SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 110,000 - 130,000 / annual
Salient Motion is pioneering modular motion technologies for the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors. The company is well-funded, revenue-generating, and based in Hawthorne, CA.
As a Mechanical Test Engineer, you will lead the mechanical and environmental qualification of actuators and integrated line-replaceable units (LRUs). Your responsibilities include:
- Planning, writing, and executing mechanical qualification and acceptance test procedures for aerospace and defense hardware
- Developing comprehensive test plans and reports to DO-160G and MIL-STD-810H standards, covering vibration, shock, thermal, humidity, and altitude testing
- Designing and building mechanical test fixtures, load setups, instrumentation, and data acquisition configurations
- Planning and executing load, life, durability, and environmental testing to validate cycle reliability requirements
- Managing testing at outsourced laboratories and witnessing tests at customer and partner facilities domestically and internationally
- Coordinating test schedules, witness points, and acceptance criteria with customers and external labs
- Analyzing test data, identifying mechanical failure modes, and driving root-cause analysis and corrective actions with design engineering teams
- Supporting the development of an in-house qualification test laboratory as the company's capabilities mature
This role offers significant autonomy, hands-on technical work, and exposure to cutting-edge aerospace and defense applications. You will work in a lean, impact-focused organization and have the opportunity to travel internationally to witness critical tests.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related engineering discipline
- Minimum 2+ years of qualification or environmental test experience on aerospace, defense, or comparable hardware
- Hands-on experience executing DO-160 and/or MIL-STD-810 mechanical and environmental test campaigns
- Proficiency with mechanical test instrumentation including load cells, accelerometers, and data acquisition systems
- Experience designing test fixtures and mechanical instrumentation setups
- Strong technical writing skills for test plans and reports
- U.S. Person status required (U.S. Citizen or Green Card holder) per ITAR regulations
- Valid passport and ability to travel internationally
NICE TO HAVE:
- Experience with electromechanical actuators, motors, gear trains, or precision mechanisms
- Thermal, vibration, and shock test familiarity including fixture design and modal considerations
- Exposure to commercial/defense certification environments
- Experience managing third-party test labs and witnessing customer acceptance testing
