Sr. Mechanical Engineer

Actalent; Santa Barbara (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

401(k) contribution

Medical insurance

Paid vacation

Navy-funded work

Santa Barbara locale

Job summary

Actalent seeks a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the design, analysis, integration and qualification of complex undersea electromechanical systems supporting SONAR and Navy applications. The role focuses on macro-level mechanical design, electronics packaging, pressure vessels, and deployment systems for demanding underwater environments.

Responsibilities include overseeing mechanical subsystems, coordinating with electrical engineers, performing FEA, and ensuring robust qualification

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 8 years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Experience designing large electromechanical assemblies and packaging electronics.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, development, documentation, integration, and qualification testing of mechanical subsystems for undersea products.
• Design and package complex electronics assemblies within pressure vessels and environmental enclosures.
• Perform structural, vibration, thermal, and tolerance analyses to validate mechanical designs.
• Coordinate with manufacturing and program management to support production schedules and new product introductions.

Skills

Mechanical design

FEA

SolidWorks

Electromechanical packaging

Pressure vessel design

Thermal analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

FEA software (e.g., ANSYS)

Job description

Job Title: Senior Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

The Senior Mechanical Engineer leads the design, analysis, integration, and qualification of complex undersea electromechanical systems that support advanced SONAR and Navy applications. As a Senior member of the Mechanical Engineering team, this role owns new product development efforts and supports large product lines from initial concept through production and field deployment. The position focuses on macro-level mechanical design and electronics packaging, with a particular emphasis on complete systems and assemblies, including pressure vessels, electronics housings, deployment systems, flotation systems, and anchor systems for demanding underwater environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, development, documentation, integration, and qualification testing of mechanical subsystems for undersea products.
• Design and package complex electronics assemblies within pressure vessels and environmental enclosures.
• Develop and analyze stacked electronics assemblies, ensuring structural integrity, reliability, and thermal performance.
• Perform structural, vibration, shock, thermal, and finite element analyses (FEA) to validate mechanical designs.
• Design hydrostatic pressure vessels, housings, mounting structures, sealing systems, and mechanical interfaces for underwater applications.
• Support the design and development of deployment mechanisms, flotation systems, anchor systems, and other mission-critical hardware.
• Collaborate closely with electrical engineers to define packaging requirements and integrate electrical subsystems into mechanical designs.
• Review engineering drawings, GD&T, materials, and manufacturing processes to improve product quality, efficiency, and cost.
• Support qualification, environmental, and validation testing activities, including test planning, execution, troubleshooting, and reporting.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, program management, and other engineering teams to support production schedules and new product introductions.
• Maintain SolidWorks models, engineering documentation, manufacturing files, and design records throughout the product lifecycle.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Minimum of 8 years of mechanical engineering experience.
• Strong experience designing large electromechanical assemblies and mechanical systems.
• Experience packaging electronics assemblies within ruggedized or environmentally controlled enclosures.
• Demonstrated experience with pressure vessel design and analysis.
• Strong structural analysis background, including finite element analysis (FEA).
• Experience performing vibration, shock, thermal, and tolerance stack-up analyses.
• Proficiency with SolidWorks for mechanical design and documentation.
• Experience supporting product qualification and environmental testing.
• Knowledge of materials selection, manufacturing processes, and design for production.
• Experience with GD&T and detailed mechanical drawing practices.
• Mechanical design and engineering expertise across new product development and sustaining engineering.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with hydrostatic pressure vessels, O-ring sealing, syntactic foams, and pressure-compensated designs.
• Experience working with deployment systems, flotation systems, anchoring systems, or other underwater mechanical hardware.
• Familiarity with sonar systems, acoustic positioning systems, hydrophones, projectors, or underwater navigation technologies.
• Hands-on mechanical aptitude, including machining, fabrication, assembly, welding, or troubleshooting.
• Experience designing products intended for harsh operational environments and deep-water applications.
• background in sheet metal design and analysis.
• Experience with FEA analysis tools and methods for complex mechanical assemblies.
• Interest in working on niche products in a diverse, quality-focused, and hands-on engineering role.
• Ability to operate with a strong sense of ownership over designs and product outcomes.
• Potential to obtain a security clearance, depending on project needs and eligibility.

Work Environment

The work environment offers a balanced pace that alternates between fast-moving project phases and slower, more methodical design and analysis periods. Engineers operate with a true ownership mindset, taking responsibility for designs from concept through production and field deployment. The role is hands-on, with opportunities to engage directly in quality checking, testing, and interaction with manufacturing. The team works on niche undersea products that demand rigorous engineering standards and thorough analysis, including FEA and environmental testing, in a professional, collaborative setting.

Job Type & Location

This is a Permanent position based out of Santa Barbara, CA.

Pay And Benefits

The pay range for this position is $125000.00 - $180000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

• Competitive compensation ($120K-$180K)
• 3% company-funded 401(k) contribution
• Medical, dental, vision & life insurance
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Stable defense/Navy-funded work supporting cutting-edge undersea technology
• Santa Barbara location, minutes from the beach

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Santa Barbara,CA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 28, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.