Lead Engineering Technician at ARA in Panama City, FL

Position Summary 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.

Key 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.

Safety Expectations • Treat pressure, temperature, chemical, electrical, and stored-energy hazards with a high level of care and respect. • Follow written procedures, lockout/tagout requirements, PPE rules, hazard reviews, and emergency-response expectations without shortcuts. • Stop work and immediately communicate unsafe conditions, unexpected equipment behavior, leaks, alarms, or operating-limit excursions. • Verify system configuration and understand the flow path before introducing pressure, heat, chemicals, or rotating equipment. • Support a strong safety culture by keeping accurate records, maintaining equipment, and encouraging clear communication across the team.

Required Experience and Qualifications • 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.

Preferred Qualifications • 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 sensor wiring. • Experience supporting commissioning, startup, shutdown, maintenance, or experimental test campaigns.

Work Style and Professional Expectations This position requires someone who is dependable, careful, practical, and comfortable working as part of a small technical team. The ideal candidate takes direction well, communicates openly, stays composed when troubleshooting, accepts feedback professionally, and approaches each task with a strong safety mindset and a willingness to help the team succeed.

Eligibility Due to the nature of the work, qualified candidates must be current U.S. citizens. Permanent resident status (green card) does not satisfy this requirement.