Principal Mechanical Engineer

Salient Motion•Torrance, CA

1d•$200,000 - $230,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries, and passionate about building the financial infrastructure behind cutting-edge hardware, let's chat! We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors into the future. We offer a lot of autonomy, like to run lean for impact, have great benefits, are well funded, and already generating revenue. We're currently in Torrance, CA, but will be moving into a new facility in Hawthorne, CA in the summer!

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline; advanced degrees (M.S. or above) a plus.
10+ years of experience through the full product lifecycle—from initial ideation and prototyping to flight-qualified production hardware. Experience with JPL, NASA, or DoD programs is highly valued.
A deep intuition for electromagnetic principles and a mastery of mechanical load paths and load cases.
Hands-on familiarity with robotic systems, kinematic mechanisms, and FEA/CFD analysis tools is a strong advantage.
Proficiency in sizing analysis for strength, fatigue, and life cycles of actuator components (gears, shafts, housings).
Advanced design experience in SolidWorks (or equivalent 3D modeling packages, including SolidWorks, Creo, and Inventor), including complex assemblies, PDM/MBD workflows, and configuration management.
Fluency in ASME Y14.5 GD&T standards; ability to produce high-quality 2D drawings and collaborate with vendors to solve DFM (Design for Manufacturing) hurdles.
Proven track record of qualifying hardware against rigorous aerospace or military standards (DO-160, MIL-STD-810).
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 Haves

Experience designing custom test equipment (including GSE for robotic or flight systems), writing formal test plans and procedures, and executing complex qualification campaigns.
Detailed knowledge of AGMA Standards, gearbox design analysis (ratios, backlash, lubrication), and precision fabrication methods including injection molding and machine shop capability.
Experience navigating both high-compliance aerospace/DoD programs and fast-paced, lean R&D environments—including optomechanical systems, robotic platforms, and cross-industry hardware such as animatronics or special-purpose machinery.

Responsibilities

Translate high-level, ambiguous mission needs into actionable functional and operational requirements for complex electromechanical systems, including spacecraft structures, docking and release mechanisms, robotic arm systems, and military-grade ground support hardware.
Design and iterate on electromagnetic actuators and intricate mechanisms, integrating components such as precision gears, bearings, lead screws, braking systems, and encoders. Experience with launch restraints, sample handling mechanisms, optomechanical assemblies, and custom actuator builds is especially relevant.
Develop high-performance avionics enclosures, focusing on innovative thermal management (heat rejection) and structural survivability in extreme, high-vibration, or vacuum environments, including lunar and planetary surface conditions.
Architect the test equipment and methodologies required for formal hardware qualification, ensuring total compliance with DO-160 and MIL-STD-810 standards.
Act as a technical anchor across the organization, guiding integration efforts, supporting multidisciplinary teams through complex system testing, and authoring test plans, procedures, proposals, and associated program documentation.
Partner closely with external suppliers to ensure the delivery of conforming hardware; proactively manage manufacturing deviations to maintain rigorous quality and schedule standards.
Maintain a "design-build-test" mindset, taking personal responsibility for the assembly, bring-up, and debugging of your own hardware prototypes.