Senior Mechanical Designer — Spacecraft & Mechanisms

Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 191,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid time off

Job summary

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA seeks a Mechanical Designer IV to lead design, analysis, and integration of spacecraft mechanical systems. You will create complex CAD models, manage assemblies, and guide engineering documentation through reviews.

Applicants should have a mechanical engineering degree with senior-level experience, strong CAD skills (NX required, CATIA or Creo acceptable), and proven ability to lead design efforts in a high‑stakes, spaceflight environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline with extensive experience.
• Demonstrated ability to independently lead complex mechanical design efforts.
• Fluency in CAD tools: NX required; CATIA or Creo also acceptable.
• Experience producing and approving engineering drawings and design documents.

Responsibilities

• Lead design efforts for spacecraft, mechanisms, and MGSE hardware.
• Create complex CAD models and manage critical assemblies.
• Develop configurations and trades for mechanical designs across projects.
• Present designs at reviews and ensure end-to-end mechanical integrity.

Skills

Siemens NX

CATIA

Creo

GD&T

ASME Y14.5

Engineering drawings

Leadership

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

NX

SolidWorks

Teamcenter

Job description

Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA seeks a Mechanical Designer IV to lead design, analysis, and integration of spacecraft mechanical systems. You will create complex CAD models, manage assemblies, and guide engineering documentation through reviews.

Applicants should have a mechanical engineering degree with senior-level experience, strong CAD skills (NX required, CATIA or Creo acceptable), and proven ability to lead design efforts in a high‑stakes, spaceflight environment.