Back to Jobs

Job Description

Overview

JPL is focused on seeking answers to the biggest questions and inspiring future generations through innovation and collaboration. As a Mechatronics Engineer I, you will contribute to the design and development of mechanical and robotic systems for spacecraft and ground-based systems.

Responsibilities

  • Develop mechanisms, materials, and electronics for JPL missions.
  • Support mechanical hardware development and systems engineering activities during all mission phases.
  • Perform design and analysis, generate and maintain engineering documentation.
  • Ensure delivered products meet all technical requirements and programmatic commitments.
  • Contribute to cost and schedule estimation and implementation planning.
  • Support and present at technical reviews.
  • Work independently and collaboratively across disciplines.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related technical discipline with a minimum of 1 year of related experience, or a Master’s degree in similar subject areas.
  • A minimum of a 3.0 GPA.
  • Knowledge and experience with spacecraft or instrument mechatronics development.
  • Knowledge in electrical engineering and software development for embedded systems.
  • Practical experience using CAD modeling software, preferably Unigraphics/Siemens NX, SolidWorks, and Teamcenter.
  • Knowledge of Standards for Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) per ASME Y14.5.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent collaboration skills.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • Located in Pasadena, California.
  • Work environment fosters innovation and collaboration.
  • Focus on work-life balance.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
Apply for This Position

How this job compares in Pasadena, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $54/hr, this posting sits about 55% 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 79% 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. 7 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.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • ASME Section IX — the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code qualification. It covers welding on pressure-retaining equipment — boilers, vessels, and process piping — where a failed weld is a safety incident rather than a rework ticket.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

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. Mechatronics Engineer I figures were last recalculated when this page was built.