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Job Description

Overview

The Senior Design Engineer will design and develop aerospace and defense products, including connectors and cable assemblies, using SolidWorks. The role involves leading projects, collaborating with manufacturing, and mentoring junior engineers.

Responsibilities

  • Design aerospace and defense components and assemblies.
  • Create 3D models and engineering drawings using SolidWorks.
  • Develop products from concept through testing and production.
  • Work with customers and internal teams to solve design issues.
  • Improve product performance, quality, and manufacturability.
  • Support testing, troubleshooting, and root cause analysis.
  • Lead engineering projects and mentor junior engineers.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field.
  • 5+ years of mechanical design engineering experience.
  • Strong SolidWorks and 3D CAD skills.
  • Knowledge of GD&T and mechanical design principles.
  • Experience designing machined, molded, stamped, or electro-mechanical parts.
  • Understanding of manufacturing processes such as CNC machining, molding, and sheet metal fabrication.
  • Strong communication and project management skills.

Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • 401k
  • PTO

Additional Information

  • This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Glendale, CA.
  • This is a fully onsite position in Glendale, CA.
  • The position is anticipated to close on Nov 23, 2026.

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental
Vision
401k
PTO
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How this job compares in Glendale, CA

Pay in context

At roughly $48/hr, this posting sits about 32% above the $36/hr median for welding jobs across California — toward the top of a $30–$48/hr middle band drawn from 373 postings with published pay. Put another way, it pays more than about 73% 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 Glendale, CA

Glendale, CA is a small market in our index: 1 other active welding opening alongside this one, from 1 employer. Across California as a whole we're tracking 505 other active welding openings from 240 employers. With this few local postings, most welders here end up either commuting or looking at travel work. Browse welding jobs across California.

Actalent currently has 2 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), Relativity Space (18), and Welding Shop in Los Angeles, CA (13). 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 El Segundo at $53/hr, Los Angeles at $51/hr, and Pasadena at $50/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Similar openings near Glendale, CA

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