Quality Inspector

About the Company

We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries.

About the Job

Our core technology is the node, a device that produces energy in the ocean’s harshest conditions for years at a time without human maintenance or intervention.

As a Quality Inspector, you will inspect machined components to make sure they meet engineering drawings and specifications before they become part of our hardware. You will use precision measurement tools, document results clearly, identify nonconformities, and help keep defects from moving downstream.

This role requires careful, consistent inspection and sound judgment. Good work means catching problems early, documenting exactly what you found, and communicating clearly with the people responsible for building and improving the parts.

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.

Responsibilities

• Inspect machined components for compliance with engineering drawings, specifications, and acceptance requirements.
• Use calipers, micrometers, profilometers, thread gages, pin gages, and other precision measurement tools to verify component dimensions and features.
• Perform visual inspections to identify burrs, damage, scratches, foreign object debris (FOD), and other workmanship issues.
• Document inspection results clearly and maintain accurate inspection records.
• Identify nonconforming parts and write nonconformance reports that clearly describe the issue and supporting inspection data.
• Work with engineering and manufacturing teams to communicate inspection findings and resolve questions about part conformity.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical inspection or quality control in a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings and specifications, including an intermediate understanding of ASME Y14.5 and GD&T.
• Proficiency with precision inspection tools and mechanical measurement techniques.
• Working knowledge of helicoils, Keenserts, AS5202 port threads, and surface finish requirements.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to create clear, accurate inspection documentation.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work effectively with manufacturing and engineering teams.

Desired Qualifications

• Machining experience or a practical understanding of machining processes sufficient to help identify likely root causes and corrective actions for nonconformances.
• Experience operating or programming a Romer or FARO measurement arm or a CMM; Verisurf experience is especially useful.
• Experience working with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and/or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems.
• Experience inspecting low-volume or complex mechanical hardware where drawings, tolerances, and manufacturing processes require judgment rather than simple pass/fail checks.

The above qualifications are desired, not required. We encourage you to apply if you are a strong candidate with only some of the desired skills and experience listed.

Additional Requirements

• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Must be able to work on-site in Portland, Oregon.

Compensation and Benefits

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:

• Cash compensation of $35.00 - $45.00 per hour.
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
  • Flexible paid time off
  • Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long-term financial support if you become disabled)
  • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

This is an on-site position. Our offices, lab, and shop are located in Portland, Oregon.