Mechanical Design Engineer

LeoForce; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

LeoForce is seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer in Santa Ana, CA to design production tooling, fixtures, and processing aids for aerospace manufacturing. You will work from concepts and 3D models, using SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX, with GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and MBD workflows.

You'll lead tooling design validation, support hydraulic/pneumatic test equipment, and collaborate cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, and production.

Qualifications

• Proficient in 3D CAD for large assemblies and tooling.
• Strong communication across manufacturing, quality, and production teams.
• Experience with GD&T per ASME Y14.5 and MBD workflows.
• Ability to lead root-cause investigations and design validation.

Responsibilities

• Design production tooling, fixtures, and processing aids across product families.
• Create detailed tooling designs using 3D CAD, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
• Validate tooling and design intent through engineering analysis and shop floor applications.
• Lead root-cause investigations and manage configuration control.

Skills

3D CAD proficiency

Cross-functional communication

GD&T knowledge

Model-based definition

Tools

SolidWorks

CATIA

NX

Job description

Mechanical Design Engineer

Santa Ana,CA, US

6930419

18 hours ago

Job Description

Experience: Mid Level

Salary: $120,000 - $160,000 per year

Job Details

• You'll design the production tooling, fixtures, and processing aids that support aerospace manufacturing across multiple product families — machining, assembly, test, and inspection — working from concepts, sketches, models, or verbal input from engineering, manufacturing, quality, and production.
• Create detailed tooling, fixture, and processing aid designs using 3D CAD, GD&T, and tolerance analysis.
• Generate derivative and secondary models, reference geometry, and tooling datasets for NC programming, inspection, assembly, and test.
• Validate tooling and design intent through engineering analysis, producibility reviews, and shop floor application.
• Support design and modification of test equipment, including hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
• Lead root cause investigations and corrective actions using structured methods (8D, RCCA, DMAIC), and own configuration management, revision control, and technical accuracy of models and drawings.

Looking for:

• Strong 3D CAD skills — SolidWorks, CATIA, or NX; multi-body design, surfacing, large assemblies, and detailed drawings
• Working knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5; familiarity with model-based definition (MBD) workflows
• Strong communicator who works well cross-functionally with manufacturing, quality, and production

Experience in any of the following areas welcomed:

• Machine shop / CNC manufacturing environments
• Composites manufacturing
• Hydraulic and pneumatic test equipment
• Assembly, test, machining, and inspection tooling
• Lean design, ergonomics, and cost-out / cycle-time reduction projects
• NPI and new product development support

A bit about us:

Our client is a vertically integrated design, engineering, and manufacturing partner to leading and next-generation space and defense technology companies. Our work spans three core markets — space and launch systems, defense aviation and airborne systems, and C5ISR and precision strike — and we build hardware that has to survive extreme operating environments. Across a nationwide footprint of advanced manufacturing facilities, we support rapid prototyping, new product development, large-scale production, and aftermarket sustainment for enduring platforms.

Why join us?

• Base salary $125k–$160k+
• Medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k)
• Generous PTO, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Full-lifecycle ownership: you define the tooling, validate it, and fix it when production finds the edge cases
• Decades of manufacturing heritage with a balanced mix of next-gen development programs and long-running production work
• Clear technical growth path — mechanical design into broader manufacturing engineering leadership

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