Build a Career with Purpose at Advanced Programs Inc. (API)
Since 1969, Advanced Programs Inc. (API) has been developing secure, mission-critical solutions that serve the United States, NATO, and allied partners. As a small, agile company supporting national security initiatives, we offer a tight-knit environment where each employee plays a meaningful role in real-world impact.
Join a team that moves quickly to respond to evolving defense and intelligence challenges—often working directly with government stakeholders to translate urgent needs into engineered solutions. You’ll have the chance to make a difference, but you’ll also be expected to bring initiative, flexibility, and technical curiosity every day.
What You’ll Be Doing
This is a hands-on mechanical engineering role supporting the design, prototyping, and fabrication of secure electromechanical systems for defense and intelligence applications. You’ll work in a fast-paced, small-team environment where projects vary in scope and complexity. Some weeks may be focused on early design and CAD work; others may involve troubleshooting builds, preparing for design reviews, or updating documentation.
This role requires both creative problem-solving and practical, detail-oriented execution. You’ll work closely with electrical engineers, project managers, and fabricators to ensure solutions meet EMI/RFI shielding requirements, mechanical constraints, and evolving mission needs.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze customer requirements, specifications, and feasibility to support mechanical system design
• Design and assemble new or modified mechanical components for EMI/RFI-hardened enclosures and products
• Perform component- and system-level testing; assist in troubleshooting mechanical performance issues
• Serve as Project Lead where you will be the technical point of contact, manage the budget & schedule, the scope of the project and all milestone deliverables.
• Prepare documentation and technical data packages for production and customer review
• Collaborate with inter-departmental teams and external vendors to support build and prototyping work
• Recommend design modifications to improve performance or manufacturability

What You Can Expect

• End-to-End Involvement: You’ll contribute across the entire engineering lifecycle—from concept and design through prototyping, integration, and delivery
• Hands-On Innovation: Expect a blend of desk and lab work, with frequent opportunities to prototype, test, and refine your own designs
• Small-Team Impact: At API, your contributions won’t get lost in layers of hierarchy. You’ll be visible and essential, working alongside experts who value initiative and creativity
• Mission Relevance: The systems you design will have a direct role in safeguarding national security and supporting real-world defense and intelligence missions
• Learning & Growth: With exposure to advanced technologies and industry leaders, you’ll be well-positioned to expand your skills and advance your career
• Fast-Paced Variety: Projects are diverse and fast-moving. No two weeks are the same, and you’ll constantly engage with new challenges and technologies

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering.
• Proficiency with CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks); experience with modeling for EMI/RFI protection is a plus
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting skills
• Comfortable working with minimal supervision and managing multiple priorities
• Prior experience in defense, aerospace, or secure communications is preferred but not required

What We Offer

• Competitive salary and 401(k) with company match
• Affordable medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Company-paid disability and life insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Professional development and tuition reimbursement
• Employee assistance program and exclusive discounts

About the Work Environment

• On-site work is required for lab access, prototyping, or classified project support
• Flexible schedules may be available depending on project phase
• U.S. Citizenship and the ability to acquire a security clearance is required due to the nature of our work

About NTSWG-Focused Projects
Some of our programs support the National Telephone Security Working Group (NTSWG)—a U.S. interagency organization that rapidly funds and delivers counterterrorism technologies. If assigned to one of these efforts, your work will help close urgent capability gaps for military, law enforcement, and homeland security teams.
API is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
The likely salary range for this position is $90,000 to $110,000. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.
The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, API considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate’s experience, education, skills and current market conditions

• Analyze customer requirements, specifications, and feasibility to support mechanical system design
• Design and assemble new or modified mechanical components for EMI/RFI-hardened enclosures and products
• Perform component- and system-level testing; assist in troubleshooting mechanical performance issues
• Serve as Project Lead where you will be the technical point of contact, manage the budget & schedule, the scope of the project and all milestone deliverables.
• Prepare documentation and technical data packages for production and customer review
• Collaborate with inter-departmental teams and external vendors to support build and prototyping work
• Recommend design modifications to improve performance or manufacturabilit