Head of Mechanical Engineering
Salient Motion
<p>**<em style="font-weight: bold;">Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Permanent Residents (Green Card holders) to meet customer and regulatory requirements**<br><br></em></p> <p><strong>Who We Are</strong></p> <p>We are pioneering modular motion technologies to power the next generation of innovation for Industrial, Aerospace and Defense. If you're excited about disrupting legacy industries, and passionate about building the financial infrastructure behind cutting-edge hardware, let's chat!</p> <p>We are at the forefront of innovation, crafting exclusive motion control components that propel the industrial, aerospace, and defense sectors into the future.</p> <p>A couple other things:</p> <ul> <li>We offer a lot of autonomy</li> <li>We like to run lean for impact</li> <li>We have great benefits</li> <li>We are well funded, and already generating revenue</li> <li>We're currently in Torrance, CA, but will be moving into a new facility in Hawthorne, CA in the summer!</li> </ul> <p><strong>What you'll do:</strong></p> <ul> <li class="p1">We are looking for a technically deep, hands-on Head of Mechanical Engineering to own our&nbsp;mechanical engineering function end-to-end. This is a senior leadership role that combines&nbsp;deep product expertise in electromechanical actuators with the organizational authority to set&nbsp;engineering direction, enforce aerospace standards, and build a high-performing team. You will&nbsp;serve as the technical authority for all mechanical systems and be accountable for product&nbsp;integrity from concept through qualification and production.</li> </ul> <p class="p1" style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>Technical Leadership &amp; Oversight</strong></p> <ul> <li> <ul> <li class="p2"><strong>Engineering Authority: </strong>Serve as the final technical decision-maker for all mechanical designs. Review and approve engineering drawings, analyses, and design packages across the actuator product line.</li> <li class="p2"><strong>Deep Product Ownership:&nbsp;</strong>Maintain comprehensive system-level knowledge of all actuator products including kinematic architecture, load paths, drivetrain design, thermal management, and qualification status.</li> <li class="p2"><strong>Design Reviews:&nbsp;</strong>Lead formal design reviews (PDR, CDR, TRR) and ensure all mechanical work meets internal standards and applicable aerospace/defense requirements.</li> <li class="p2"><strong>Technical Mentorship:&nbsp;</strong>Provide hands-on guidance to the mechanical engineering team, elevating design quality, analytical rigor, and engineering judgment across the group.</li> </ul> </li> </ul> <p class="p1" style="padding-left: 40px;"><strong>Actuator &amp; Mechanism Development</strong></p> <ul> <li> <ul> <li class="p2"><strong>Electromechanical Actuator Design: </strong>Lead development of precision electromechanical actuators integrating motors, geartrains, lead screws, encoders, braking systems, and structural housings for flight and industrial applications.</li> <li class="p2"><strong>Geartrain &amp; Drivetrain Expertise:&nbsp;</strong>Apply deep knowledge of gear ratios, backlash control, lubrication, and AGMA standards to drivetrain design decisions.</li> <li class="p2"><strong>Mechanism Integration:&nbsp;</strong>Own packaging and integration of