Job Description
Position Title: Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Mechanical Engineer III
Position Description: Protingent has an exciting contract opportunity for a GSE Engineer with our client in North Hollywood, CA.
Job Responsibilities:
- Apply engineering techniques to design, install, modify, analyze, and repair mechanical systems and hardware.
- Serve as a primary mechanical engineering point of contact for integration and assembly activities, including:
- Defining and optimizing assembly sequences and build flows.
- Identifying, prioritizing, and planning available work.
- Resolving technical and procedural roadblocks to facilitate integration tasks.
- Develop and release engineering artifacts (3D models, drawings, specifications, work instructions) to support hardware fabrication, assembly, verification, test, and operations.
- Design and maintain mechanical ground support equipment (GSE) and tooling (fixtures, alignment tools, lift/handling devices, check-out equipment) to support safe and efficient integration and test.
- Provide hands-on, on-the-floor engineering support during assembly and integration:
- Work directly with technicians to resolve fit, alignment, and access issues.
- Support nonconformance resolution, rework plans, and rapid design updates.
- Implement and improve operating procedures and processes; resolve system malfunctions and provide clear technical guidance to stakeholders.
- Research and analyze design proposals, specifications, manuals, and other technical data to evaluate feasibility, cost, risk, and maintenance requirements.
- Specify system components and direct modifications to ensure conformance with engineering design intent, performance requirements, and applicable standards.
- Investigate equipment failures and integration issues; diagnose root causes and develop corrective actions and recommendations for maintenance and operations teams.
- Collaborate with systems engineering, manufacturing, quality, test, and supply chain to ensure designs are producible, maintainable, and verifiable.
Job Qualifications:
- Bachelors degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related discipline.
- 5+ years of recent experience designing aerospace or equivalent mechanical system elements within aircraft, spacecraft, or launch vehicles.
- Strong mechanical design and integration skills using 3D CAD tools (e.g., Creo, NX, CATIA, SolidWorks).
- Experience with GD&T per ASME Y14.5.
- Knowledge of fabrication, integration processes, and quality control for tubing/piping, welded assemblies, and machined components.
- Demonstrated understanding of metallic and non-metallic materials, finishes, and treatments.
- Hands-on experience in an assembly, integration, or test environment, working directly with technicians to troubleshoot build issues and implement design changes and GSE/tooling solutions.
Desired Job Qualifications:
- Experience with complex electromechanical system
- Experience with exotic material such as ceramics
- Experience in GSE or tooling design for aerospace assembly and test environments.
- Proficiency in Creo (Pro/ENGINEER).
- Experience performing structural FEA using ANSYS, NASTRAN, or similar tools.
Job Details:
- Job Type: Contract
- Location: North Hollywood, CA(Onsite).
- Pay rate: $70-$85/hr.
- ITAR obligations are associated with this role, U.S. citizenship, U.S. legal permanent resident status, or protected person status under 8 U.S.C.
- 1324b(a) (1), (3) is required.
Benefits Package: Protingent offers competitive salaries, insurance plan options (HDHP plan or POS plan), education/certification reimbursement, pre-tax commuter benefits, Paid Time Off (PTO) and an administered 401k plan.
About Protingent: Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.