{"id":1620246,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ara-lead-engineering-technician","title":"Lead Engineering Technician","company":{"id":2028479,"name":"ARA","domain":"ara.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/ara-com","size_band":"1001-5000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"UltiPro","truth_index":null},"role":"Field & Service","role_family":"Field & Service","seniority":"lead","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Panama City, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":48000,"max_usd":113000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":429},"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-30T16:59:50Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-30","last_verified_at":"2026-10-01T20:42:43Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":1,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":1},"description":"Position Summary\nWe are seeking an experienced, hands-on Lead Engineering Technician to work closely with engineers and scientists in the construction, safe operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of pilot-scale process units. This role is ideal for a mechanically skilled technician who can translate engineering direction into well-built, reliable equipment using 1/4-inch tubing, compression fittings, pumps, heaters, heat exchangers, instrumentation, and process controls.\nThe successful candidate will lead by example, work safely around high-pressure and high-temperature systems, listen carefully, follow instructions precisely, and maintain a positive, team-oriented attitude. Strong judgment, attention to detail, and pride in high-quality workmanship are essential.\nKey Responsibilities\nPilot-unit fabrication and assembly. Build, modify, and support pilot process units from engineering drawings, sketches, marked-up P&IDs, verbal instructions, and team guidance.\nTubing and mechanical work. Measure, cut, deburr, bend, route, and install 1/4-inch tubing; assemble compression fittings, valves, pumps, heaters, heat exchangers, instruments, and related components using sound workmanship practices.\nSafe operation. Prepare, start up, operate, monitor, shut down, and secure high-pressure/high-temperature pilot equipment in accordance with approved procedures, permits, operating limits, and safety requirements.\nInspection and readiness. Perform pre-startup checks, leak checks, pressure-boundary inspections, line tracing, equipment verification, and housekeeping before and during operation.\nTroubleshooting and repair. Diagnose mechanical and basic electrical/control issues involving pumps, heaters, temperature controllers, pressure instruments, valves, flow devices, sensors, and data-acquisition systems; complete or coordinate repairs.\nTesting and data collection. Monitor operating conditions, obtain process samples, record accurate data, maintain logbooks, and compile results for engineering review.\nTeam leadership and communication. Coordinate daily technician activities when assigned, communicate equipment status and hazards clearly, raise questions when instructions are unclear, and provide practical feedback to the engineering team.\nWork-area ownership. Maintain clean, organized, and inspection-ready laboratory, test-cell, fabrication, and high-bay workspaces; properly store tools, parts, and materials.\nSafety Expectations\nTreat pressure, temperature, chemical, electrical, and stored-energy hazards with a high level of care and respect.\nFollow written procedures, lockout/tagout requirements, PPE rules, hazard reviews, and emergency-response expectations without shortcuts.\nStop work and immediately communicate unsafe conditions, unexpected equipment behavior, leaks, alarms, or operating-limit excursions.\nVerify system configuration and understand the flow path before introducing pressure, heat, chemicals, or rotating equipment.\nSupport a strong safety culture by keeping accurate records, maintaining equipment, and encouraging clear communication across the team.\nRequired Experience and Qualifications\nHigh school diploma or GED equivalent.\nThree to five years of related experience in pilot plants, laboratories, process development, industrial maintenance, fabrication, chemical processing, or a similar hands-on technical environment.\nDemonstrated experience working safely with high-pressure and/or high-temperature equipment.\nStrong mechanical aptitude and hands-on experience assembling, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting process or laboratory equipment.\nExperience using hand and power tools, including saws, drills, wrenches, tube cutters, deburring tools, tube benders, and related fabrication tools.\nExperience with compression fittings, small-bore tubing, piping, pumps, heaters, heat exchangers, valves, mixers, and process instrumentation.\nAbility to read and follow engineering drawings, P&IDs, equipment manuals, checklists, and written operating procedures.\nExcellent listening skills and the discipline to follow directions accurately; willingness to ask questions rather than make unsafe assumptions.\nStrong communication, organization, documentation, and teamwork skills, with a consistently positive and professional attitude.\nBasic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word and Excel.\nAbility to lift up to 50 pounds and perform hands-on work in laboratory, shop, and pilot plant environments.\nAbility to work occasional 12-hour days/nights as required by project needs.\nPreferred Qualifications\nTechnical college certificate, associate degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent formal training in mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, process technology, industrial maintenance, or a related field.\nExperience serving as a lead technician, coordinating hands-on work, mentoring others, or taking ownership of equipment readiness and daily execution.\nExperience with LabVIEW or similar control, data-acquisition, HMI, or automation software.\nExperience with temperature, pressure, flow, and level instrumentation; basic electrical troubleshooting; and control-panel or sensor wiring.\nExperience supporting commissioning, startup, shutdown, maintenance, or experimental test campaigns.\nWork Style and Professional Expectations\nThis position requires someone who is dependable, careful, practical, and comfortable working as part of a small technical team. The ideal candidate takes direction well, communicates openly, stays composed when troubleshooting, accepts feedback professionally, and approaches each task with a strong safety mindset and a willingness to help the team succeed.\nEligibility\nDue to the nature of the work, qualified candidates must be current U.S. citizens. Permanent resident status (green card) does not satisfy this requirement.","description_format":"text","description_chars":5841,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"high_school","optional":true},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Design & Creative","Industrial Design","IT Help Desk & Service Desk"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T20:42:43Z"}],"liveness":{"score":86,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.86,"p_room":1,"age_days":1,"expected_fill_days":31,"reasons":["conf:4","win:early"],"computed_at":"2026-10-02T01:36:58Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ara-lead-engineering-technician","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ara-lead-engineering-technician.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-02T01:36:58Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":1983,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":3017,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-10-03T00:00:00Z"}}}