AP112 Mechanical Engineering Technician

ADNET Systems, Inc; Greenbelt (MD); On-site; USD 25,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Military and family leave

Paid holidays

Performance bonuses

Medical and dental plans

401K with company matching

Job summary

ADNET Systems, Inc. is seeking a hands-on Mechanical Engineering Technician for a six-month, full-time on-site assignment in Greenbelt, MD.

You will design, fabricate, and assemble precision opto-mechanical components, and help build lab machinery, while supporting automation and data analysis tasks for NASA Goddard projects. Ideal candidates are current undergrads or recent grads in mechanical engineering with CAD skills, Python/MATLAB programming, and a keen eye for detail and documentation.

Qualifications

• Current undergraduate student or recent graduate in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Hands-on experience building and integrating mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• Some programming experience in Python or MATLAB and familiarity with CAD.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate, and assemble precision opto-mechanical components and tooling from drawings.
• Build and test lab machinery, integrate motors/sensors, and troubleshoot assemblies.
• Contribute to automation and motion control for mirror segments and tests.
• Write data acquisition and analysis scripts in Python or MATLAB, run tests, evaluate results.
• Measure mirror quality with metrology equipment and support X-ray testing at beamlines.
• Maintain procedures and data records, follow NASA and Goddard safety rules.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical integration

Python or MATLAB programming

CAD familiarity

Reading engineering drawings

Attention to detail & documentation

Research mindset

On-site work availability

Education

Mechanical engineering degree or related field

Tools

CAD tools (SolidWorks/AutoCAD)

3D printing

Precision metrology tools exposure

Job description

At ADNET Systems, we know that our people are our greatest strength. As a services-only company, we are committed to fostering an environment where talent thrives, careers grow, and contributions are valued. We believe in promoting from within, providing opportunities for professional development, and offering competitive compensation to ensure long-term security.

Our entrepreneurial culture encourages autonomy, accountability, and innovation—giving you the freedom to make a real impact. If you’re looking for a dynamic workplace that values your expertise and invests in your future, explore our career opportunities and take the next step with ADNET Systems.

• Military and Family Emergency Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Performance Bonuses
• Medical and Dental Plans
• Flexible spending accounts
• Direct Deposit Payroll
• 401K Plan with Company Matching and Immediate Vesting
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• In-house Seminars/Workshops/Classes

Position: AP112 Mechanical Engineering Technician

Location: Greenbelt, MD

Job Id: AP112

# of Openings: 1

AP112 Mechanical Engineering Technician

Duration: Full-time, 6 months

About the Role

Future X-ray space telescopes will explore black holes, galaxy clusters, and the evolution of matter and energy. First, they need mirrors up to the challenge. NASA Goddard's Next Generation X-ray Optics (NGXO) technology uses thousands of mirror segments, each less than 1 mm thick, assembled with sub-micron precision. We're looking for a hands-on engineering student or recent graduate to join our multidisciplinary R&D team for six months and help turn ideas into working hardware.

Job Description:

• Help design, fabricate, and assemble precision opto-mechanical components, fixtures, and tooling, working from engineering drawings and using 3D printing and tolerance analysis.
• Build and test lab machinery: integrate motors, sensors, wiring, and controllers, then troubleshoot and qualify assemblies for smooth, aligned operation.
• Contribute to automation and motion control for precise positioning of mirror segments and test equipment.
• Write data acquisition, analysis, and simulation scripts in Python or MATLAB, run iterative tests, and evaluate results against tight requirements.
• Measure mirror quality with precision metrology equipment such as ZYGO and 4D interferometers, and support X-ray testing at Goddard's 100-meter and 600-meter beamlines.
• Keep careful records of procedures and data, and follow all NASA and Goddard safety and lab rules.

What We’re Looking For:

• Current undergraduate student (co-op or semester away) or recent graduate in mechanical engineering or a related field.
• Hands-on experience building and integrating mechanical or electromechanical systems.
• Some programming experience in Python or MATLAB.
• Familiarity with CAD (SolidWorks, AutoCAD, or similar) and reading engineering drawings.
• Strong attention to detail, good documentation habits, and a research mindset.
• Available to work full time on-site in Greenbelt, MD for six months.
• US Citizenship or Permanent Residency (LPR) required, with US residency for the past 3 consecutive years.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Tier 1 Investigation through NASA.

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience with control algorithms such as PID or state estimation.
• Experience with CNC machining or G-code.
• Experience with precision assemblies (bearings, shafts, motors) held to tight tolerances.
• A record of designing and running experiments, from data acquisition through evaluation.

Team ADNET brings over 30+ years of experience to information systems and professional services for the federal government. With a history of expertise in software development, computer network design, IT security, mission operations support, and educational outreach, Team ADNET is deeply embedded in the Space and Earth Science at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD.

ADNET Systems, Inc. is working with Goddard Space Flight Center to fulfill NASA's vision for space exploration, and working with the Science and Exploration Directorate to fulfill its many missions.

ADNET Systems, Inc. is an employee-centric company, committed to providing premier benefits that support our employees and their families. With affordable medical and dental plans coupled with leading disability and life insurance options, ADNET offers our employees the benefits most sought after by today’s professional candidate. Furthermore, our benefits package features the extras that distinguish us from other small businesses, ensuring our high employee retention that our customers appreciate.

Some features of our compensation plans and environment perks include: