Mechanical Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

Clearance Level: Must be able to obtain an Active Secret Clearance due to the nature of the work - Must be US Citizen 

Location: Must live within 100 mile of Lexington, MA - Hybrid with 3 days onsite. Final schedule will be TBD by the HM.

At Aquila Technology, you will see our team’s passion every day, whether we are building a robust, policy-compliant IT system or stress-testing a system to identify gaps and security vulnerabilities. To own the advantage, we ensure our team owns results and gets the work done right the first time by deploying smart, purposeful solutions that work. Aquila is the right people with the right skills driving the right outcomes. We call this the Aquila Advantage.

About the Role:

Aquila Technology is seeking an Electrical Engineer to join its team in support of one of the nation’s premier defense research organizations. The team  is in need of a Robotics Engineer to support the rapid development, integration, and evaluation of robotic and electromechanical systems. The position requires a highly hands-on engineer who can contribute across software, mechanical, electrical, and system integration activities and work effectively on small, multidisciplinary teams executing rapid research and development programs. The team focuses on objective, technology-based, human-centered solutions to measure, model, and modify cognitive and physiological function for performance enhancement, sustainment, or recovery. The Electrical Engineer will work with a group that develops advanced technologies spanning artificial intelligence, sensing, human-machine systems, medical technology, and robotics.

Must Have a minimum 5 years experience with the following skills/technologies

• Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree
• 3D Printing
• Independently solve technical problems and deliver functional systems on tight schedules
• Hands-on experience designing and implementing online and blended learning solutions
• Development of robotic, mechatronic, automated, or other complex electromechanical systems
• Selecting & integrating actuators, motors, sensors, controllers, & other electromechanical component
• Software development languages (python, golang, or C++)
• Strong Verbal and Written Communication
• AutoCAD
• Experience integrating software with physical hardware is essential.
• Software Development for microcontrollers or embedded computing platforms
• Diagnose and Troubleshoot Issues
• Integrate/troubleshoot systems (comps, embedded cont., sensors, actuators, elect., mech. components)
• Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or comparable platforms and common hardware comm. interfaces & Protocols

Nice to Have

• Designing GUIs for robotic, scientific, or engineering applications
• Robotics comm. interfaces & protocols (serial communications, CAN, Ethernet, USB, SPI, and I2C)
• Mechanical design, machining, or fabrication
• Medical/Surgical/Rehabilitation Robotics
• Medical Device Development
• Python for image processing, computer vision, sci. computing, test automation, or data analysis
• Experience developing real-time or performance-critical software and control systems
• Experience with computer-vision and image-processing libraries and techniques
• Designing electronics, PCBs, wiring harnesses, or electrical interfaces for prototype systems
• Windows Application Development (MFC), Windows APIs, or similar technologies)

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Work within small, multidisciplinary teams to rapidly transition concepts into functional prototypes and demonstrations.
• Design, prototype, fabricate, integrate, and test robotic hardware and electromechanical systems.
• Develop rapid prototypes using CAD, 3D printing, machining, and other fabrication techniques.
• Integrate software, electronics, sensors, actuators, and mechanical components into complete robotic systems.
• Develop and integrate embedded electronics, sensors, actuators, and microcontroller-based systems.
• Design, develop, and maintain software for robotic and electromechanical systems, with an emphasis on C++ development.
• Develop test methods and conduct system-level testing and evaluation of robotic prototypes.

