**Description** The **Fabric Welder/Sewing Operator** under general supervision is responsible in supporting the manufacturing of prototype devices and/or products. The **Fabric Welder/Sewing Operator** should have strong working knowledge in fabric welding, sewing machine operations and fabric welding equipment. Set up and adjust fabric welders and sewing machines according to fabric type, thickness, and desired seam construction to ensure quality standards met for customer. Collaborate with team members, including designers, pattern makers, and quality control personnel, to ensure seamless production flow and timely delivery. **Fabric Welder/Sewing Operator Essential Functions:** + Operate fabric welding equipment and sewing machines to fabricate and assemble various textile products + Conduct pre-operational checks on hot air fabric welders and sewing machines to ensure proper functioning and safety + Read and interpret technical specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine fabric welding and sewing requirements + Select appropriate fabrics, threads, and accessories based on project specifications and quality standards + Set up and adjust fabric welders and sewing machines according to fabric type, thickness, and desired seam construction + Operate fabric welders to join fabric panels together using heated air to create strong and durable bonds + Monitor machine operations to ensure accurate stitching, seam alignment, and consistent quality throughout the production process + Conduct regular maintenance and cleaning of fabric welders and sewing machines to prevent malfunctions and extend equipment lifespan + Troubleshoot and resolve minor machine issues such as thread breakage, tension adjustments, and jammed needles + Inspect finished products for defects, ensuring they meet quality standards and customer specifications + Collaborate with team members, including designers, pattern makers, and quality control personnel, to ensure seamless production flow and timely delivery + Continuously upgrade skills and knowledge related to fabric welding and sewing techniques through training and professional development opportunities **Fabric Welder/Sewing Operator Experience and Skills Required:** + **Ability to obtain and maintain a minimum of a SECRET clearance from the US Department of Defense** + **U.S. Citizen** + Working knowledge of operating, maintaining, troubleshooting fabric welding equipment and sewing machines to fabricate and assemble various textile products + Read and interpret technical specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine fabric welding and sewing requirements + Ability to inspect finished products for defects, ensuring they meet quality standards and customer specifications + Collaborate with team members, including designers, pattern makers, and quality control personnel, to ensure seamless production flow and timely delivery + Continuously upgrade skills and knowledge related to fabric welding and sewing techniques through training and professional development opportunities + Work requires sitting, sitting for long periods of time, pushing, pulling, standing, standing for long periods of time, reaching, grasping, bending, climbing, stooping must be able to lift up to 50lbs individually. Lifting 50lbs or more with assistance. + Be physically capable of wearing all required personal protective equipment to include, but not limited to safety glasses, respirator, safety shoes, hearing protection and hand protection as required **Preferred:** + **Active / current SECRET Clearance from the US Department of Defense** **COMPANY INFORMATION:** Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an employee-owned international research and engineering company recognized for providing technically superior solutions to complex and challenging problems in the physical sciences. The company, founded in Albuquerque, NM, in 1979, currently employs over 2270 professionals. ARA offices throughout the United States and Canada provide a broad range of technical expertise in defense technologies, civil technologies, computer software and simulation, systems analysis, environmental technologies, and testing and measurement. The corporation also provides sophisticated technical products for environmental site characterization, pavement analysis, and robotics. At ARA, employees are our greatest assets. The corporation realizes that employee ownership spawns’ greater creativity and initiative along with higher performance and customer satisfaction levels. ARA gives its employees the tools, training, and opportunities to take more active roles as owners. The culture is challenging; innovation and experimentation are the norm. Employees are eligible for contributions which not only add to the company’s success, but also their own through the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). The motto, “Engineering and Science for Fun and Profit” sums up the ARA experience. For additional information and an opportunity to join this unique workplace, please visit our website at www.ara.com . Please apply at www.careers.ara.com for the **Fabric Welder/Sewing Operator** position. **Qualifications** **Behaviors** **Preferred** + **Dedicated:** Devoted to a task or purpose with loyalty or integrity + **Innovative:** Consistently introduces new ideas and demonstrates original thinking + **Detail Oriented:** Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well + **Team Player:** Works well as a member of a group **Motivations** **Preferred** + **Flexibility:** Inspired to perform well when granted the ability to set your own schedule and goals + **Self-Starter:** Inspired to perform without outside help + **Growth Opportunities:** Inspired to perform well by the chance to take on more responsibility **Education** **Preferred** + High School or better **Experience** **Preferred** + 4 years: Working knowledge of operating, maintaining, troubleshooting fabric welding equipment and sewing machines to fabricate and assemble various textile products Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)