{"id":1620575,"url":"https://alion.io/job/ara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3","title":"Staff Mechanical Engineer","company":{"id":2028479,"name":"Applied Research Associates","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":{"grade":"A","score":87,"open_postings":15,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.533,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":51,"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"}},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"staff","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"hybrid","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Indian Head, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":{"min":87000,"max":115000,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":115000},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":2,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-07-20T19:49:23Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-07-20","last_verified_at":"2026-10-12T13:24:37Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":83,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":83},"description":"ARA’s team solves problems related to national defense and security. We are actively searching for a Mechanical Engineer to join our team. The Staff Engineer will perform project engineering duties such as preparation of cost proposals, planning project execution, providing technical oversight and solutions, preparing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), preparing Quality Project Plans (QPPs) and Alternate Control Plans (ACPs). Engineers will locate, review, and verify Technical Data Packages (TDP), MIL SPEC/MIL STDs and resolve technical issues by submitting and tracking Request for Variance(s) for OR-99s, and ORDALTS.\nWork Environment Details: The duties of this role must be performed entirely onsite within a high-activity environment that features standard industrial/office lighting and ambient noise. Because continuous proximity to the team and operations is an essential function of the position, certain workspace modifications-such as isolating the worker in a quiet, dimly lit, or entirely private office-cannot be accommodated while fulfilling the core responsibilities of this role.\nEmployment is contingent upon the successful attainment of at least an Interim Secret clearance, granted by the sponsoring agency.\nDue to the nature of this work, candidates for this position must be US citizens residing within the US. This position is located at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head and will require you to be onsite. This position does not allow for a remote or hybrid work schedule.\nAs a Staff Mechanical Engineer at NSWC-IH, your position will include the following key responsibilities.\nProvide leadership for the safe and cost-effective execution of manufacturing capabilities in complex production environments, in collaboration with federal defense clients.\nAcquire in-depth understanding of design requirements for process and facility design to install new manufacturing processes.\nApply analytical techniques to support process development, troubleshooting, and optimization. Assist in development test plans to validate to support proof on concept designs.\nOversee the proper execution of projects, including detailed planning, scheduling, and procurement aligned with customer specifications. Collaborate closely with program management counterparts to develop comprehensive plans for technical deliverables and schedules.\nCollaborate with equipment vendors and subcontractors, clearly communicating design, fabrication, and testing requirements for process equipment.\nIn partnership with project managers, develop, plan, and execute goals that align with client objectives and ensure timely, quality deliverables. Participate in regular client facing meetings to updated progress and facilitate technical discussion.\nImplement and monitor safety and quality programs, ensuring all project staff adhere to contractual terms, scope of work, regulatory requirement, and client specific quality and safety standards.\nProduce detailed process design documentation, including process flow diagrams, process narratives, equipment bills of material, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).\nProvide technical input into facility design, advising on safety standards and regulations for the design and operation of complex manufacturing process facilities.\nStaff Mechanical Engineer Minimum Qualifications\nBachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related scientific field with 2-4 years of related work experience, or a Master's with 0-2 years of experience.\nU.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain a security clearance.\nProven proficiency in a range of analytical and technical skills for the synthesis, monitoring, and scaling of energetic materials.\nDemonstrated experience managing multiple, complex projects, including the integration and coordination of diverse stakeholders such as government agencies, contractors, and vendors.\nExperience with process safety and material handling ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.\nExcellent leadership and coordination skills, with a track record of leading and mentoring multi-disciplinary engineering teams across multiple project phases.\nAbility to work effectively in high-pressure, dynamic environments, managing rapid changes in program scope, funding, and priorities.\nStrong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to tailor presentations and reports to diverse technical and non-technical audiences.\nAbility to undergo and pass a Department of Transportation compliant medical physical exam.\nAbility to undergo and pass a drug screening.\nStaff Mechanical Engineer Preferred Qualifications\nAdvanced Degree in an engineering or related technical field is preferred.\nExtensive experience in the design, handling, and production of energetic materials for defense applications.\nDeep understanding of process engineering integration, especially within complex production environments for explosives and energetic materials.\nExperience in managing production modernization projects, particularly in the design and implementation of new manufacturing capabilities.\nActive Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance is highly desired.\nApplied Research Associates, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about who we are, what we do, the excellent careers and each of the competitive benefits we offer and explore some of our featured offices.\nAnticipated Salary Range: $87,000 - $115,000","description_format":"text","description_chars":5617,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":2,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Hybrid work"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Design & Creative","Industrial Design","IT Help Desk & Service Desk"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-01T20:42:43Z"}],"visa":[{"country":"US","licensed_sponsor":true,"evidence":"H-1B filings in 12 months: 4 · green card filings: 3","filings_12m":4,"filings_prev_12m":5,"green_card_filings_12m":3,"median_offered_wage_usd":80357,"route":null,"cap_exempt":false,"checked_at":"2026-10-03T21:08:04+00:00","sources":["US Department of Labor: LCA disclosure data (H-1B, H-1B1, E-3)","US Department of Labor: PERM disclosure data (green cards)"],"filings_for_role_12m":0}],"liveness":{"score":21,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.57,"p_room":0.36,"age_days":83,"expected_fill_days":51,"reasons":["conf:0","stale_co","wave","velocity","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-10-12T06:55:09Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":115000,"is_top_pay":false},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/ara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/ara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-10-12T17:59:17Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":28908,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-10-13T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":2028479},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=2028479"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/ara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fara-staff-mechanical-engineer-3"}]}