Mechanical Systems Engineer I

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; United States; On-site; USD 97,000 - 117,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision plans

Retirement plans

Flexible schedule

Paid time off

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, seeks a Mechanical Systems Engineer to advance hardware and system designs for spacecraft, payloads, and ground-based systems. The role spans proposal through flight operations, involving collaboration with engineers to deliver robust mechanical products for space missions.

The position requires a Mechanical Engineering degree (1 year+ experience) and strong CAD/GD&T skills, with opportunities for growth in a renowned space exploration

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 1 year of related experience.
• Minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Internship or hands-on technical experience may be counted toward the experience requirement.
• Knowledge of GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support mechanical hardware development and mechanical systems engineering activities for payloads, instruments, and spacecraft during all mission phases including proposal, concept/system architecture development, detailed design, integration & test (I&T), and flight operations.
• Partner with other engineers to perform design and analysis, generate and maintain engineering documentation, and participate in the build and delivery of mechanical engineering products for spaceflight missions.
• Support trade studies, contribute to verification and validation (V&V) activities, and define, document, and manage technical requirements, interfaces, and other mechanical systems engineering products for spaceflight missions.
• Ensure that delivered products meet all technical requirements, programmatic goals and commitments.
• Interface across subsystem teams and disciplines to support the development and implementation of technical solutions.
• Contribute to cost and schedule estimation and implementation planning of engineering components.
• Support and present at team, line management, and subsystem level technical reviews.
• Perform tasks under the direction of the group supervisor, project management, and project technical leads, work independently and within a team environment, and collaborate on tasks that span a spectrum of disciplines.

Skills

CAD modeling software

GD&T (ASME Y14.5)

Verbal & written communication

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (optional)

Tools

Unigraphics/Siemens NX

SolidWorks

Teamcenter

Job description

About the Role

Job Details New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity—is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL. Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence. This unique opportunity is part of the Mechanical and Control Systems Division (35), which creates advanced mechanical, robotics, thermal, propulsion, onboard GNC, and electronic packaging systems. Division 35 develops hardware and systems from early architecture through design, fabrication, subsystem, and system-level integration and test. You will be working as a Mechanical Systems Engineer within the Mechanical Engineering, Integration, and Test Section, which leads the design, analysis, development, integration, and test of flight mechanical and robotic systems for spacecraft, payloads, and ground-based systems.

Responsibilities

• Support mechanical hardware development and mechanical systems engineering activities for payloads, instruments, and spacecraft during all mission phases including proposal, concept/system architecture development, detailed design, integration & test (I&T), and flight operations.
• Partner with other engineers to perform design and analysis, generate and maintain engineering documentation, and participate in the build and delivery of mechanical engineering products for spaceflight missions.
• Support trade studies, contribute to verification and validation (V&V) activities, and define, document, and manage technical requirements, interfaces, and other mechanical systems engineering products for spaceflight missions.
• Ensure that delivered products meet all technical requirements, programmatic goals and commitments.
• Interface across subsystem teams and disciplines to support the development and implementation of technical solutions.
• Contribute to cost and schedule estimation and implementation planning of engineering components.
• Support and present at team, line management, and subsystem level technical reviews.
• Perform tasks under the direction of the group supervisor, project management, and project technical leads, work independently and within a team environment, and collaborate on tasks that span a spectrum of disciplines.

Required Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 1 year of related experience; or Master’s degree in similar subject areas.
• Relevant internship or other hands‑on technical experience may be counted toward the experience requirement.
• A minimum of a 3.0 GPA.

Desired Skills

• Knowledge and experience with research, development, design, analysis, assembly, integration, test, or verification of mechanical engineering products.
• Knowledge and experience with task planning, managing schedules and deliverables, and meeting commitments.
• Practical experience using CAD modeling software (preferably Unigraphics/Siemens NX, SolidWorks, and Teamcenter) used in a Product Delivery Management (PDM) or similar Concurrent Engineering environment.
• Knowledge of Standards for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Y14.5.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent collaboration skills and ability to work across subject areas and organizations.

Benefits & Perks

• JPL has a catalog of benefits and perks that span from the traditional to the unique. This includes a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave and many more.
• Our focus is on work‑life balance, and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together.
• For benefits eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date.

Salary

The typical full time equivalent annual hiring range for this job in Pasadena, California. $97,032 - $117,416

EEO Statement

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state or local law. In addition, JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. EEO is the Law. EEO is the Law Supplement Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.

Company Overview

Formed in 1936, the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center managed for NASA by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech.). JPL joined NASA as an FFRDC when the agency was founded in 1958. JPL helped open the Space Age by developing America’s first Earth-orbiting science satellite, creating the first successful interplanetary spacecraft, and sending robotic missions to the solar system. Today JPL continues its world‑leading innovation, implementing programs in planetary exploration, Earth science, space‑based astronomy and technology development while applying its capabilities to technical and scientific problems of national significance. Above all, we are explorers. At JPL we promote collaboration, innovation, integrity, and excellence in distinct academic areas. We turn ideas for science investigation into the reality of groundbreaking space missions, partnering with our strategic business teams to guide JPL into the future.