Fluids Mechanical Engineer

Job Title: Fluids Mechanical Engineer

Job Description

This role focuses on the design, analysis, development, testing, and deployment of complex fluid and mechanical systems operating in demanding industrial and aerospace environments. You will work in a hands-on capacity, combining mechanical design expertise with deep fluid systems knowledge and strong engineering intuition. You will own projects from concept through implementation, ensuring that designs perform reliably in real-world conditions and can be manufactured, installed, and operated efficiently. This position is ideal for a mechanical engineer who enjoys designing hardware, solving challenging fluid system problems, and seeing their designs progress from drawings to fielded equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and improve high-performance fluid and mechanical systems used in industrial and aerospace applications.
• Own projects from concept through deployment, including requirements definition, design reviews, engineering calculations, vendor coordination, procurement, fabrication support, testing, and commissioning.
• Perform fluid flow, pressure drop, thermal, and system-level analyses to validate and optimize designs.
• Create detailed engineering models, drawings, schematics, and complete fabrication and installation packages.
• Select and size valves, regulators, pumps, tanks, piping, instrumentation, and associated mechanical components for high-pressure, cryogenic, gaseous, and thermal-fluid systems.
• Support installation, startup, commissioning, troubleshooting, and root-cause investigations of fluid and mechanical systems in the field.
• Work closely with manufacturing teams, technicians, and operations personnel to ensure designs are practical, buildable, and maintainable.
• Develop design solutions that balance performance, reliability, maintainability, schedule, and cost constraints.
• Perform engineering calculations and verify design adequacy using first-principles analysis, hand calculations, FEA, CFD, and other engineering methods as appropriate.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance system performance, reliability, and operational efficiency.
• Interpret and manage a high volume of detailed mechanical and piping drawings, including modular systems with tanks, pumps, and piping structures.
• Collaborate with field technicians, spending time on-site to understand real-world constraints and refine designs based on practical feedback.
• Contribute to panel, tubing, and valve design work, ensuring integration with broader fluid systems and structures.

Essential Skills

• Strong fluid systems design experience, including high-pressure and complex fluid networks.
• Exceptional mechanical aptitude and engineering intuition, with a focus on real-world mechanical behavior.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related mechanical engineering discipline.
• Hands-on mechanical design experience using CAD tools, with the ability to produce detailed models and drawings.
• Experience using Siemens NX for mechanical design, gained through internships, school projects, or professional work.
• Experience designing pumps, piping, tanks, and pressure vessels for high-pressure, cryogenic, gaseous, or thermal-fluid systems.
• Ability to perform fluid flow, pressure drop, and thermal analyses to validate designs.
• Competence in using FEA and CFD tools or similar engineering simulation methods for structural and fluid analyses.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to support field troubleshooting, commissioning, and startup activities.
• Comfort working in a hands-on environment, including close collaboration with technicians and operations staff.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with high-pressure fluid systems in aerospace, launch systems, energy, industrial gas, chemical process, or heavy industrial environments.
• Experience with cryogenic systems, gaseous systems, or thermal-fluid systems, including associated safety and performance considerations.
• Background in piping, pressure vessel, or process system design, including modular systems with tanks, pumps, and piping structures.
• Familiarity with engineering simulation tools such as FEA and CFD for structural and fluid performance verification.
• Experience with instrumentation, controls, and data acquisition systems integrated into fluid and mechanical systems.
• Exposure to manufacturing, fabrication, machining, welding, or assembly processes and their impact on design decisions.
• Experience supporting commissioning, startup, or field troubleshooting of complex fluid and mechanical systems.
• Professional design experience with panel-based systems, tubing, valves, and related mechanical assemblies.
• Ability to manage and interpret a large volume of detailed drawings and documentation.
• Interest in or experience with modular solutions that can be deployed across multiple sites, such as launch pads or similar facilities.

This is a Contract position based out of Merritt Island, FL.

The pay range for this position is $35.00 - $41.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Merritt Island,FL.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 23, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.