Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Integrated Subsystems

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. A node consists of a fabricated steel structure outfitted with the electromechanical systems necessary to harness the energy we generate and to control the node at sea.

We’re looking for a Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Integrated Subsystems to own the strategy, processes, and day-to-day execution needed to manufacture and test our integrated electromechanical systems at high quality and increasing volume. This is a hands-on leadership role. You will help stand up production capability from the ground up by turning new designs into buildable processes, developing tooling and test workflows, and creating the foundation for a scalable manufacturing line. You will partner closely with Design Engineering, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Production, and Logistics to drive smooth New Product Introduction (NPI), improve throughput, and build a system that can scale with the company.

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. You will own your designs cradle-to-grave, from first concept through fabrication and deployment at sea. If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and improve manufacturing and test processes for integrated electromechanical assemblies and pressure vessels, ensuring high quality, efficiency, and safety
  • Develop or procure tooling, rigging, and lift fixtures to improve ergonomics, efficiency, safety, and quality control
  • Support quality control initiatives and establish process controls to improve yield and meet quality management system requirements. Support and/or lead efforts to build production SOPs
  • Lead efforts to establish procedures for critical and heavy lift plans, and partner with production to train teams on safe execution. Define and implement safety features in production workspaces as needed
• Collaborate closely with R&D and Design Engineering teams to transition new products from design to production, focusing on design for manufacturability, testability, and traceability
• Work with supply chain and logistics teams to support inventory control processes, implement kanban systems, select key vendors, establish handling procedures, and ensure timely delivery of components.
  • Support make versus buy decisions with engineering analysis
  • Be a technical point of contact for contract manufacturing partners
• Lead troubleshooting efforts for manufacturing issues, improve yields, reduce costs, and resolve technical challenges that arise during production
• Define the manufacturing strategy and roadmap for in-house production of these assemblies, including facilities planning, equipment selection, and workflow optimization
  • Partner with cross-functional teams to execute and validate these strategies

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in a manufacturing environment, with direct experience supporting integrated electromechanical subsystems
• Proven track record of delivering results, meeting production deadlines, and managing projects within budget
• Proficiency in design for manufacturing (DFM) and process development for complex assemblies
• Experience developing and implementing manufacturing strategies, including lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and design of experiments (DOE) for process improvement
• Experience developing or improving acceptance and test procedures, including test workflow optimization
• Working knowledge of quality management systems and production standards (e.g., ISO 9001) in an engineering and manufacturing context
• Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related discipline

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with tooling, rigging, and lift fixture design to support safe and efficient production
• Proven experience building, leading, and mentoring engineering teams in a scaling production environment
• Experience with integrated system electrical testing and leak testing processes and procedures
• Experience with integrated system electrical checkouts for high voltage electronics and mechanical proof testing procedures
• Experience working in ESD-compliant or ISO-compliant production environments
• Experience working in both prototyping/R&D and scaled production environments

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.

Compensation and Benefits

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

• Cash compensation of $160,000 - $200,000.
• 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.