Staff Mechanical Engineer

ARA's Engineering Science Division is seeking a highly skilled and multidisciplinary mechanical engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will be equally strong in mechanical engineering and modern C++ software development, with hands-on experience designing, prototyping, modeling, and simulating advanced robotic and mechatronic systems. This role involves building sophisticated mechanical components and integrated systems, while also developing the software that drives, simulates, and validates them. Candidates must be comfortable working across hardware and software boundaries, creating tightly coupled designs that span CAD modeling, physical prototyping, embedded programming, and high‑performance real‑time C++ development.

This is an on-site position located in San Antonio, TX.

U.S. citizenship is required. Candidates selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

What you will do as a staff mechanical engineer:

• Design, implement, and optimize high‑performance C++ code for embedded systems, robotics control, autonomy, and simulation infrastructure.

• Develop detailed mechanical designs, assemblies, and engineering drawings in SolidWorks, ensuring manufacturability, structural integrity, and system integration.

• Create, maintain, and optimize virtual models of robotic and mechanical systems, using simulation frameworks to validate and refine behavior, dynamics, and control algorithms prior to physical deployment.

• Build, analyze, and test mechatronic systems involving sensors, actuators, electronics, and custom mechanical components.

• Use ROS/ROS2, Docker, Linux, and other development tools to create robust software architectures for simulation, autonomy, perception, and hardware integration.

• Conduct mechanical analysis including stress analysis, tolerance stack-ups, material considerations, and dynamic modeling.

• Prototype and iterate rapidly using 3D printing, machining, and assembly of electromechanical systems.

• Analyze data from simulations and physical hardware testing to improve performance, debug complex interactions, and refine system behavior.

• Collaborate closely with mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering teams to deliver integrated robotic and electromechanical solutions.

Produce clear, organized, and technically rigorous documentation for both mechanical and software systems.

Staff mechanical engineer requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Computer Engineering, or a related field.