Position Scope and Job Functions

1. Rapid Prototyping and Mechanical Design: Design mechanical components and assemblies using CAD tools. Fabricate and modify prototype components using 3D printing and other rapid-prototyping and basic fabrication techniques. Rapidly iterate mechanical designs based on laboratory and user testing.
2. Electromechanical Systems: Select, characterize, and integrate actuators, motors, encoders, force/torque sensors, position sensors, cameras, and other robotic components. Develop basic electrical interfaces, wiring, power distribution, and supporting electronics required for prototype robotic systems.
3. Embedded Systems Development: Design and implement embedded control and data-acquisition systems using microcontrollers and embedded computing platforms such as Raspberry Pi, Arduino, or similar devices. Develop embedded software and interfaces for sensors, actuators, motors, and other electromechanical components.
4. Hardware/Software Integration: Integrate mechanical, electrical, embedded, and software subsystems into functional robotic prototypes. Diagnose and resolve problems spanning multiple engineering disciplines. Develop integration procedures and systematically troubleshoot system-level performance.
5. Robotics Software Development: Design, implement, test, and maintain software for robotic and electromechanical systems. Develop real-time and near-real-time applications primarily using C++. Integrate software with sensors, actuators, embedded controllers, cameras, and other robotic hardware.
6. Testing and Evaluation: Develop and execute test plans to characterize robotic system and subsystem performance. Develop test fixtures, data-collection tools, and analysis methods as necessary. Document system requirements, test procedures, results, limitations, and recommended design improvements.
7. Rapid R&D Execution: Work effectively on small, entrepreneurial, multidisciplinary teams developing new robotic capabilities under aggressive schedules. Support rapid design-build-test-learn cycles and demonstrations to sponsors and end users. Be comfortable moving between software development, hardware development, laboratory testing, and field experimentation as program needs evolve.
8. Technical Communication: Clearly communicate system designs, technical results, tradeoffs, risks, and recommendations to multidisciplinary technical teams, program leadership, sponsors, and collaborators. Contribute to technical reports, presentations, proposals, and other program documentation

Benefits and Perks:
Aquila team members experience the opportunity to be part of a fast-paced, customer-focused, and technically innovative work environment. Aquila strives to deliver the best of the best in technical services to our customers. Candidates that possess a love for technical challenges, a desire to constantly learn, and the desire to establish themselves as critical players within a team will enjoy calling Aquila Technology home.

Our Perks Include:
PTO - 15 days (vacation/sick) 10 paid holidays - 6 standard (New Year’s, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas) - 4 floating holidays prorated based on your day of hire:

• 1.5 paid days, or 12 hours, for approved volunteer work
• 1 week of paid maternity/paternity LOA after 1 year of Full-time employment

Tuition & Training Reimbursement- 5K annually for pre-approved, Eligible full-time team members who have completed a minimum of six (6) months of employment may apply for tuition reimbursement for approved, job-related courses taken through an accredited college or university. Team members must achieve a grade of “B” or better to qualify for reimbursement.Aquila will reimburse up to $5,000 per fiscal year for tuition expenses only. Expenses related to training programs, certifications, books, materials, meals, transportation, or other non-tuition costs are not eligible under the Tuition Reimbursement Program. All tuition reimbursement requests must be submitted to and approved by the team member’s Manager prior to course registration. Reimbursement will be issued upon successful course completion and submission of final grades and proof of payment.

401K with Principal - Eligible to participate day 1 of employment. Company match on employee contributions:

• Eligibility on date of hire
• Employer Match- 100% of first 3% and 50% of next 2%
• Vesting- 100%
• Contribution limit- $24,500
• Catch-up contribution limit- $8,000
• Catch-up contribution limit for ages 60-63 in calendar year- $11,250
• Catchup contributions must be directed to Roth bucket if earned over
$150k in 2025

Cell Phone & Internet Reimbursed up to $150 monthly to cover cell phone, data, and home internet expenses. Aquila Technology will reimburse team members who work from home ONLY for cell phone/mobile device fees for work-related communications and/or operations each month. Employees eligible for this benefit must work remote 2 days a week or more to qualify.

Buy Your Own Device (BYOD) - Team members are eligible for reimbursement of up to $1,500 every three (3) years for the purchase of electronic equipment used to access corporate services. To qualify for this benefit, employees must have completed a minimum of six (6) months of employment and must agree to and sign the Device Minimum Configuration Form prior to reimbursement. Electronic devices eligible under the Buy Your Own Device (BYOD) program are limited to cell phones, laptops, and tablets.

Clearance Level: Must be able to obtain an Active Secret Clearance due to the nature of the work. Must be US Citizen

Travel: will be very limited. 1-2/year and only domestic, but there is opportunity for more if interested.

Work Location: Hybrid with 3 days onsite. Final schedule will be TBD by the HM. - Must live within 100 miles of Lexington, MA

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.