Okeanus Science & Technology, LLC – Houston, TX Area
Okeanus Science & Technology (OST) is a fast-growing company in the marine equipment sector seeking a skilled and motivated Senior Mechanical Engineer. This role is ideal for a hands-on technical leader with deep experience in subsea equipment design, machine design, and structural analysis who can take ownership of complex, custom-built machinery from concept through build, test, and field support.
About the Role
The Senior Mechanical Engineer is a senior individual contributor and technical lead responsible for the mechanical design, integration and structural integrity of highly engineered marine, subsea, and industrial systems. You will drive requirements definition, concept development, detailed design, analysis, documentation, and verification for equipment such as subsea winches, subsea handling systems, launch and recovery systems (LARS), deck machinery, lifting and handling structures, hydraulic assemblies, and other marine equipment. While the focus is mechanical and structural, the role requires close collaboration with electrical and controls engineers to deliver fully integrated systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead mechanical design of custom marine and subsea equipment from requirements definition through drawing release and production support.
- Develop robust designs for offshore and subsea equipment, considering operational requirements, load cases, corrosion, maintenance, long term reliability, etc.
- Select appropriate materials, coatings, surface treatments, fasteners, and isolation methods for seawater, splash-zone, and subsea environments.
- Develop corrosion mitigation strategies, including galvanic compatibility, sacrificial anodes, coating systems, stainless and non-ferrous material selection, and avoidance of crevices and water traps.
- Design welded and machined structures, rotating machinery, assemblies, handling components, hydraulic assemblies, and subsea equipment interfaces.
- Select and size mechanical components including motors, gearboxes, bearings, brakes, fasteners, pressure-rated components, and hydraulic or electrical hardware.
- Produce 3D CAD models, detailed drawings, and bills of material using company drafting standards and GD&T best practices.
- Collaborate with manufacturing to ensure designs are producible and meet performance, quality, and reliability requirements.
- Support procurement and suppliers through technical specifications, drawing reviews, and acceptance criteria.
- Develop test and verification plans; support shop acceptance testing, pressure or functional testing, and field troubleshooting as needed.
- Interface with electrical and controls teams to define concept of operations, sensor placement, cable routing, enclosures, subsea interfaces, and overall system integration.
- Participate in design reviews, risk assessments, and safety/hazard analysis; ensure compliance with applicable standards and customer requirements.
- Contribute to estimating and proposal efforts with technical inputs, labor/schedule estimates, and design approach narratives.
- Mentor junior engineers and designers through reviews, coaching, and technical guidance.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
- 8+ years of relevant experience designing custom machinery, structures, or industrial equipment.
- Demonstrated experience designing subsea equipment, offshore equipment, or marine systems intended for harsh operating environments.
- Strong understanding of subsea design considerations, including corrosion mitigation, material selection, sealing, coatings, galvanic compatibility, bio-fowling, pressure effects, and maintainability.
- Strong machine design background: mechanisms, rotating equipment, fits/tolerances, bearings, shafts, gearing, sealing approaches, and bolted/welded joints.
- Ability to perform practical engineering calculations and design checks to validate mechanical performance, component sizing, and equipment suitability.
- Proficiency with 3D CAD, such as SolidWorks, Autodesk Inventor, or similar, and engineering drawing creation.
- Working knowledge of GD&T and practical tolerance allocation for manufacturing and assembly.
- Experience with fabrication and manufacturing processes, including welding, machining, assembly, inspection, coating, and design for manufacturability.
- Familiarity with relevant marine, offshore, subsea, or industrial design standards applicable (e.g., ASME, AWS, ABS, DNV, etc.).
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to present designs and analyses clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Due to the nature of certain projects, eligibility for U.S. government security clearance may be required. United States citizenship is required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with government, defense, DoD, Navy, or defense-prime customer programs.
- Professional Engineer (PE) license or active progress toward licensure.
- Experience with winches, cranes, LARS, subsea machinery, oceanographic equipment, or offshore handling systems.
- Experience with subsea tooling, ROV-deployed equipment, or other subsea mechanical systems.
- Experience developing coating, cathodic protection, material compatibility, or corrosion-control requirements for marine or subsea equipment.
- Experience with hydraulics and electro-mechanical systems, pressure housings, or compensated oil-filled assemblies.
- Experience with product data management (PDM), configuration management, and revision control best practices.
- Scripting/data tools for engineering workflows (e.g., MATLAB, Excel)
What’s Offered
This is a full-time, permanent position offering a competitive compensation package, including medical, dental, vision, and retirement benefits.
Pay: $100,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
Experience:
- offshore or subsea engineering: 5 years (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Jersey Village, TX 77041 (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
