Who We Are:
We are an early-stage, maritime defense technology startup backed by top tier investors. Our team is designing and building autonomous and highly producible ships that can serve multiple missions on the open ocean.
The Role:
You’ll take the lead on designing, building, and testing the mechanical systems that make our autonomous ships seaworthy, rugged, and scalable. From propulsion systems and payload bays to thermal management and watertight enclosures, you'll be hands-on throughout the full lifecycle—from first sketch to splashdown.
We are seeking someone who thrives as part of a purpose-driven team. We're a small, mission-driven team shaping the future of maritime autonomy. We work hard, we test often, and sometimes we get soaked by sea spray—and we love what we’re building.
What You’ll Do:
- Design, integrate, and test mechanical systems for autonomous surface vessels, including structures, propulsion, actuation, and thermal systems.
- Own mechanical design efforts from concept through prototyping, testing, and low-rate production for several critical systems on the vessel: structural design, hydraulics systems, cooling systems, fuel systems, and payload systems.
- Perform analysis and trade studies to evaluate design options across weight, strength, cost, manufacturability, and maintainability.
- Develop engineering drawings and documentation packages using modern CAD tools (Onshape preferred).
- Collaborate closely with electrical, software, and systems teams to ensure tight integration and smooth operation across the platform.
- Lead design reviews, oversee vendor fabrication, and conduct hands-on assembly, testing, and validation.
- Support field deployments, debug issues, and continuously improve system reliability in real-world ocean conditions.
- Help define and evolve team tools, processes, and best practices as we scale up.
Who You Are:
- 10+ years of experience in mechanical or integrated hardware product development.
- Proven ability to take mechanical systems from concept to deployment, ideally in a robotics, maritime, aerospace, or rugged systems environment.
- Comfortable in the shop and in the field—fabricating, testing, and iterating fast.
- Proficient in CAD (Onshape preferred), with the ability to generate clear, production-ready drawings.
- Deep understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals including materials, tolerancing, thermal systems, sealing, and DFM/DFA.
- Self-starter with strong communication skills and a collaborative, low-ego mindset.
- Passionate about working on a small, high-performance team doing big things.
- Eligible to obtain and hold a U.S. Secret security clearance.
Nice To Haves:
- Expertise in Onshape CAD and FEA Analysis.
- Experience troubleshooting complex systems in the field or in remote deployments.
- Exposure to maritime navigation, communication systems, or mission payloads.
- Comfort working across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries.
- Experience in the maritime domain or with pressure vessels, corrosion resistance, and watertight design.
- Exposure to system-level engineering across mechanical, electrical, and software boundaries.
- Hands-on experience with field testing and rugged system validation in harsh environments.
- Familiarity with rapid prototyping, composites, CNC machining, or 3D printing.
- A love for the ocean—or at least an appreciation for gear that survives it.
- Prior experience building software for autonomous vehicles or robotics systems.
What We Offer:
- Incredibly high caliber teammates. You’ll work directly with our co-founders Rylan, Scott and Austin.
- A fast-paced, creative working environment that offers a lot of room for ownership and growth.
- Significant equity package.
- Generous PTO, medical, and dental coverage.
- Ability to make a difference and work on a meaningful mission that protects America and our Democracy.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All hiring is contingent on eligibility to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or transfer visas for applicants.