POSITION OVERVIEW
SeaRobotics Corporation is seeking an experienced Senior Mechanical Engineer to join our engineering team. This is a hands-on senior engineering role spanning concept development through detail design, fabrication support, structural analysis, and field deployment. The successful candidate will contribute equally across prototyping, original design, product enhancement, and design-for-production activities, while also mentoring junior engineers and supporting proposals. The ideal candidate is creative, technically rigorous, and motivated to develop robust systems that operate reliably in demanding marine and specialty environments.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Mechanical Design & Development
▪ Lead mechanical system design from concept through detail design and drawing release, with emphasis on design for reliability, manufacturability, and maintainability.
▪ Design and integrate structural, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrically driven mechanical systems for USVs, ROVs, LARS, winching systems, propulsion systems, and sensor integration assemblies.
▪ Select and specify COTS components including bearings, seals, linear actuators, fasteners, and marine-grade hardware appropriate for the operating environment.
▪ Design sealing systems and enclosures to meet required IP/NEMA ratings for marine and underwater environments, including O-ring face seals, pressure compensation, and watertight penetrators.
▪ Specify and apply materials appropriate to marine environments, including corrosion-resistant alloys, anodized and coated aluminum, stainless steels, and composite structures.
▪ Design and review welded structures and weldments, providing clear weld call-outs and fabrication guidance.
Structural Analysis & Simulation
▪ Perform finite element analysis (FEA) using SolidWorks Simulation or equivalent tools to validate structural integrity of components, weldments, and assemblies under static, dynamic, and fatigue loading conditions.
▪ Conduct hand calculations and analytical structural assessments to complement and validate FEA results.
▪ Perform vibration and shock analysis to ensure systems meet requirements for marine operating environments.
▪ Produce formal structural analysis reports suitable for internal design review and customer or classification society submittal.
▪ Perform tolerance analysis and stack-up analysis to validate assembly fit and function across production variation.
Fabrication & Vendor Support
▪ Support fabrication by coordinating with machine shops, welding fabricators, and composites vendors; provide design clarifications and review first-article parts.
▪ Generate complete drawing packages with appropriate GD&T call-outs, material specifications, and surface finish requirements.
▪ Manage engineering change orders (ECOs) and maintain drawing revision control throughout the product lifecycle.
Testing, Integration & Field Support
▪ Develop and execute test plans for mechanical systems and assemblies, including integration testing aboard vessels and in field environments.
▪ Investigate field issues on deployed systems, perform root cause analysis, and drive corrective action through to resolution.
▪ Support system commissioning and provide on-site technical assistance as required, including travel to vessel and customer locations.
Proposals, Management & Collaboration
▪ Support technical proposals by developing mechanical system concepts, generating preliminary designs, and providing engineering input to cost and schedule estimates.
▪ Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior mechanical engineers; review their designs and analysis work.
▪ Participate in design reviews, HAZOP sessions, and risk assessments as a senior technical contributor.
▪ Coordinate closely with electrical, controls, and systems engineers to ensure mechanical designs accommodate all subsystem integration requirements, including cable routing, connector access, and thermal management.
▪ Maintain awareness of applicable marine classification society requirements (ABS, DNV, Bureau Veritas) where relevant to product certification.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
▪ Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related discipline.
▪ 5+ years of professional experience designing and developing tightly integrated electromechanical systems from concept through production.
Mechanical Design
▪ Demonstrated experience designing and integrating structural, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrically driven mechanical systems.
▪ Experience with welded structure design including weld joint specification and fabrication drawing preparation.
▪ Proficiency with GD&T (ASME Y14.5) for tolerance specification and drawing call-outs.
▪ Experience with sealing system design for marine or harsh-environment enclosures (IP-rated, underwater, or pressurized).
▪ Demonstrated knowledge of materials selection for corrosive or marine environments.
Structural Analysis & FEA
▪ Proficiency in finite element analysis (FEA) for structural validation of components and assemblies under static, dynamic, and fatigue loading.
▪ Ability to perform and document formal structural analysis reports, including hand calculations and FEA results, for design review and external submittal.
▪ Experience with vibration and shock analysis appropriate for marine or mobile platform applications.
CAD & Documentation
▪ Proficiency in SolidWorks for 3D modeling, assemblies, and detailed drawing production.
▪ Ability to produce complete, fabrication-ready drawing packages including GD&T, weld call-outs, material specifications, and BOM management.
▪ Experience with engineering change order (ECO) processes and drawing revision control.
General Skills
▪ Detail-oriented with strong written and verbal communication skills; able to produce clear technical documentation including drawings, analysis reports, test plans, and status reports.
▪ Collaborative team player who is willing to both learn from and mentor peers.
▪ Ability to work safely aboard vessels and in marine, offshore, or industrial environments.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Education
▪ Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related discipline.
Maritime & Specialty Systems
▪ Experience with autonomous or remotely operated maritime systems: USVs, ROVs, or AUVs.
▪ Experience designing launch and recovery systems (LARS), marine deck machinery, or offshore equipment.
▪ Experience designing underwater equipment including pressure vessels, wet-mate connectors, and depth-rated enclosures.
▪ Experience with themed entertainment or specialty mechanism design.
▪ Awareness of marine classification society requirements (ABS, DNV, Bureau Veritas) for structural or mechanical type approval.
Advanced Analysis & Simulation
▪ Experience with SolidWorks Simulation or equivalent FEA tools for nonlinear, dynamic, or fatigue analysis.
▪ Experience with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) or hydrodynamic analysis tools as applied to marine structures or vehicle design.
Project & Program Skills
▪ Ability to manage schedule and produce all related project documentation including drawings, status reports, test plans, installation procedures, and operations manuals.
▪ Experience supporting technical proposals and providing engineering input to cost and schedule estimates.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This position involves both office-based engineering work and hands-on field and lab activities. Candidates must be able and willing to:
▪ Travel domestically and internationally for system commissioning, vessel integration, and customer site support; travel frequency varies with project schedule.
▪ Work aboard vessels and in marine or offshore environments, including exposure to weather, moving decks, and confined spaces.
▪ Work in industrial settings including fabrication facilities, machine shops, and equipment yards.
▪ Lift and handle components and equipment up to 50 lbs; perform hands-on assembly, fit-check, and integration tasks as required.
HOW TO APPLY
Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to: [email protected]
Applicants must be United States citizens and must be able to satisfactorily complete any background check or security clearance requirements imposed by relevant U.S. government agencies.
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
