Senior 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.

About the Job

We are developing a core technology 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 Senior Mechanical Engineer, you will spearhead the design of numerous mechanical components and assemblies that must withstand extreme loads and a harsh ocean environment. 

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer focused on Core Electronics and Systems Integration, you will own the complete mechanical lifecycle of our core electronic systems—from whiteboard to waves. This is a hands-on, high-impact role where you will lead the design, prototyping, integration, and deployment of enclosures and mechanical assemblies critical to our power generation and conversion units.

You will collaborate closely with electrical and firmware engineers to ensure robust mechanical-electrical integration in one of the most challenging environments on Earth: the open ocean. Your designs must hold up to salt spray, vibration, shock, and time—while being manufacturable, cost-effective, and elegant in their simplicity.

You will be part of a deeply cross-functional and highly competent team building novel technologies with no off-the-shelf roadmap. The person who thrives in this role is both a technical expert and a pragmatic builder—comfortable doing everything from drawing detailed GD&T specs in NX to building a prototype with their own hands.

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. If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply. Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke, Boeing, Virgin Orbit, Virgin Galactic, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, Bridgewater Associates, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries. We are organized as a public benefit corporation and are backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments.

We strive to be the best engineering team on the planet and we compensate our engineers accordingly.

Responsibilities:

• Own the mechanical integration of electronics across the full product lifecycle: concept generation, detailed design, prototyping, test, and release to production.
• Design and optimize mechanical systems for PCBs and electronic subassemblies—enclosures, chassis, brackets, and mounting systems—ensuring high performance under real-world marine conditions.
• Create and manage detailed 3D CAD models, 2D drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and BOMs for both internal builds and vendor fabrication.
• Engineer for complex constraints including airflow, EMI shielding, shock, and vibration, while meeting requirements for manufacturability and reliability.
• Prototype and test your designs—sometimes with your own tools and hands—driving fast iteration to validate form, fit, and function.
• Select appropriate materials and manufacturing processes (sheet metal, injection molding, CNC, casting, etc.) with a focus on performance, reliability, and cost.
• Collaborate tightly with electrical, firmware, product, and industrial design teams to create seamless, integrated systems.
• Identify risks early and solve problems proactively through testing, feedback, and iteration.

Required Qualifications:

• A degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience designing and packaging electronic systems for production, with a proven record of fielded products in your portfolio.
• Expertise in 3D CAD, ideally Siemens NX, with strong modeling, surfacing, and drawing creation skills.
• Proficient in GD&T and experienced in tolerance stack-ups for mechanical-electrical integration.
• A track record of delivering real hardware through multiple design-build-test-release cycles.
• Ability to work independently and drive projects forward in a fast-paced, interdisciplinary environment.
• Deep understanding of materials, manufacturing methods, and environmental durability.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a strong commitment to getting the hard things right.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, naval architecture, or a related field, or 5 years additional experience in lieu of an advanced degree.
• At least 5 years in a similar role.
• Prior work on systems designed for marine, aerospace, or automotive environments.
• Experience working on high-reliability, high-voltage, or EMI-sensitive electronic packaging.
• Background in thermal or structural simulation to inform mechanical design decisions.
• Familiarity with DFM/DFA processes and collaborating with overseas or domestic contract manufacturers.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, self-starting, and demanding atmosphere.
• A curiosity to learn and a passion for continuous improvement.
• Solid understanding of technical projects from the details to the big picture.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills.

The above qualifications are desired, not required. We encourage you to apply if you are a strong candidate with only some of the desired skills and experience listed.

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, including unlimited PTO and flexible working hours.

Compensation and Benefits:

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

• Cash compensation of $150,000–$225,000.
• 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 33% for full time employees and 100% for 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:

This is an on-site position. Our offices are located in Portland, Oregon.