Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

InnoForge; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

InnoForge, a growing space startup in El Segundo, seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer specializing in mechanisms and complex assemblies to drive design from concept through prototype and flight hardware. You’ll own space‑rated mechanisms, actuators, gear trains and precision motion systems, with hands‑on build/test and environment testing experience.

The role emphasizes GD&T proficiency, CAD across SolidWorks/Creo/CATIA/NX, and transitioning designs to flight readiness while collaborating on

Qualifications

• 5+ years of mechanical design experience, ideally focused on mechanisms.
• Strong understanding of gears, bearings, springs, cams, linkages, kinematics and power transmission.
• Solid GD&T and tolerance stack‑up experience.
• Strong CAD capability in SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, NX or similar.
• Hands‑on experience taking designs beyond CAD into build and test.

Responsibilities

• Work on space‑rated mechanisms and moving assemblies.
• Develop actuators, gear trains, bearings, linkages and precision motion systems.
• Design release and deployment mechanisms for flight hardware.
• Perform kinematic studies, torque and friction calculations.
• Conduct tolerance analysis and select components.
• Create 3D CAD, detailed assemblies and engineering drawings.
• Prototype build and test hardware, verify with testing.
• Root‑cause hardware failures and implement design changes.
• Support TVAC, vibration, shock and deployment testing.
• Support DFM/DFA and transition designs toward flight‑ready hardware.

Skills

Mechanisms design

Gears & bearings

Geometric dimensioning & tolerancing

CAD proficiency

Prototype build & test

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

CATIA

NX

Job description

I’m working with a growing space startup in El Segundo that is looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer specialising in mechanisms and complex mechanical assemblies.

This is a hands‑on engineering position working on novel space hardware from early design and analysis through prototype builds, environmental testing and eventual flight hardware.

What you’ll be working on:

• Space‑rated mechanisms and moving assemblies
• Actuators, gear trains, bearings, linkages and precision motion systems
• Release and deployment mechanisms
• Kinematic studies, torque and friction calculations
• Tolerance analysis and component selection
• 3D CAD, detailed assemblies and engineering drawings
• Prototype build and test
• Root‑causing hardware failures and implementing design changes
• TVAC, vibration, shock and deployment testing
• DFM/DFA and transitioning designs towards flight‑ready hardware

What they’re looking for:

• 5+ years of mechanical design experience, ideally focused on mechanisms
• Strong understanding of gears, bearings, springs, cams, linkages, kinematics and power transmission
• Solid GD&T and tolerance stack‑up experience
• Strong CAD capability in SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, NX or similar
• Hands‑on experience taking designs beyond CAD into build and test

Experience with space mechanisms, deployables, high‑reliability aerospace hardware, payload integration or fast‑paced space programmes would be particularly interesting. The role also requires the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.

Due to the nature of the hardware, this position is subject to U.S. export‑control requirements. Candidates must meet applicable ITAR requirements, including being a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee/asylee, or otherwise eligible for the necessary U.S. Department of State authorisation.

If your background sits somewhere between mechanical design, mechanisms and hands‑on space hardware development, I’d be interested in speaking.