Senior Engineer

This is a full-time, hybrid role in the Bay Area, CA for a Mid to Senior Level Mechanical Engineer specializing in vehicle assembly, load dynamics, fabrication, and actuation. This role begins as soon as possible and is structured around a critical, high‑stakes build sprint. You will report directly to our CTO and manage ~5 engineers. You will not be designing hull hydrodynamics — instead, you will have complete ownership over structural assemblies, actuation mechanisms, and the integration of electro‑mechanical subsystems to bring our next 15ft and 35–50ft prototypes to life. This is for someone who thrives in early‑stage, hardware‑heavy environments such as aerospace, race cars, or autonomous vehicles. Responsibilities Design and fabricate structural components, mounting brackets, and mechanical assemblies for 15ft and 35ft prototype vessels. End-to-End Ownership: fully own structural components, mechanical assemblies, and vehicle dynamics/actuation subsystems from CAD to deployment. Rapid CAD-to-Reality: use SolidWorks for detailed manufacturing designs, source materials, conduct fit checks, and iterate relentlessly based on structural testing. Hands-On Fabrication: perform machining, metalwork, composites, and rapid prototyping directly on the shop floor. Field Deployment: integrate subsystems with cross-functional teams, troubleshoot on the fly, and operate as a core maritime crew member during ocean deployments and sea trials. Manage and develop a team of ~5 engineers through a high‑stakes build sprint. Requirements Clearance / Citizenship: US Citizen or US Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) required for ITAR compliance. BS in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, with 6+ years of experience in vehicle dynamics, robotics, UAVs, or high-performance mechanical systems. High proficiency in SolidWorks with strong practical intuition for GD&T, DFM, and structural analysis. Extensive hands-on fabrication experience: machining, prototype assembly, metalwork, and composites. Proven ability to manage multiple rapid deadlines independently and own early-stage hardware from sketch to functional deployment. Nice to Have 8+ years of hands-on R&D experience with vehicles or complex mechanical systems. Experience building early-stage hardware prototypes from concept to deployed product. Hydraulic actuator design and integration experience. Composite design and fabrication knowledge. Experience with vessel or off-road vehicle structural systems. Operational experience working with deployed vehicles or maritime platforms. This role is for you if You are relentlessly hands-on — you are on the shop floor cutting, drilling, welding, and assembling hardware, not just managing builds. You design elegantly and build with ruthless speed, taking absolute ownership from initial CAD to final physical product. You excel at translating ambiguous, high-level ideas into robust, functional assemblies using first-principles thinking. You are driven by the desire to build critical technology that matters and thrive in high-velocity, high-stakes environments. This is NOT for you if You prefer managing builds over being hands-on in the shop. You need a large team infrastructure or well-defined processes to be effective. You are not comfortable with rapid iteration, shifting priorities, or early-stage ambiguity. #J-18808-Ljbffr