Mechanical Engineer (New Grad December 2026)
The Mechanical Engineer at Confidential Client will lead hardware projects from concept through production, designing and testing complex mechanical systems that integrate with software and electrical components. This role involves developing cutting-edge additive manufacturing technologies and requires strong problem-solving skills, hands-on design experience, and effective collaboration across engineering disciplines. The position is full-time and based onsite at Confidential Client's Hawthorne facility, contributing to innovative industrial-scale manufacturing solutions.
About Careertakes
👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, AI-native additive manufacturing and advanced manufacturing systems.
Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.
Role Overview
Confidential Client is hiring a Mechanical Engineer (New Grad — December 2026) to join an early-stage hardware team building AI-native manufacturing systems. This is a full-time, onsite role based in Los Angeles, CA where you will own design, prototyping, testing, and deployment of production-ready mechanical systems. New graduates with hands-on project experience (internships, FSAE, robotics, etc.) are encouraged to apply.
What You’ll Do
- Act as the responsible engineer for hardware from concept through production.
- Design complex mechanical assemblies, precision motion systems, and thermal/fluid subsystems.
- Perform tolerance and systems-level analysis to ensure manufacturability and reliability.
- Plan and execute prototype and validation tests; iterate quickly from test data.
- Build, integrate, and validate mechanical subsystems hands-on in the lab and shop.
- Collaborate across electrical and software teams to deliver integrated, production-ready systems.
- Develop continuous improvement plans to enhance performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
- Hands-on design and build experience (internships, engineering clubs such as FSAE, Baja SAE, solar car, rocket, robotics, or equivalent).
- Full life-cycle hardware experience: hand calculations → CAD → fabrication → testing.
- Strong fundamentals in mechanical engineering and a first-principles problem-solving approach.
- Willingness to work full-time onsite in Los Angeles (Hawthorne area) five days per week.
Nice to Have
- Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering.
- Knowledge of motion control, kinematics, or precision positioning systems.
- Experience designing fluid or thermal systems.
- Familiarity with electromechanical systems and controls integration.
- Passion for additive manufacturing (metal 3D printing) or prior exposure to manufacturing processes.
- Proven ability to work in fast-paced, ambiguous environments and iterate quickly.
- Strong communication skills and cross-disciplinary collaboration experience.
Location & Work Setting
- Onsite at Confidential Client’s vertically integrated facility in the Hawthorne / Los Angeles area. This role requires regular, full-time onsite presence to enable close collaboration across R&D and production teams.
Compensation & Benefits
- Estimated salary range: $95,000 - $110,000 per year (dependent on academic level and demonstrated out-of-classroom experience).
- Significant stock option packages.
- 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision (PPO and HMO options).
- Life insurance; Traditional and Roth 401(k).
- Relocation assistance may be provided.
- Paid vacation, sick leave, company holidays; generous paid parental leave.
- Daily catered meals and stocked kitchenette; casual dress and flexible hours.
Why Join
- Be an early member of a rapidly scaling deep-tech hardware company focused on AI-native manufacturing systems.
- Work on challenging end-to-end hardware problems and see designs move into production.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams in a hands-on, high-impact environment.
Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency
Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.
If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.
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