Principal Mechanical Engineer

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 designing 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 our products meet performance, reliability, and industry standards.  The candidate will also mentor and support less experienced engineers and lead product development teams of multiple disciplines.  They will create test requirements, ATP, manuals and support the manufacture of production antennas and positioners.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations 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.
• Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems and needs.
• Oversee installation, operation, maintenance, and repair to ensure that machines and equipment are installed and functioning according to specifications.
• 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 to ensure that customer specifications are met.
• Improve documentation of current products and processes to incorporate lessons learned.
• Run design reviews & assess design feasibility.
• Provide feedback to design engineers on customer problems and needs.
• Coordinate the maintenance and safety procedures, service schedule, and supply of materials required to maintain machines and equipment in the prescribed condition.
• Write performance requirements for product development or engineering projects.
• Design test control apparatus and equipment and develop procedures for testing products.
• Read and interpret blueprints, technical drawings, schematics, and computer-generated reports.
• Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design and performance specifications.
• 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.
• Research and analyze customer design proposals, specifications, manuals, and other data to evaluate the feasibility, cost, and maintenance requirements of designs or applications.
• Specify system components or direct modification of products to ensure conformance with engineering design and performance specifications.

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

• Ten (10) plus years of experience
• Advanced knowledge of mechanical design and construction of microwave antennas, mounts, and accessories
• Proficient in use of Solid Works and drawing creation to ASME Y14.100 standards
• Proficient in use of FEA
• Advanced experience of electronics packaging
• Advanced understanding of mechanical design principles and prototype testing
• Ability to assemble mechanical prototypes and perform advanced testing procedures
• DFMEA experience
• 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 including knowledge of additive manufacturing.
• Knowledge of motion controls, motors, servos, and other mechanical hardware used in positioners.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment

Education

• BSME required
• MME required

Antenna Research Associates, Inc. and its subsidiaries encourage diversity in the workplace; we are an Equal Opportunity Employer. Race/Color/Gender/Sexual Orientation/Gender/ Identity/Religion/National Origin/Disability/Veteran