Principal Mechanical Engineer

Brief Description

Company Overview

ARA is a leading C5ISR company that designs, manufactures, tests and installs innovative technologies that provide the national security community with unparalleled situational awareness, threat detection, and communications capabilities.

Our disruptive, integrated solutions, assemblies and subsystems rise to the challenging demands of discerning, mission-critical customers.

We leverage our capabilities to meet and exceed the requirements of our customers and empower them to remain ahead of evolving threats and complexities in a dynamic security landscape.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Principal Mechanical Engineer who will support the design of new antenna products, positioners, and accessories. The ideal candidate will prepare engineering drawings, support proposals through technical design, assembling and testing prototypes, creating test requirements and manuals, and providing support for other mechanical engineering and production team members, ensuring that products meet performance, reliability, and industry standards. The candidate will mentor and support less experienced engineers and lead product development teams of multiple disciplines. They will support proposals through technical design using FEA software and past work experience. They will create test requirements, manuals and support the manufacture of production antennas and positioners.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Develop and test models of alternate designs and processing methods to assess feasibility, operating condition effects, possible new applications, and necessity of modification.
• Use SolidWorks and FEA to realize design concepts of electronics packaging, structural designs, PCB layouts and other mechanical systems needed for product development.
• Understand and communicate risk of design elements during development.
• Conduct research that tests and analyzes the feasibility, design, operation and performance of equipment, components and systems and recommend design modifications that address potential issues and ensure that customer specifications are met
• Run design reviews & assess design feasibility.
• Specify system components or modifications that ensure conformance with engineering design and performance specifications.
• Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects.
• Design test control apparatus and equipment and develop procedures for testing products.
• Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, and other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, and maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
• Improve documentation of current products and processes to incorporate lessons learned.
• Effectively collaborate with a cross-functional team to produce superior products for the end-customer.
• Understand how to apply MIL-STD specifications to designs and test processes.
  
  

Position Qualifications

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

Competency Statements

• Adaptability - Adapts to change, open to new ideas and responsibilities
• Communication - Ability to communicate thoughts clearly, both oral and written
• Job Knowledge - Understands facets of job, aware of duties and responsibilities, keeps job knowledge current
• Dependability - Meets deadlines, works independently, accountable, maintains focus, good attendance record
• Quality - Strives to eliminate errors, accurate work is a priority, seeks opportunities to improve products/services
• Ethics - Honest, accountable, maintains confidentiality
• Initiative – Takes action, seeks new opportunities, strives to see projects to completion
• Decision Making - Able to reach a decision, takes thoughtful approach when considering options, seeks input from others, makes difficult decisions
• Customer Service - Works well with customers, promotes a positive image of the company, strives to solve issues raised by customers
  
  

Experience And Skills

• 10 years of experience in mechanical engineering
• Proficient in use of Solid Works and drawing creation to ASME Y14.100 standards
• Advanced understanding of mechanical design principles and prototype testing.
• Proficient in use of FEA for structural and thermal design support and verification.
• Experience in electronics packaging for the defense industry or related field
• Ability to assemble mechanical prototypes and perform advanced testing procedures
• Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities
• Great written and verbal communication skills for documenting findings, report writing and collaborating with team members
• Strong background in manufacturing methods. Knowledge of additive manufacturing a plus
• Knowledge of motion controls, motors, servos, and other mechanical hardware.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment
• DFMEA experience
  
  

Education

• BSME required
• MSME preferred
  
  

Antenna Research Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to a policy of non-discrimination and affirmative action. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status.