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Assistant Design Engineer Jobs in Brea, CA (NOW HIRING)

Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and ... Support the design and analysis of solar array electrical and mechanical subsystems * Assist in the ...

RCDD / ICT Design Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Able to quickly assess an issue and assist technicians with troubleshooting and repair instructions ... RCDD/ICT Design Engineer: $110,000.00 - $150,000.00/per year Your actual level and base salary will ...

RCDD / ICT Design Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$110K - $150K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Able to quickly assess an issue and assist technicians with troubleshooting and repair instructions ... RCDD/ICT Design Engineer: $110,000.00 - $150,000.00/per year Your actual level and base salary will ...

... electrical design, engineer and develop Power Generating facilities including Energy Storage ... Support and assist in the sales stage of a project by taking responsibility for ensuring that ...

Principal ASIC Design Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$200K - $285K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Participate in silicon bring-up and validation. Assist in the development of automated test lab ... Principal ASIC Design Engineer: $200,000.00 - $285,000.00/per year Your actual level and base ...

Senior Mechanical Design Engineer

Torrance, CA · On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Coordinate technical deliverables, engineering timelines, and issue tracking across teams * Assist ... Lead the mechanical design and assembly of prototype and sample hardware, coordinating build ...

Sr. ASIC Design Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$160K - $225K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

SR. ASIC DESIGN ENGINEER (STARSHIELD) Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch ... Participate in silicon bring-up and validation. Assist in the development of automated test lab ...

Principal ASIC Design Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$200K - $285K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Participate in silicon bring-up and validation. Assist in the development of automated test lab ... Principal ASIC Design Engineer: $200,000.00 - $285,000.00/per year Your actual level and base ...

Lead Design Engineer

Cudahy, CA · On-site

$90 - $120/hr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Job Overview Lead Compressor Design Engineer Responsibilities * Work with cross‑functional teams ... * Assist in pre‑job planning, scheduling, and management. * Participate and lead in ...

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Showing results 41-60

Assistant Design Engineer information

See Brea, CA salary details

$34.2K

$91.9K

$139.3K

How much do assistant design engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 19, 2026, the average yearly pay for assistant design engineer in Brea, CA is $91,937.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $73,000.00 and $108,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an assistant design engineer do?

An Assistant Design Engineer supports senior engineers in creating and developing designs for products, structures, or systems. Their tasks often include preparing technical drawings, conducting research, creating prototypes, and assisting with testing and analysis. They use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create models and work closely with other team members to ensure designs meet project requirements and safety standards. This role is typically an entry-level position that provides valuable experience in engineering design and project management.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an assistant design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Assistant Design Engineer, you need a solid understanding of engineering principles, CAD software proficiency, and a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with design tools like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or CATIA and knowledge of industry standards or certifications such as EIT (Engineer-in-Training) are typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong teamwork and communication skills make candidates stand out in this role. These competencies are essential to ensure precise, innovative design solutions and effective collaboration within multidisciplinary engineering teams.

What are some common challenges assistant design engineers face when transitioning from academic projects to professional engineering environments?

Assistant Design Engineers often find that transitioning from academic projects to real-world engineering roles involves adapting to tighter deadlines, larger teams, and stricter compliance with industry standards. Unlike classroom assignments, professional projects require precise documentation, coordination with other departments such as manufacturing and quality assurance, and adherence to budget constraints. Embracing collaborative tools and clear communication is essential, as is being open to feedback from senior engineers to grow technically and professionally.

What is the difference between Assistant Design Engineer vs Design Engineer?

AspectAssistant Design EngineerDesign Engineer
QualificationsBachelor's degree in engineering or related field; some certificationsBachelor's or higher in engineering; often more experience
Work EnvironmentSupport role in design teams, assisting senior engineersLead or primary role in designing projects, overseeing technical details
ResponsibilitiesAssist in creating designs, preparing drawings, and conducting researchDevelop and finalize designs, review technical specifications, and coordinate with manufacturing

The main difference between an Assistant Design Engineer and a Design Engineer lies in responsibility level and experience. Assistant Design Engineers support the design process and gain experience, while Design Engineers take on more complex tasks and lead design projects. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds, but Design Engineers typically have more hands-on experience and responsibility.

What are the most commonly searched types of Design Engineer jobs in Brea, CA?

The most popular types of Design Engineer jobs in Brea, CA are:

What are popular job titles related to Assistant Design Engineer jobs in Brea, CA?

For Assistant Design Engineer jobs in Brea, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Assistant Design Engineer jobs in Brea, CA look for?

