Senior Mechanical Engineer

ARA is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to support the design of equipment, tooling, and equipment interfaces for energetics chemical manufacturing systems and unmanned systems (UxS) programs supporting U.S. Government customers. This role spans a broad range of mechanical design applications, from process equipment and facility integration to mobile/field hardware platforms. The ideal candidate is an expert in SolidWorks and AutoCAD, capable of taking concepts through detailed design and producing release-quality drawings for manufacturing and assembly. T he salary range is between $120K-$148K. This is a hybrid position with occasional travel to Arlington, VA and Indian Head, MD (15% travel).

Key Responsibilities

• Design mechanical equipment, components, and equipment-to-facility interfaces for chemical/energetic material manufacturing systems and unmanned systems hardware. • Develop 3D models and assemblies in SolidWorks and produce 2D drawings/layouts in AutoCAD. • Create manufacturing- and assembly-ready drawing packages, including GD&T per ASME Y14.5. • Perform structural and mechanical analysis (FEA) to validate designs for strength, fatigue, and operational loading. • Manage CAD data and revisions through a PDM system (e.g., SolidWorks PDM/Vault). • Coordinate with chemical and process engineers to align equipment design with process requirements and DoD facility standards. • Support design reviews, technical interchange meetings, and site visits with government customers at Indian Head, MD. • Generally consider hazard classification, explosive safety, and facility siting requirements when designing equipment for energetic material applications. • Provide informal technical mentorship to junior engineers on design practices, drafting standards, and tools.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering. • 8 years of relevant mechanical design experience. • Demonstrated proficiency in SolidWorks (modeling, assemblies, drawings) and AutoCAD. • Strong working knowledge of GD&T (ASME Y14.5). • Experience with FEA/simulation tools for mechanical design validation. • Experience using a PDM system for CAD data management. • Ability to produce drawing packages suitable for manufacturing and assembly release. • U.S. Citizenship required; must be eligible to obtain a security clearance. • Willingness to travel regularly between Arlington, VA and Indian Head, MD.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters in Mechanical Engineering with 6-8 years of relevant mechanical design experience. • PhD in Mechanical Engineering with 3-5 years of relevant mechanical design experience. • Experience designing equipment for chemical processing, energetics, or hazardous material manufacturing environments. • Familiarity with DoD facility design standards (UFC) and explosive safety requirements. • Experience supporting unmanned systems (UxS) hardware design. • Prior experience interfacing directly with government program offices or customers.