert teams across subsystems and interfaces.

The role requires extensive spaceflight design experience, strong CAD skills (NX), and leadership in design reviews, with emphasis on GD&T, tolerances, and interface control. Location is on-site in California.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 9+ years (or Master’s 7, PhD 5).
• Experience designing, analyzing, developing, integrating, and verifying mechanical components for spaceflight or complex environments.
• Ability to independently lead complex mechanical design efforts, including requirements development and design reviews.
• Proven experience approving mechanical drawings, models, analyses, and change requests.
• Strong communication skills for presenting technical material to stakeholders.
• Fluency with CAD tools (NX required; CATIA/Creo also accepted).
• Experience producing drawings per ASME Y14.100-2017.
• Knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5-2018.

Responsibilities

• Perform as a Mechanical Design Engineer for spacecraft, instrument, robotic, or MGSE applications.
• Create complex CAD models, manage assemblies, and produce drawings.
• Collaborate with world-class engineers in a highly team-oriented environment.
• Develop configurations and trades for mechanical designs.
• Interface with space science experts, analysts, and project staff.
• Lead design for complex components and assemblies for spacecraft and ground support equipment.
• Conduct and approve structural, thermal, dynamic, GD&T, materials analyses.
• Oversee engineering documentation and design packages.
• Lead subsystem architecture development for mechanical designs.
• Present results at reviews with status justifications.

Skills

Mechanical design

Spaceflight experience

Leadership

CAD NX

CATIA/Creo

GD&T

ASME Y14.5

Teamcenter

Tolerance stackups

Engineering drawings

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s degree

PhD

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Teamcenter

Tolerance stackups

Job description

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA seeks a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead spacecraft and MGSE mechanical design efforts. You will develop complex CAD models, produce drawings, and collaborate with expert teams across subsystems and interfaces.

The role requires extensive spaceflight design experience, strong CAD skills (NX), and leadership in design reviews, with emphasis on GD&T, tolerances, and interface control. Location is on-site in California.