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Job Description

Overview

JPL is focused on seeking answers to the biggest questions in the universe, fostering innovation and collaboration in a unique work environment. The Structural Systems Engineer II will work within the Mechanical Engineering, Integration, and Test Section to design, analyze, and test mechanical and robotic systems for spacecraft and ground-based systems.

Responsibilities

  • Perform structural design and analysis to ensure the structural integrity of hardware and support structures.
  • Utilize classical solutions and finite element analysis (FEA) for flight projects and technology tasks.
  • Conduct detailed stress/structural analysis, dynamic analysis, and pre-test analysis.
  • Build finite element models and use hand calculations to identify critical areas in structures.
  • Contribute to the design process of mechanical assemblies from engineering requirements to engineering drawings.
  • Support and present analysis results at team and technical reviews.
  • Conduct static and dynamic tests and develop test reports.
  • Work independently and collaboratively under the direction of supervisors and project leads.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline with a minimum of 3 years of experience, or a Master’s degree with 1 year of experience, or a PhD.
  • Experience in structural engineering and analysis of flight structures, composite structures, and mechanisms.
  • Proficiency in MSC.Nastran, NX-Nastran, FEMAP, Abaqus, MSC.ADAMS or LS-DYNA.
  • General knowledge of structural mechanics, finite element analysis, and verification testing.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • PTO

Additional Information

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

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
PTO
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How this job compares in Pasadena, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $61/hr, this posting sits about 11% above the $55/hr median for structural welder jobs across California — toward the top of a $28–$70/hr middle band drawn from 12 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 75% 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.

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. Structural Systems Engineer II figures were last recalculated when this page was built.