The top searched job categories for Assistant Design Engineer jobs in Brea, CA are:

What cities near Brea, CA are hiring for Assistant Design Engineer jobs?

Cities near Brea, CA with the most Assistant Design Engineer job openings:

Solar Design Engineer

K2 Space

Los Angeles, CA

$100K - $140K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

K2 is building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown, unlocking performance levels previously out of reach across every orbit. Backed by $450M from leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Redpoint Ventures, T. Rowe Price, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Alpine Space Ventures, and others – with an additional $500M in signed contracts across commercial and US government customers – we're mass-producing the highest-power satellite platforms ever built for missions from LEO to deep space.

The rise of heavy-lift launch vehicles is shifting the industry from an era of mass constraint to one of mass abundance, and we believe this new era demands a fundamentally different class of spacecraft. Engineered to survive the harshest radiation environments and to fully capitalize on today's and tomorrow's massive rockets, K2 satellites deliver unmatched capability at constellation scale and across multiple orbits.

With multiple launches planned through 2026 and 2027, we're Building Bigger to develop the solar system and become a Kardashev Type II (K2) civilization. If you are a motivated individual who thrives in a fast-paced environment and you're excited about contributing to the success of a groundbreaking Series C space startup, we'd love for you to apply.

The Role

Critical to achieving K2's vision of deploying at scale across MEO, GEO, cis-lunar, and deep space are the solar arrays. As a Solar Engineer, you will contribute to the design, manufacturing, testing, and deployment of high-power solar arrays for some of the largest spacecraft ever flown. You'll work across technical domains; from module technology and electrical power systems to deployment mechanisms, structures, and production — learning from experienced engineers while taking on meaningful ownership of hardware from day one.

First 6 months: Support solar array subsystem development through analysis, component-level testing, and manufacturing process documentation.

First year: Own specific build and test activities for flight hardware, from assembly through acceptance testing.

First two years: Contribute to full lifecycle solar array development across multiple vehicle builds, developing expertise in both design and production.

Responsibilities

  • Support the design and analysis of solar array electrical and mechanical subsystems
  • Assist in the development and maintenance of electrical performance degradation models across environment variations
  • Execute assembly-level acceptance and qualification test procedures and document results
  • Collaborate with avionics, structures/mechanisms, software, and production teams on integration activities and test campaigns
  • Support design reviews with analysis products and test data
  • Contribute to manufacturing processes for in-house fabrication and assembly, including work instructions, in-process checkouts, and end-of-line testing
  • Participate in on-orbit data review and anomaly investigation efforts

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in physics, materials science, mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, or a related technical field
  • Internship in at least one of: photovoltaics, power systems, or materials characterization
  • Hands-on hardware experience through internships, research, design competitions, or extracurricular projects

Nice to Have

  • Internship or research experience with solar arrays or power systems for space applications
  • Exposure to solar cell or module characterization techniques (IV curves, electroluminescence, flash testing)
  • Familiarity with structural analysis tools (Nastran, ANSYS, or equivalent) or thermal analysis tools
  • Familiarity with space environment effects on materials, including radiation, thermal cycling, and atomic oxygen
  • Experience with CAD software (NX, CATIA, SolidWorks) and practical GD&T application
  • Exposure to manufacturing processes such as soldering, layup, or electromechanical assembly
  • Python or MATLAB proficiency for data analysis
  • Independent and self-motivated mindset with strong organizational, written, and oral communication skills

Compensation and Benefits:

  • Base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $140,000 + equity in the company
  • Salary and level will be based on several factors including, but not limited to: knowledge and skills, education, and experience level
  • Comprehensive benefits package including paid time off, medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, and many other perks

If you don't meet 100% of the preferred skills and experience, we encourage you to still apply! Building a spacecraft unlike any other requires a team unlike any other and non-traditional career twists and turns are encouraged!

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

Export Compliance

As defined in the ITAR, "U.S. Persons" include U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (i.e., Green Card holders), and certain protected individuals (e.g., refugees/asylees, American Samoans). Please consult with a knowledgeable advisor if you are unsure whether you are a "U.S. Person."

The person hired for this role will have access to information and items controlled by U.S. export control regulations, including the export control regulations outlined in the International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR). The person hired for this role must therefore either be a "U.S. person" as defined by 22 C.F.R. § 120.15 or otherwise eligible for a federally issued export control license.

Equal Opportunity

K2 Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with K2 Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.


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About K2 Space

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Industry

Guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing

Company size

11 - 50 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Angeles, CA, US

Year founded

2022