Mechanical Engineer

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. 

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 spearhead 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.  If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

• →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

• A degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, naval architecture, ocean engineering, or other engineering discipline
• 2-5 years 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

• 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

• 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.

On-site, our offices, lab, shop, and manufacturing facilities are located in and near Portland, Oregon.