Salient Motion · 5 hours ago
Senior Mechanical Engineer
LA Metro Area
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
$160K/yr - $200K/yr
5+ years expSalient Motion is pioneering modular motion technologies for Industrial, Aerospace, and Defense sectors. They are seeking a versatile, high-impact Engineer to lead the development of mission-critical hardware, from initial concept to assembly and qualification of flight hardware.
ElectronicsOperating SystemsSoftware
Hiring Manager
Jimmy Chung
Responsibilities
Translate high-level, ambiguous mission needs into actionable functional and operational requirements for complex electromechanical systems
Design and iterate on electromagnetic actuators and intricate mechanisms, integrating components such as precision gears, bearings, lead screws, braking systems, and encoders
Develop high-performance avionics enclosures, focusing on innovative thermal management (heat rejection) and structural survivability in extreme, high-vibration, or vacuum environments
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 and supporting multidisciplinary teams through complex system testing
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
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related technical discipline
5+ years of experience through the full product lifecycle—from initial ideation and prototyping to high-fidelity production
A deep intuition for electromagnetic principles and a mastery of mechanical load paths and load cases
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 complex assemblies 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
Preferred
Experience designing custom test equipment, writing formal procedures, and executing complex qualification test campaigns
Detailed knowledge of AGMA Standards, gearbox design analysis (ratios, backlash, lubrication), and specialized fabrication methods
Experience navigating both high-compliance, 'heavy' programs and fast-paced, lean R&D environments
Benefits
Exceptional healthcare benefits, Medical is 100% covered by the company
Flexible PTO
401K
More to come!
Company
Salient Motion
Salient Motion is an electric motion operating system designed to reimagine the American supply chain with help of cutting-edge software.
11-50 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Salient Motion has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (1)
2024 (1)
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageTotal Funding
$4MKey Investors
Cantos
2024-10-01Seed· $4M
2022-11-01Pre Seed
Leadership Team
Aidan Jenkins
Co-Founder
Vishaal Mali
Co-Founder
Recent News
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