Mechanical Engineering Associate Jobs in California

Job Description:

Location: Edwards, CA (NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center)
Schedule: 9/80

We are seeking an experienced Lead Mechanical Engineer to support facilities engineering, maintenance, and operations at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center. This role provides mechanical engineering expertise for facility projects including planning, design, construction, operations, and quality assurance. The ideal candidate brings strong technical skills, leadership ability, and experience working in complex facility environments.

Position Summary

The Lead Mechanical Engineer will provide expert-level facilities engineering, technical oversight, and quality assurance in support of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center's (AFRC) Facilities Engineering, Maintenance, and Operations (FEMO) mission. This role ensures that mechanical systems within AFRC facilities are planned, designed, constructed, maintained, and modified in accordance with NASA, federal, state, and local codes, policies, and procedures.

The Lead Facilities Mechanical Engineer influences multidisciplinary teams, collaborates with civil, electrical, and facility project managers, and plays a key role in delivering safe, reliable, and compliant facility infrastructure that supports AFRC's mission of flight research and airborne science. Construction experience is a must-have.

Salary Range: $125,000 - $145,000

US citizenship or Permanent Residency required

Key Responsibilities

• Provide mechanical engineering support for facility projects across planning, design, construction, maintenance, and operations.
• Conduct quality assurance reviews, inspections, and test witnessing for contractorperformed facility work.
• Coordinate with project managers, operations specialists, and stakeholders to identify conditions, document requirements, and communicate project status.
• Ensure compliance with NASA, federal, state, and local regulations and facility standards.
• Support configuration management, drawing updates, and facility documentation control.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in mechanical engineering.
• Minimum 10 years of facility project management and 10 years of professional mechanical design/construction management experience.
• Construction experience is a must-have.
• Preferred but not required, Professional Engineer Certificate.

Why Join Us?

You will contribute directly to the reliability and operation and construction of a facility that enables NASA's flight research mission. This role offers impactful work, collaboration with highly skilled engineering teams, and a unique environment supporting national aerospace programs.

Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is proud of our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work environment, and our employees' career satisfaction. AMA is a small business with a wide reach; headquartered in Hampton, VA, AMA has operations in Greenbelt, MD; Huntsville, AL; Dallas and Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Mountain View, CA; and Edwards Air Force Base, CA. With over 60 years of experience, AMA specializes in aerospace engineering, science, analytics, information technology, and visualization solutions. AMA combines the best of engineering, science, and mathematics capabilities with the latest in information technologies, visualization, and multimedia to build creative solutions. We offer competitive salaries and a substantial benefits package, including but not limited to paid personal and federally recognized holiday leave, salary deferrals into a 401(k)-matching plan with immediate vesting, tuition reimbursement, short/long term disability plans, and a variety of medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
AMA is committed to the professional growth of every employee, understanding that the successes of our employees drive our success. We provide a work environment that is engaging, collaborative, and supportive. To learn more about our company, please visit our website at www.ama-inc.com/careers and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

AMA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited under federal, state, or local laws.