Mechanical Engineer

Applied Research Associates, Inc.; Warrendale (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, vision, and dental insurance

401(k) retirement plan with company匹配

Paid time off and holidays

Travel compensation for field work

Job summary

Neya Systems is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to advance hardware for off‑road autonomy and custom robotic platforms. You will work with software, electrical, and systems teams to design rugged sensor payloads, housings, and sub‑assemblies built to endure extreme environments.

Responsibilities span concept to field deployment, including GD&T drawings, FEA/CFD analyses, and rapid prototyping. Travel up to 5% may be required in support of demonstrations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering required.
• Experience designing hardware, sensors and electronics.
• SolidWorks CAD modelling experience and GD&T knowledge.
• Familiarity with structural/thermal analyses and testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design from concept through field deployment.
• Create rugged sensor payloads and enclosures for harsh environments.
• Collaborate with software, electrical, and systems teams.
• Perform structural, thermal, and dynamic analyses; support testing.
• Assist with field demonstrations and travel as needed.

Skills

Mechanical design

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

GD&T

Python scripting

C++

System integration

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Ansys (FEA/CFD)

Python scripting

Job description

Description

Neya Systems is a recognized leader in off-road autonomy and mission orchestration software, delivering cutting-edge robotic solutions for defense, commercial, and industrial applications. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Applied Research Associates (ARA), we develop ruggedized, field-proven platforms designed to solve complex, unstructured environments' toughest challenges.

Who We’re Looking For

We are a dedicated group of innovators focused on fielding mission-critical autonomous systems. Our culture thrives on high accountability, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and a shared passion for pushing the boundaries of uncrewed ground systems. We welcome engineers who are eager to own difficult problems and bring practical, reliable robotics into the field.

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.




• SolidWorks Proficiency: Strong experience modeling complex parts and assemblies using SolidWorks.




• Sheet-metal Expertise: Experience designing sheet-metal brackets and enclosures.

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

Neya Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Qualifications

Education

Preferred

• Bachelor of Engineering or better in Mechanical Engineering

Experience

Preferred

• 3 years: Experience in mechanical product design, SolidWorks modeling, structural/thermal analysis, prototyping, GD&T, and cross-disciplinary hardware integration. Background with environmental testing and manufacturing drawings preferred

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.

For further information, please review the Know Your Rights (https://www.eeoc.gov/poster) notice from the Department of Labor.