Staff Manufacturing Engineer 2

ARA Brand; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 91,000 - 152,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits

ESOP

Job summary

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking a Staff Manufacturing Engineer to join our Spokane, WA team.

This hands-on role focuses on developing and executing advanced manufacturing processes for metallic alloys, ensuring safety, quality, and efficiency in all activities. You will operate and maintain alloy melting and casting equipment, document standards, train technical staff, and collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver robust manufacturing solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related engineering field and 5+ years of manufacturing experience.
• Strong background in mechanical engineering, materials science, metallurgy, or related field.
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing manufacturing processes for new product development.
• Experience with manufacturing operations, metal casting, or related areas is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support and hands-on participation in installation, operation and maintenance of alloy melting and casting equipment.
• Document and implement manufacturing standards to enable safety, quality, uptime, and cost effectiveness.
• Develop and support implementation of improved manufacturing processes, tooling and equipment.
• Troubleshoot root causes and implement corrective actions to ensure material specifications and quality.
• Design and implement preventative maintenance procedures and schedules for facility and equipment.
• Train and guide technical personnel to operate melting and casting equipment.
• Maintain process documentation and drawings for complex equipment and proprietary hardware.

Skills

Mechanical engineering

Materials science

Metallurgy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific or engineering discipline

Tools

Hydraulics

Pneumatics

PLC programming

Robotics

Job description

The Southwest Division (SWD) of Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is seeking an experienced Staff Manufacturing Engineer to join our team in Spokane, WA. In this role, the Manufacturing Engineer will support advanced manufacturing development, including hands‑on design and execution of a broad range of manufacturing processes related to the production of metallic alloys. This highly technical and hands‑on position ensures quality and efficiency in all professional activities, while following environmental, health and safety policies/procedures.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide technical support and hands‑on participation in the installation, operation and maintenance of alloy melting and casting equipment.
• Document and implement manufacturing standards and best practices to enable safety, quality, efficiency, uptime, and cost effectiveness.
• Develop, and support implementation of improved manufacturing processes, tooling and equipment.
• Troubleshoot the root causes and implement sustainable corrective actions in the manufacturing process to ensure adherence to the material’s specifications and quality.
• Troubleshoot equipment by inspecting and analyzing electronic, hydraulic, and mechanic components.
• Design and implement preventative maintenance procedures and schedule for the facility and equipment.
• Train and guide technical personnel to operate and maintain the melting and casting equipment.
• Maintain material processing documentation, process flow diagrams, and detailed drawings for complex equipment and proprietary hardware/equipment.
• Participate in cross‑functional teams to integrate the activities of multiple engineering and materials science objectives.
• Prepare reports and presentations in a professional manner.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related scientific or engineering discipline and five (5) years of progressively responsible related professional experience with manufacturing processes.
• Scientific and technical background in mechanical engineering, materials science, metallurgy, manufacturing engineering, or related field.
• At least 5 years of professional experience in a professional setting.
• Experience with designing and implementing manufacturing processes for new product development.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in one or more of the following: manufacturing operations, manufacturing research and development, metal casting operations, metal casting development.
• Hands‑on experience in maintenance and repair operations associated with hydraulics, injection molding, pneumatics and Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) programming and troubleshooting.
• Experience managing and supervising a team of manufacturing staff including conducting performance reviews.
• Personal attributes should include critical thinking, good judgment, attention to detail, ability to work effectively in a team, and excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and move/assemble experimental components and equipment. Must have good motor skills, be able to maneuver stairs, and stand or sit for extended periods. Work is performed in a manufacturing environment with limited climate control and exposure to hot and cold temperatures.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in a relevant scientific or engineering discipline may be substituted for up to one (1) year of the required work experience. Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• 2-4 years of professional experience in an R&D setting.
• Demonstrated knowledge of foundry processes and ability to apply casting concepts in a manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of heat transfer analysis for casting operations.
• Hands‑on experience in operations associated with electrical systems, electronics, mechanical drives, and robotics.
• Hands‑on experience with vacuum systems and temperature controls.

Compensation & Benefits:

Pay Range: $90,979.20 to $151,611.20 per year based on years of experience, degree and any special skills and knowledge that they may bring to the position.

• ARA offers competitive benefits that address our employees’ needs now and in the future. Learn more about each of our benefits at https://www.ara.com/benefits/.

Company Information:

Who is ARA? Learn more about ARA and Our Core Values at WHO WE ARE - ARA

Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA) is an employee‑owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM in 1979, employs over 2,200 professionals and continues to grow. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement.

At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns’ greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, opportunities and autonomy to take active roles as employee owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are expected to advance new capabilities to support company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The core values “Passion, Freedom, Service and Growth” and the motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sum up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com.