Back to Jobs

Job Description

Overview

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is focused on seeking answers to the biggest questions in the universe, offering a unique work environment that fosters innovation and collaboration. The Mechanical Systems Engineer II will support the development of mechanical systems for spacecraft and related projects.

Responsibilities

  • Support mechanical hardware development and engineering activities for payloads and spacecraft during all mission phases.
  • Perform design and analysis, generate and maintain engineering documentation, and participate in the delivery of mechanical engineering products.
  • Support trade studies and contribute to verification and validation activities.
  • Ensure delivered products meet technical requirements and programmatic commitments.
  • Contribute to cost and schedule estimation and implementation planning.
  • Support and present at technical reviews.
  • Provide technical guidance to support engineers and analysts.
  • Contribute to the mentorship and training of junior team members.
  • Work independently and collaboratively across disciplines.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 3 years of related experience; Master’s degree with a minimum of 1 year related experience or PhD in similar disciplines.
  • Experience with research, development, design, analysis, assembly, integration, test, or verification of mechanical engineering products.
  • Knowledge and experience translating design and performance requirements into hardware configurations.
  • Experience with task planning, managing schedules and deliverables.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • Located in Pasadena, California.
  • Work environment fosters passion, innovation, and collaboration.
  • Benefits effective the first day of the month following the employee’s start date.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
Apply for This Position

How this job compares in Pasadena, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $61/hr, this posting sits about 75% above the $35/hr median for welding jobs across California — toward the top of a $28–$48/hr middle band drawn from 449 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 87% of the comparable postings we have wage data for. Pay that far above local median usually comes attached to something: a harder cert requirement, travel, night shift, or overtime that isn't really optional. Worth establishing which before you accept.

The local market in Pasadena, CA

Pasadena, CA currently has 7 other active welding openings besides this one, spread across 3 employers. 6 of them were added in the last week. Across California as a whole we're tracking 600 other active welding openings from 271 employers. That's enough local activity to be worth comparing two or three offers before committing. Browse every welding job in Pasadena, or widen the search to California.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory currently has 5 other openings live in California, which is usually a sign of either steady growth or steady turnover — worth asking which in the interview.

The most active employers in California at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are SpaceX (37), Vast (18), and Relativity Space (17). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within California, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Gardena at $73/hr, Redondo Beach at $72/hr, and Long Beach at $54/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Pasadena, CA

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Mechanical Systems Engineer II figures were last recalculated when this page was built.