Mechanical Engineer III

Job Title: Mechanical Engineer III Job Description
The Mechanical Engineer III will support the design, development, integration, and testing of advanced aerospace and defense systems across the full product lifecycle. This role contributes from initial concept development through detailed design, analysis, manufacturing support, testing, and ongoing product improvements. The position is ideal for engineers who enjoy solving practical mechanical engineering problems, collaborating within multidisciplinary teams, and supporting complex assemblies, structures, mechanisms, payloads, and mission systems from requirements through prototype, integration, and production.
Responsibilities
- Design and develop mechanical components, assemblies, and integrated systems for advanced aerospace and defense applications.
- Create, update, and maintain 3D CAD models, detailed engineering drawings, and associated design documentation.
- Support hardware development activities throughout the entire product lifecycle, from concept through production and sustainment.
- Perform design trade studies, component selection, and mechanical packaging layouts, and develop subsystem integration concepts.
- Support prototype builds, hardware integration activities, and hands-on troubleshooting of mechanical systems.
- Collaborate closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Systems, Test, and Supply Chain teams to ensure robust product development and production readiness.
- Apply Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) principles and adhere to engineering drawing standards.
- Support structural, thermal, and performance analyses to validate mechanical designs and ensure system reliability.
- Participate actively in design reviews and technical discussions, providing clear engineering input and recommendations.
- Evaluate materials, hardware selections, and manufacturing approaches to optimize performance, cost, and producibility.
- Support product verification, test execution, and qualification activities, including test planning and data review.
- Assist with issue resolution during development and production, helping to identify root causes and implement corrective actions.
- Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and product maturity efforts across programs and engineering processes.
Essential Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
- Typically 6 or more years of professional mechanical engineering experience.
- Practical understanding of core mechanical engineering principles and practices.
- Hands-on experience with mechanical design of components, assemblies, and integrated systems.
- Proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD) tools and related engineering development software.
- Experience supporting product development efforts within multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Ability to support design activities throughout the engineering lifecycle, from concept through production.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to address complex mechanical and integration challenges.
- Effective communication skills for collaborating with cross-functional teams and participating in technical reviews.
- Experience applying GD&T and using engineering drawing standards in accordance with industry practices.
- Experience with structural analysis and mechanical design for aerospace or similar high-performance applications.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
- Aerospace and defense industry experience supporting mission-critical hardware or systems.
- GD&T application and interpretation experience in accordance with ASME Y14.5 standards.
- Finite Element Analysis (FEA) experience for structural and performance evaluation.
- Thermal analysis experience for assessing heat transfer and thermal management in mechanical systems.
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) experience for evaluating fluid flow and aerodynamic performance.
- Product development and qualification experience, including verification and validation activities.
- Model-Based Definition (MBD) experience for model-centric documentation and communication.
- Understanding of manufacturing and production processes, including design for manufacturability and assembly.
- Experience with materials and hardware selection to meet performance, reliability, and environmental requirements.
- Experience supporting missile, payload, aircraft, launcher, weapons, or other military systems.
- Proficiency with Creo, NX, SolidWorks, or similar 3D CAD platforms.
- Interest in developing broad engineering experience applicable to senior engineering, technical leadership, systems engineering, and program leadership roles.
Work Environment
This position operates primarily in a collaborative engineering environment focused on product development and hardware integration for advanced aerospace and defense systems. Engineers can expect a balanced mix of CAD and engineering design work, participation in technical reviews, and regular cross-functional collaboration with Systems Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, and Program organizations. The role involves supporting manufacturing activities, hardware integration, testing, and troubleshooting, providing visibility from initial design through build and test phases. The environment emphasizes teamwork, exposure to advanced technologies, and opportunities to work on mission-critical defense programs while gaining broad experience in design, analysis, manufacturing, testing, quality, and systems integration.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Englewood, CO.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $59.25 - $59.25/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job
classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be
subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision
Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
Short and long-term disability
Health Spending Account (HSA)
Transportation benefits
Employee Assistance Program
Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Englewood,CO.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 20, 2026. About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without
regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,
sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected
by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or
adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,
please email [email protected] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the
city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants
with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a
condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law
shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,
including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications
and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you
acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.