Senior Mechanical Engineer Torrance, CA

Salient Motion, Inc.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Exceptional healthcare benefits

Flexible PTO

401(k)

Job summary

Salient Motion, Inc. is seeking a versatile Engineer to lead the development of mission-critical hardware for aerospace and defense. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of experience and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering.

This role offers a competitive salary range of $160,000 to $190,000, exceptional healthcare, flexible PTO, and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• 5+ years experience through the full product lifecycle.
• Deep intuition for electromagnetic principles.
• Advanced design experience in SolidWorks.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of mission-critical hardware.
• Translate high-level requirements into operational requirements.
• Design electromagnetic actuators and mechanisms.

Skills

Electromagnetic principles

Mechanical load paths

CAD proficiency

Analysis & simulation

Design-build-test mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Bachelor’s degree in Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

All applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) to meet customer and regulatory requirements.

We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense.

We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors into the future. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries and passionate about motor control technology, let’s chat.

What you’ll do:

We are seeking a versatile, high‑impact Engineer to lead the development of mission‑critical hardware. This is a full‑lifecycle role where you will own everything from the initial conversion of ambiguous concepts into rigorous requirements to the hands‑on assembly and environmental qualification of flight hardware.

• Requirements Architecture: Translate high‑level, ambiguous mission needs into actionable functional and operational requirements for complex electromechanical systems.
• Precision Mechanism Design: Design and iterate on electromagnetic actuators and intricate mechanisms, integrating components such as precision gears, bearings, lead screws, braking systems, and encoders.
• Ruggedized Avionics: Develop high‑performance avionics enclosures, focusing on innovative thermal management and structural survivability in extreme, high‑vibration, or vacuum environments.
• Environmental Qualification: Architect the test equipment and methodologies required for formal hardware qualification, ensuring total compliance with DO‑160 and MIL‑STD‑810 standards.
• Cross‑Functional Leadership: Act as a technical anchor across the organization, guiding integration efforts and supporting multidisciplinary teams through complex system testing.
• Supply Chain & Quality Advocacy: Partner closely with external suppliers to ensure the delivery of conforming hardware; proactively manage manufacturing deviations to maintain rigorous quality and schedule standards.
• Hands‑on Execution: Maintain a "design‑build‑test" mindset, taking personal responsibility for the assembly, bring‑up, and debugging of your own hardware prototypes.

What you need:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience: 5+ years of experience through the full product lifecycle—from initial ideation and prototyping to high‑fidelity production.
• Technical Expertise: A deep intuition for electromagnetic principles and a mastery of mechanical load paths and load cases.
• Analysis & Simulation: Proficiency in sizing analysis for strength, fatigue, and life cycles of actuator components (gears, shafts, housings).
• CAD Mastery: Advanced design experience in SolidWorks (or equivalent 3D modeling packages), including complex assemblies and configuration management.
• Manufacturing & GD&T: Fluency in ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards; ability to produce high‑quality 2D drawings and collaborate with vendors to solve DFM hurdles.
• Standards & Qualification: Proven track record of qualifying hardware against rigorous aerospace or military standards (DO‑160, MIL‑STD‑810).
• Grit: A "builder" mindset—you are as comfortable at a computer as you are in the lab spinning wrenches and debugging your own hardware.

Nice to have:

• Qualification: Experience designing custom test equipment, writing formal procedures, and executing complex qualification test campaigns.
• Gearbox Specialization: Detailed knowledge of AGMA Standards, gearbox design analysis (ratios, backlash, lubrication), and specialized fabrication methods.
• Process Versatility: Experience navigating both high‑compliance, "heavy" programs and fast‑paced, lean R&D environments.

What we have to offer:

We offer competitive compensation: $160,000 to $190,000 base salary plus equity.

• Exceptional healthcare benefits; medical is 100% covered by the company.
• Flexible PTO.
• 401(k).
• More to come.