A solenoid actuator, comprising: a housing assembly; a bobbin assembly disposed at least partially within the housing assembly, the bobbin assembly including a bobbin, a return pole and a yoke, the yoke having an inner surface that defines an armature cavity; a coil disposed within the housing assembly and wound around at least a portion of the bobbin assembly; an armature disposed within the armature cavity and axially movable relative to the yoke along an axis; and an anti-rotation structure disposed within the housing assembly and engaging at least a portion of the armature, wherein the armature and the anti-rotation structure each have at least one feature formed thereon that mate with each other and thereby prevent rotation of the armature; wherein: the armature includes a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein the armature first axial end is at least partially surrounded by the coil and defines a return pole engagement surface; and characterized in that the second end of the armature has a projection extending perpendicularly therefrom along the axis; the anti-rotation structure comprises a cylindrical plate having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides extending normal to the axis; the second side of the cylindrical plate has a first protuberance and a second protuberance, each extending perpendicularly from the second side of the cylindrical plate along the axis and towards the second end of the armature; the first and second protuberances are spaced apart from each other to define a slot; and the projection is disposed at least partially within the slot to prevent rotation of the armature. a housing assembly; a bobbin assembly disposed at least partially within the housing assembly, the bobbin assembly including a bobbin, a return pole and a yoke, the yoke having an inner surface that defines an armature cavity; a coil disposed within the housing assembly and wound around at least a portion of the bobbin assembly; an armature disposed within the armature cavity and axially movable relative to the yoke along an axis; and an anti-rotation structure disposed within the housing assembly and engaging at least a portion of the armature, wherein the armature and the anti-rotation structure each have at least one feature formed thereon that mate with each other and thereby prevent rotation of the armature; wherein: the armature includes a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein the armature first axial end is at least partially surrounded by the coil and defines a return pole engagement surface; and characterized in that the second end of the armature has a projection extending perpendicularly therefrom along the axis; the anti-rotation structure comprises a cylindrical plate having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides extending normal to the axis; the second side of the cylindrical plate has a first protuberance and a second protuberance, each extending perpendicularly from the second side of the cylindrical plate along the axis and towards the second end of the armature; the first and second protuberances are spaced apart from each other to define a slot; and the projection is disposed at least partially within the slot to prevent rotation of the armature. the armature includes a first axial end and a second axial end, wherein the armature first axial end is at least partially surrounded by the coil and defines a return pole engagement surface; and characterized in that the second end of the armature has a projection extending perpendicularly therefrom along the axis; the anti-rotation structure comprises a cylindrical plate having a first side and a second side, the first and second sides extending normal to the axis; the second side of the cylindrical plate has a first protuberance and a second protuberance, each extending perpendicularly from the second side of the cylindrical plate along the axis and towards the second end of the armature; the first and second protuberances are spaced apart from each other to define a slot; and the projection is disposed at least partially within the slot to prevent rotation of the armature.