Senior Mechanical Engineer

Does the thought of preparing kids to solve the world’s greatest problems excite and empower you? Do you want to apply your creative and innovative ideas in the creation of robot games? Do you want to be with an organization where your knowledge and skills will help increase school engagement and student success, and extend our global reach? Do you want to be on a team that crafts opportunities and provides life changing experiences for students?

These opportunities are as strong and dynamic as ever, as FIRST^® creates the people who will change the world – today and tomorrow!

What We Offer
We promise a fast-paced, exciting, and rewarding environment where you will be part of a team that cares about each other and thrives on each other’s successes. You’ll feel good about the future of the world after doing hard work with the talented people at FIRST^® and will have a front row seat to our life changing programs.

Our extensive benefits package is highly competitive and includes:

• Healthcare Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life & AD&D Insurance 
• Supplemental life insurance
• Voluntary accident and legal plans
• Income Protection Insurances (STD & LTD)
• Flexible Work Schedule
• Hybrid Work Model
• 160 PTO hours for FT employees 
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year (one is a floating holiday)
  • Paid July 4th Week Holiday Closure 
• 40 hours paid sick leave per calendar year
• One paid volunteer day per anniversary year
• Maternity and Parental Leave
• 401K Retirement Savings Plan (with employer match)
• Medical and dependent pre-tax flex plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The salary range for this position is $96,488 -$129,688 (min - midpoint). New hires typically start between the range minimum and midpoint based on qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Who You Are
You are an experienced mechanical engineer passionate about robotics and STEM education. With Gracious Professionalism®  you will collaborate closely with fellow FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) engineering team members, staff, volunteers, and external vendors to develop, prototype, test, and support FTC game, kit of parts, robot construction and field components. Your precision and attention to detail will ensure all mechanical aspects of the FTC field meet the high standards required for the program.

FIRST headquarters is in Manchester, New Hampshire, and we seek candidates based in New England or willing to relocate to New England. Although this role will have the flexibility to work remotely, we are looking for candidates who can easily and frequently travel by car to our headquarters or as needed for in-person events.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

What You Will Do
In this role you will project manage the mechanical design process for each competition season. Additionally, you will:

• Design, analyze, and test components used in the FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC).
• Through your basic shop skills, fabrication experience, and power tool use, you will generate and refine game concepts, create prototypes, and design/build demonstration robots. 
• Collaborate with other program and engineering staff in the creation of FTC event training documentation used by volunteers.
• Manage and document requirements, specifications, and procedures to ensure goals are clearly understood and met.
• With the Senior Engineering Manager, develop project goals and lead aspects of scheduling and planning while remaining within budgetary guidelines.
• Work within the FTC Engineering Group to build in-house capacity to assure adequate product testing including reliability, specification compliance, and task applicability.
• Develop design specifications and process plans for external vendors.
• Develop methods to support future size and scope expansion of FIRST.
• Provide guidance/direction on design and documentation processes to program and engineering team.
• Travel to support FIRST events and provide occasional weekend support.

What We Expect
A knowledgeable mechanical engineering professional. We are also seeking candidates with the following knowledge, skills, and experience:

• BA/BS or work experience in an engineering related discipline with 5 years directly related experience. 
• Proven track record of successfully meeting specifications, as well as cost, timing, and reliability goals.
• Basic shop skills and competence using basic hand, power tools.
• Proficient with or solid understanding of: SOLIDWORKS®, Onshare, AutoDesk® Inventor, Creo or another parametric CAD program.
• Excellent collaboration skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• CAD simulation and Computer-aided Manufacturing (CAM) software experience a plus.
• Experience with fabrication (wood, metal), CNC machines, routers, Bridgeport Mills, lathes, design for sheet metal, and/or TIG welding a plus.
• Experience with competitive robotics is a plus.
• Flexibility to travel 5 - 10% depending on the time of the year.
• Availability to provide weekend support 1–2 times per month during the competition season (October through April).

Commitment to FIRST® Core Values

Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact:  We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!

Thriving on our core values, celebrating the uniqueness of our employees and committed to inclusion. Proud to be an equal opportunity employer.