Applied Research Associates Inc

Staff Mechanical Engineer

Applied Research Associates Inc • $95K — $115K *
Warrendale, PA 15086In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
Less than 5 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering, or related field
  • Proven experience in mechanical product design, integrating hardware and sensors
  • Advanced skills in SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD software
  • Solid grounding in mechanical analysis including thermal dynamics and load cases
  • Experience in balancing cost, weight, and complexity in design
  • Effective communication skills with a strong sense of initiative
  • U.S. Citizenship or permanent residency required due to contract status

Responsibilities

  • Drive mechanical systems from concept through prototype and deployment
  • Define mechanical requirements with customers and engineering teams
  • Create complex CAD models and mechanical layouts using SolidWorks
  • Conduct structural, thermal, and dynamic load analyses with software tools
  • Rapidly prototype and iterate concepts with engineering technicians
  • Develop manufacturing drawings adhering to GD&T standards
  • Collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams in testing environments
  • Conduct environmental testing on components and compile detailed reports
  • Support proposal efforts with technical feasibility studies
  • Occasional travel to assist in field tests and customer demonstrations

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance plans
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options
  • Competitive 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO), including holidays
  • Travel compensation policies for field activities
  • Support for professional development and continuous learning
Full Job Description
What You'll Be Doing

As a Mechanical Engineer at Neya, you will collaborate with cross-functional software, electrical, and systems engineering teams to design and integrate robust hardware solutions for off-road autonomy and custom robotic platforms. Your work will span the entire design spectrum-from developing rugged sensor payloads and housing enclosures to engineering specialized ground vehicle sub-assemblies built to withstand extreme environmental conditions.

What Your Day-to-Day Looks Like

  • Full-Lifecycle Engineering: Drive mechanical systems from initial concept generation and trade studies through prototype fabrication, integration, and field deployment.
  • Customer & Technical Requirements: Define mechanical and environmental requirements alongside customer technical leads and internal engineering teams.
  • CAD Modeling & Design: Utilize SolidWorks to generate complex parts, assemblies, and high-precision mechanical layouts for integrated robotic systems.
  • Engineering Analysis: Perform structural, thermal, and dynamic load analyses using a combination of hand calculations, scripting (Python), and FEA/CFD software (Ansys).
  • Prototyping & Fabrication: Work directly with fabrication tools and engineering technicians to build and iterate rapidly on prototype concepts.
  • Manufacturability & Quality: Apply GD&T standards to create detailed manufacturing drawings; partner with suppliers and internal teams to optimize Design for Manufacturability (DFM).
  • Multi-Disciplinary Integration: Collaborate closely with autonomy, software, and electrical teams in a cohesive lab and high-bay vehicle test environment.
  • Environmental & Functional Testing: Subject sensors, sub-assemblies, and vehicle components to rigorous environmental testing (thermal, vibration, ingress) and compile technical test reports.
  • Proposal & Concept Guidance: Support technical proposal efforts and leadership reviews with feasibility studies and preliminary mechanical architectures.
  • Field Support & Travel: Participate in occasional travel (5% or less) to support field demonstrations and customer testing.


What You'll Bring

  • Education: Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
  • Technical Experience: Demonstrated background in mechanical product design with a track record of integrating hardware, sensors, and electronics.
  • CAD Proficiency: Advanced modeling expertise in SolidWorks or equivalent 3D CAD platforms.
  • Analytical Foundation: Strong foundation in core mechanical analysis, including load cases, material selection, bearing life, and thermal dynamics.
  • System Integration: Practical experience making trade-off decisions between cost, weight, lead time, and mechanical complexity.
  • Communication & Ownership: High degree of personal initiative, self-direction, and clear technical writing and presentation skills.
  • Work Authorization: U.S. Citizenship or permanent residency required due to defense contracting requirements. (Neya Systems is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.)


How You'll Stand Out

  • Hands-on Curiosity: A personal passion for building, machining, or tinkering with hardware outside of formal work requirements.
  • Specialized Analysis: Background in passive thermal management, IP-rated environmental sealing, or custom gear train design.
  • Production Operations: Familiarity with PLM/BOM management systems and transition-to-production workflows.
  • Software Literacy: Working knowledge of scripting languages (e.g., Python, C++) for automating design calculations or data analysis.


What We Offer

  • Comprehensive health, vision, and dental insurance plans
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options
  • Competitive 401(k) retirement plan with company matching
  • Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) package, including company holidays
  • Travel compensation policies for field deployment activities
  • Professional development support and continuous learning opportunities


About Applied Research Associates Inc

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is an employee-owned research and engineering company that provides technical solutions to complex problems in various fields, including defense, homeland security, intelligence, transportation, and energy. The company was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM. ARA has over 1,600 employees and operates from more than 20 locations across the United States and Canada. The company's services include research and development, engineering, testing and evaluation, and consulting.
Learn more about Applied Research Associates Inc
Size
1,600 employees
Industry
Aerospace & Defense
Founded
1979
* Ladders Estimates

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