Lead Engineering Technician

ARA Career • Panama City, FL

7d • Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Lead Engineering Technician to work closely with engineers and scientists in the construction, safe operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of pilot-scale process units. This role is ideal for a mechanically skilled technician who can translate engineering direction into well-built, reliable equipment using 1/4-inch tubing, compression fittings, pumps, heaters, heat exchangers, instrumentation, and process controls. The successful candidate will lead by example, work safely around high-pressure and high-temperature systems, listen carefully, follow instructions precisely, and maintain a positive, team-oriented attitude. Strong judgment, attention to detail, and pride in high-quality workmanship are essential.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Three to five years of related experience in pilot plants, laboratories, process development, industrial maintenance, fabrication, chemical processing, or a similar hands-on technical environment.
• Demonstrated experience working safely with high-pressure and/or high-temperature equipment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and hands-on experience assembling, operating, maintaining, and troubleshooting process or laboratory equipment.
• Experience using hand and power tools, including saws, drills, wrenches, tube cutters, deburring tools, tube benders, and related fabrication tools.
• Experience with compression fittings, small-bore tubing, piping, pumps, heaters, heat exchangers, valves, mixers, and process instrumentation.
• Ability to read and follow engineering drawings, P&IDs, equipment manuals, checklists, and written operating procedures.
• Excellent listening skills and the discipline to follow directions accurately; willingness to ask questions rather than make unsafe assumptions.
• Strong communication, organization, documentation, and teamwork skills, with a consistently positive and professional attitude.
• Basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and perform hands-on work in laboratory, shop, and pilot plant environments.
• Ability to work occasional 12-hour days/nights as required by project needs.
• Qualified candidates must be current U.S. citizens. Permanent resident status (green card) does not satisfy this requirement.

Nice To Haves

• Technical college certificate, associate degree, apprenticeship, or equivalent formal training in mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, process technology, industrial maintenance, or a related field.
• Experience serving as a lead technician, coordinating hands-on work, mentoring others, or taking ownership of equipment readiness and daily execution.
• Experience with LabVIEW or similar control, data-acquisition, HMI, or automation software.
• Experience with temperature, pressure, flow, and level instrumentation; basic electrical troubleshooting; and control-panel or wiring.
• Experience supporting commissioning, startup, shutdown, maintenance, or experimental test campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Pilot-unit fabrication and assembly. Build, modify, and support pilot process units from engineering drawings, sketches, marked-up P&IDs, verbal instructions, and team guidance.
• Tubing and mechanical work. Measure, cut, deburr, bend, route, and install 1/4-inch tubing; assemble compression fittings, valves, pumps, heaters, heat exchangers, instruments, and related components using sound workmanship practices.
• Safe operation. Prepare, start up, operate, monitor, shut down, and secure high-pressure/high-temperature pilot equipment in accordance with approved procedures, permits, operating limits, and safety requirements.
• Inspection and readiness. Perform pre-startup checks, leak checks, pressure-boundary inspections, line tracing, equipment verification, and housekeeping before and during operation.
• Troubleshooting and repair. Diagnose mechanical and basic electrical/control issues involving pumps, heaters, temperature controllers, pressure instruments, valves, flow devices, sensors, and data-acquisition systems; complete or coordinate repairs.
• Testing and data collection. Monitor operating conditions, obtain process samples, record accurate data, maintain logbooks, and compile results for engineering review.
• Team leadership and communication. Coordinate daily technician activities when assigned, communicate equipment status and hazards clearly, raise questions when instructions are unclear, and provide practical feedback to the engineering team.
• Work-area ownership. Maintain clean, organized, and inspection-ready laboratory, test-cell, fabrication, and high-bay workspaces; properly store tools, parts, and materials.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: High school or GED