Mechanical Engineer

About the Company 

We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis. 

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries.

About the Job

We are developing a core technology, the “Node”, that will operate in the worst conditions the world’s oceans have to offer for years at a time without human maintenance or intervention.  

As a Mechanical Engineer, you will support the design of numerous mechanical components and assemblies that must withstand extreme loads and a harsh ocean environment.  You will support subsystem design through trade studies, CAD modeling, analysis, lab testing, and deployment preparation. This position requires a highly motivated, hands-on engineer who thrives in ambiguity, can execute with autonomy, and is eager to take on end-to-end ownership, defining requirements and architecture and driving through design, prototype testing, and final build.  We expect you to be especially strong in analysis and to gravitate toward first-principles, fundamental-physics approaches to problem solving.

Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis. You will own your designs cradle-to-grave, from first concept through fabrication and deployment at sea. If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze mechanical components and assemblies including structures, enclosures, fluid systems, and test equipment
• Create and maintain component and assembly CAD models using NX and Teamcenter
• Create detailed component and assembly drawings with a strong grasp of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack-ups
• Drive design trade studies and engineering reviews, helping document decisions and technical findings
• Work with, and direct, a skilled technician workforce to carry out prototyping, testing, fabrication, and development of operational and maintenance procedures

Required Qualifications:

• A degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, naval architecture, ocean engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 2-5 years of experience designing components, structures, and assemblies from a variety of materials (steel, aluminum, titanium, plastics, composites, etc.)
• Proficiency in 3D CAD modeling
• Strong use of hand calculations for structural analysis
• Strong communication and teamwork skills; ability to incorporate feedback from engineers, technicians, and suppliers
• Demonstrated ability to take ownership of tasks and work independently
• A work history encompassing at least one design, build, test, deploy/release/produce cycle

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field, or additional industry experience
• Experience designing packaging for electronics in harsh environments
• Experience with sheet metal part design
• Hands-on experience with fabrication, prototyping, or testing
• Experience with NX/Teamcenter
• Exposure to instrumentation and controls (sensors, actuators)
• Programming or scripting skills (Python, MATLAB, Julia, etc.) for analysis and data review

Additional Requirements

• Travel to vendors and test sites as needed.
• Intermittently able to work longer hours and weekends to support critical needs. While we expect a lot of each other, we also offer a high degree of autonomy and work-life balance.

Compensation and Benefits

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:

• Cash compensation of $125,000 - $175,000. 

• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.

• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:

• Flexible paid time off

• Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)

• Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)

• Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)

• Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long-term financial support if you become disabled)

• Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA

• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

Our offices, lab, shop, and manufacturing facilities are located in and near Portland, Oregon.