Lead Mechanical Engineer - Structures

The Company

Our client is a renewable energy and advanced technology company developing innovative solutions designed to support the next generation of large-scale, low-cost energy production.

The company is based in the Portland, Oregon area and is backed by a diverse group of institutional and private investors. They are a growing, engineering-driven organization focused on solving complex technical challenges and bringing new energy technologies from concept through deployment.

The Job

This role requires strong technical leadership for the mechanical design and development of our core technology, the "Node." The Node is a device designed to produce energy in the harshest ocean conditions for extended periods without maintenance. This role is crucial to the success of our mission. You will be responsible for the backbone of the Node, its structural hull.

This is a role that requires deep structural design experience, ability to make outstanding technical contributions, and leadership abilities that are effective in a humble and high-performance culture. While defining the design for our Nodes, you will also manage and continue to build the team of mechanical engineers supporting its design. The ideal candidate is a technical expert and a practical builder who is comfortable with personally conducting detailed design work, values working alongside our manufacturing team, and is a skilled leader with a passion for developing others.

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.

Functions

• Accountable for the Node’s primary and secondary structures
• Accountable for the team that defines the Node primary and secondary structures
• Own the design, analysis, and development of Node structures, secondary structures, and subassemblies
• Lead and participate in design reviews with the internal team and interface with external fabricators and vendors
• Mentor and guide other engineers and designers, fostering a culture of technical excellence
• Oversee project documentation and create detailed engineering releases using drawings and GD&T as appropriate
• Partner closely with our Manufacturing and Operations team to produce new Node designs and design increments that achieve targets for cost and performance
• Develop and maintain expert level use of CAD software personally and within the team for engineering definition and release

Qualifications

• A degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, naval architecture, marine engineering, or another related engineering discipline
• Extensive experience designing components, structures, and assemblies from a variety of materials
• 10+ years of 3D CAD modeling experience
• 5+ years of experience with large-scale, safety-critical welded steel structures
• Strong fundamental skills with hand calculations and experience with structural FEA
• Demonstrated experience building teams, leading, and mentoring other engineers
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to provide guidance to and receive it from engineers, designers, technicians, and suppliers
• A work history that includes at least five design, build, test, deploy/release/produce cycles for complex systems/vehicles

Preferred Skills

• An advanced degree in a relevant engineering field or 5 years of additional experience
• 5+ years in a similar role
• Proficiency with NX/Teamcenter
• Understanding of engineering fundamentals relevant to marine systems (welded structures, mechanical assemblies, hydraulics/pneumatics, industrial automation & data acquisition, etc.)
• Experience with a programming language like Python, Julia, or Mathematica
• Knowledge of engineering standards such as ASME Y14.5
• The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills

Additional Requirements

• Travel to vendors and test sites as needed
• Intermittently able to work longer hours and weekends to support critical needs.
• This is an on-site position in the Portland, OR area