Mechanical Engineering Technician - Missoula, MT

Job Title: Mechanical Engineering Technician

Location: Missoula, MT (100% Onsite)

Job Type: Full-time, Contract

Duration: 1-Year Base with 4 Option Years

Job Summary

Join the National Technology and Development Program (NTDP) in Missoula, MT, supporting wildfire suppression and sustainable timber production nationwide. You will perform technical design, fabrication, machining, and testing of specialized machinery. Your work will directly support critical national projects on forests across the country.

Key Responsibilities

• Fabrication & Assembly: Perform hands-on welding, cutting, forming, and assembly of metal and other prototype materials.
• Precision Machining: Operate manual machine-shop tools such as lathes, mills, and grinders to manufacture custom parts.
• Technical Design & CAD: Assist in the technical design of specialized machinery, including drafting and 3D CAD modeling.
• Testing & Maintenance: Conduct functional validation testing of newly fabricated equipment, gather performance data, and maintain shop machinery.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Associate's degree in an engineering discipline with 5+ years of fabrication shop experience, OR 10+ years of professional experience working in a fabrication shop setting.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency with fabrication equipment, ability to read CAD drawings, and strong knowledge of fabrication principles and methods.
• Physical Demands: Must be capable of lifting 50 lbs and spending extended periods standing or walking.
• Security Clearance: Must pass a federal background check to obtain credentials (Linc Pass)