We are looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer with 5+ years of experience to serve as a Responsible Engineer for critical mechanical subsystems on our autonomous underwater vehicle platform. You'll join a fast-moving, SpaceX-inspired team building attritable UUVs from the ground up for the U.S. Navy. We need someone who can own their subsystem end-to-end, from concept through design, analysis, prototyping, field testing, and production, and get hardware in the water within months, not years. This is a role for a self-starting builder who thrives on speed, makes smart trade-offs to hit the 80% fast, and challenges requirements using first-principles thinking.
What will you be doing?
Own one of five mechanical subsystems (Hull & Hydrodynamics, Structures & Integration, Mechanisms & Actuation, Battery & Energy Storage, or Propulsion) as the Responsible Engineer through its entire lifecycle.
Design in CAD (NX preferred), perform FEA/CFD analysis (NX Nastran, Ansys Fluent, or Siemens Star-CCM+), and iterate rapidly between design, analysis, and test without relying on dedicated analysts.
Prototype, assemble, and validate hardware on the bench and in the water, including field testing and sea trials.
Integrate your subsystem with electrical, firmware, and software counterparts, managing cross-disciplinary interfaces without systems engineers as intermediaries.
Work directly with manufacturing partners and suppliers, validating components with first-principles physics rather than blindly trusting supplier data, and driving your subsystem to mass production readiness.
- 5-7 years of experience in mechanical engineering designing hardware from concept through production, with expertise in one of: hull/hydrodynamics, structures, mechanisms, battery packaging, or propulsion
- Individually architected and delivered a full mechanical subsystem from blank sheet to production
- Background in underwater vehicles, aerospace, automotive (EV), UAVs, or robotics - tightly integrated electromechanical products
- Experience designing for submerged/pressurized environments (sealing, corrosion, depth qualification)
- Deep expertise in one of: hull/hydrodynamics, structures, mechanisms, battery packaging, or propulsion
- Expert-level CAD proficiency (NX ideal) managing complex assemblies; also performs FEA/hand calcs and CFD analysis themselves rather than outsourcing
- Design for manufacturing experience - works directly with machine shops and fabrication partners
- Self-starting: can take an ambiguous problem and independently drive to 80% solution in weeks, not months
- BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering or closely related field
- CAD expertise and end-to-end subsystem ownership from design to manufacturing