Senior Engineer Production Support

We are seeking a highly skilled Production Support Engineer to design manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for assemblies, equipment installation, processing, and material handling. Develop sequences of operations for assemblies and specified procedures for the fabrication of tools, equipment, and other functions that impact product performance. Support mechanical design, environmental validation, and production sustainment of ruggedized electro-optical and laser-based systems. This role works closely with Senior Mechanical Engineers, Optical Engineers, Production, Quality, and Program Management to ensure mechanical integrity, alignment stability, and environmental robustness of hardware across development and production phases. This position is based in our Niwot, CO office and is classified as an exempt, non-supervisory, full-time role. Primary Responsibilities: • Supports mechanical design improvements and develops fixtures and tooling to improve repeatability and robustness of production hardware. • Works with the Systems Engineering team to ensure all testing requirements are met for prototype and production products. • Supports transition of products from prototype development to full-scale production, with emphasis on mechanical robustness, manufacturability, and repeatability. • Inspects equipment and tools to verify their efficacy and determine their preventative maintenance schedule and calibration requirements. • Serves as the primary operator and driver of shaker table testing, executing sine, random vibration, and shock profiles in accordance with MIL-STD-810 or customer-specific requirements. • Develops vibration test setups and mounting strategies that accurately replicate field boundary conditions. • Collects, analyzes, and documents vibration and shock test data to evaluate mechanical stability, fastener retention, optical alignment integrity, and structural performance. • Assists with scheduling Manufacturing Orders. • Exports, processes and analyzes data from ERP software tools. • Creates, documents, and refines standardized work instructions for all assembly processes to ensure consistency and efficiency. Develops and refines mechanical assembly procedures related to torque, staking, bonding, and retention features to ensure hardware reliability. • Participates in assembly operations to gain familiarity with the production process. Provides hands-on production support, troubleshooting mechanical issues on the manufacturing floor and working directly with technicians to resolve hardware concerns. • Leads mechanical root cause investigations for hardware non-conformances, including loose components, alignment shifts, vibration-induced failures, or retention issues, working cross-functionally with the MRB team (Quality, Production, Program Management). • Ensures mechanical designs and assemblies meet environmental, structural, and durability requirements in production hardware. • Works cross-functionally with design, engineering, and quality teams to address production challenges and drive continuous improvement. • Ensures compliance with safety regulations and promotes a culture of workplace safety • Provides feedback to design engineering on mechanical robustness and manufacturability improvements based on test results and production experience. • Analyzes current production processes and implements strategies for continual process improvement, reducing waste and increasing efficiency using methodologies such as Lean tools and Six Sigma. We have an impressive range of benefits, programs, and perks that we offer: Generous PTO and Leave Times • Flextime Scheduling • Bereavement • Paid Time Off (PTO) • Paid Parental Leave Financial Benefits • 401K Retirement Plan Contribution • Employee Stock Ownership Plan • Continuing Education Funds Health, Medical, and Wellness Benefits • Medical Insurance • Dental & Vision Insurance • Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability (LTD) • Vision Reimbursement Qualities We Look For • Creativity and innovation in solving challenges • Integrity and responsibility in all actions • Collaboration across teams and specialties • Responsiveness in fast-paced environments • Passion for national security and excellence Required Qualifications & Experience: • Bachelor's degree in engineering, or a related field and 9+ years of experience in a production, manufacturing, or process engineering role • Experience reading drawings and creating process flow based on a product's drawing tree • Mechanical aptitude with proficiency in CAD software • Experience with ERP/MRP systems • Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, and process improvement methodologies • Ability to create and document work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and training materials • Ability to implement hardware solutions from concept development to delivery • Strong problem-solving skills with a continuous improvement mindset • Proficient use of standard MS Office software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) including ability to organize and efficiently process data in Excel • Occasional lifting of hardware as required • Ability to obtain security clearance Nice to Have (Preferred Skills): • Experience supporting electro-optical or laser-based systems in defense or aerospace environments. • Experience operating vibration (shaker table) systems and executing environmental test protocols • Comfortable in adapting to support a wide variety of roles to support various product development and production projects • Experience with electronics, PCBs, and electrical components • Experience with epoxies, RTVs, and other adhesives • Experience with optical systems • Working knowledge of lean manufacturing principles • Experience transitioning products from prototype to production • Intellectual curiosity and desire for continuous learning • Excellent communication and teamwork abilities • Strong work ethic The salary range for this role is $124,000 - $143,000/yr; however, Areté considers several factors when extending an offer of employment, including but not limited to: the position and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.