Senior Engineer Production Support

Arete Associates•Niwot, CO

5h•$124,000 - $143,000•Onsite

About The Position

Areté is seeking a Production Support Engineer to design manufacturing processes, procedures, and production layouts for assemblies, equipment installation, processing, and material handling. The role develops assembly operation sequences and fabrication procedures for tools and equipment that affect product performance. It supports mechanical design, environmental validation, and production sustainment of ruggedized electro-optical and laser-based systems. Working closely with Senior Mechanical Engineers, Optical Engineers, Production, Quality, and Program Management, this role helps ensure mechanical integrity, alignment stability, and environmental robustness of hardware throughout development and production. The position is based in Areté’s Niwot, Colorado office and is classified as exempt, non-supervisory, and full-time.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a related field and 9 or more years of experience in a production, manufacturing, or process engineering role.
Experience reading drawings and creating process flow based on a product’s drawing tree.
Mechanical aptitude and proficiency with CAD software.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and process improvement methodologies.
Ability to create and document work instructions, standard operating procedures, and training materials.
Ability to implement hardware solutions from concept development through delivery.
Strong problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset.
Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office software, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, and ability to organize and efficiently process data in Excel.
Ability to occasionally lift hardware as required.
Ability to obtain a security clearance.
U.S. citizenship is required for position eligibility.
Successful passage of a criminal background screen and Department of Transportation drug test is required for position eligibility.
Selected applicants must undergo a government security investigation and meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting electro-optical or laser-based systems in defense or aerospace environments.
Experience operating vibration (shaker table) systems and executing environmental test protocols.
Flexibility to support a variety of roles across product development and production projects.
Experience with electronics, PCBs, and electrical components.
Experience with epoxies, RTVs, and other adhesives.
Experience with optical systems.
Working knowledge of Lean manufacturing principles.
Experience transitioning products from prototype to production.
Intellectual curiosity and a desire for continuous learning.
Excellent communication and teamwork abilities.
Strong work ethic.

Responsibilities

Support mechanical design improvements and develop fixtures and tooling that improve production hardware repeatability and robustness.
Work with Systems Engineering to ensure testing requirements are met for prototype and production products.
Support product transition from prototype development to full-scale production, emphasizing mechanical robustness, manufacturability, and repeatability.
Inspect equipment and tools to verify efficacy and determine preventive maintenance schedules and calibration requirements.
Operate shaker table testing and execute sine, random vibration, and shock profiles in accordance with MIL-STD-810 or customer-specific requirements.
Develop vibration test setups and mounting strategies that accurately replicate field boundary conditions.
Collect, analyze, and document vibration and shock test data to evaluate mechanical stability, fastener retention, optical alignment integrity, and structural performance.
Assist with scheduling Manufacturing Orders.
Export, process, and analyze data from ERP software tools.
Create, document, and refine standardized work instructions for assembly processes, and develop and refine mechanical assembly procedures for torque, staking, bonding, and retention features.
Participate in assembly operations to become familiar with production processes, provide hands-on production support, troubleshoot mechanical issues on the manufacturing floor, and work with technicians to resolve hardware concerns.
Lead mechanical root-cause investigations for hardware non-conformances, including loose components, alignment shifts, vibration-induced failures, and retention issues, in collaboration with the MRB team.
Ensure mechanical designs and assemblies meet environmental, structural, and durability requirements in production hardware.
Work across design, engineering, and quality teams to address production challenges and drive continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with safety regulations and promote workplace safety.
Provide design engineering feedback on mechanical robustness and manufacturability based on test results and production experience.
Analyze production processes and implement continuous improvement strategies to reduce waste and increase efficiency using methods such as Lean tools and Six Sigma.