Mechanical Engineer I - ARFF Program
About The Position
Battelle is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Research Program. This full-time position, located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, involves providing engineering expertise, design, system analysis, and problem-solving for ARFF technologies and systems. The role includes conducting engineering analysis of mechanical component data and performing structured assignments across various ARFF research areas. The Mechanical Engineer will be capable of executing research and development projects, including developing test plans, experimental setups, data collection systems, and technical analyses, with minimal daily supervision.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited college or university with a curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET)
- Zero to five (0–5) years of relevant engineering experience
- Ability to apply engineering principles — including mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and materials science — to solve technical problems
- Familiarity with data collection, instrumentation, and engineering analysis tools
- Strong technical writing skills, including the ability to prepare and present formal and technical information
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Work will involve exposure to outdoor conditions, fire testing environments, and use of personal protective equipment; firefighting experience is not required but is strongly encouraged
- Occasional travel required (approximately 2–3 times per year)
- Must be a U.S. citizen or foreign national who has been lawfully admitted for permanent residence
Nice To Haves
- Experience supporting ARFF, fire testing, or fire protection research programs
- Experience with evaluation of firefighting agents and tactics
- Experience with computational modeling tools (e.g., CFD)
- Experience designing and implementing data acquisition and control systems (e.g., LabVIEW, MATLAB)
- Experience with fabrication, mechanical system integration, or instrumentation installation
- Experience working in hazardous or industrial testing environments
- Firefighting training or operational experience (e.g., ARFF, Firefighter I/II) strongly preferred
- Familiarity with FAA research programs or aviation safety testing environments
Responsibilities
- Plan and execute experiments involving fire testing, thermal systems, fluid flow, and mechanical systems
- Develop test plans, engineering drawings, instrumentation layouts, and data acquisition systems
- Provide engineering expertise in design, system analysis, and problem solving to support ARFF research, testing, and operational activities
- Prepare technical reports and research summaries, and present formal and technical information to internal teams, management, and FAA stakeholders
- Perform data collection, reduction, and analysis to support research findings and technical conclusions
- Support design, fabrication, installation, and validation of test articles, instrumentation, and experimental systems; identify and troubleshoot related technical issues
- Conduct engineering analysis of data collected and perform structured work assignments in support of ARFF research
- Maintain compliance with safety policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements during all activities
Benefits
- Compressed work schedule allowing for every other Friday off
- Hybrid work arrangement (60% in-office, 40% remote)
- Paid time off
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Wellness incentives and benefits
- Optional supplemental benefits
- Coverage for partners, gender-affirming care and health support
- Family formation support
- 401(k) retirement savings plan with company contribution
- Tuition assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
