Senior Test Engineer, Mechanical and Fluid Systems

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.

We are seeking a Senior Test Engineer, Mechanical and Fluid Systems to design, build, and operate large-scale test equipment for hydraulic turbines, electrical generation powertrains, and high-power equipment. You will own test systems end to end: concept, structural and fluid design in Siemens NX, fabrication, assembly, commissioning, and operation.

This is a builder's role. We're looking for someone who has taken large-scale systems from a blank page to a running system, and who knows machining and additive processes firsthand. You'll make prototype parts when speed matters and work alongside our shop team, tradespeople, and vendors to build structures and piping that safely handle pressurized water, air, and heavy loads.

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.

We strive to be the best engineering team on the planet and we compensate our team accordingly.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, modify, and operate custom test rigs for hydraulic turbines, powertrains, and power electronics systems.
• Design load-bearing test structures, including frames, stands, weldments, tank supports, rigging, and lifting fixtures, in Siemens NX. Produce fabrication drawings with weld callouts, GD&T, and machined interface features.
• Design fluid systems and piping networks, including flow and pressure-drop analysis and the sizing and selection of pumps, valves, regulators, and piping.
• Design process piping and plant layouts that can be deployed quickly, and design tanks and vessels for large-volume fluid storage.
• Develop P&IDs, test methodologies, procedures, and safety protocols for test systems.
• Machine, 3D print, and assemble prototype parts and fixtures as needed, and decide what to make in-house versus outsource.
• Integrate mechanical systems with electrical, controls, and data acquisition systems in cross-functional teams.
• Direct technicians, tradespeople, and subcontractors through fabrication, integration, and test operations. Manage vendor procurement.
• Perform hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and real-time and post-test data review.
• Mentor less-experienced engineers and set design and analysis standards the team builds on.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering.
• Strong foundation in fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, and structural analysis, including hand calculations.
• 7+ years designing, building, and testing large-scale mechanical, structural, or fluid systems.
• A track record of owning at least three large-scale systems from design through commissioning.
• Expert-level Siemens NX for structural design and fabrication drawings. Teamcenter or similar PLM.
• Hands-on experience with machining (mills, lathes) and professional 3D printing for prototypes and fixtures.
• Process piping design, specification, and installation.
• Design of custom machined and welded components for fixtures and structures.
• Understanding of ASME/ANSI piping and pressure vessel codes. Familiarity with NFPA 79.
• Industrial safety practices (DFMEA, PFMEA, HAZOP).
• Working knowledge of electrical power systems and connector selection.
• Experience directing skilled trades and subcontractors.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or Aerospace Engineering, or 5 years of additional experience in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Experience with finite element analysis 
• Commissioning and proof testing of fluid systems for pressurized, cryogenic, vacuum, or elevated-temperature service.
• Pipe supports, tooling, and fixtures for test stands.
• Crane operations, lift planning, and moving large structures.
• Experience designing welded steel structures using American Welding Society D1.1 and ASME BPVC applied to novel hardware.
• Both small-scale rapid R&D stands and large-scale systems.
• Delivering on tight schedules with creative solutions.
• Background in power generation, renewable energy, or heavy industrial equipment.
• Heat exchangers and fluid conditioning equipment.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.

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

• Travel to vendors and test sites as needed
• Intermittently able to work longer hours and weekends to support critical needs. While we expect a lot of each other, we also offer a high degree of autonomy and work-life balance, including flexiblePTO and flexible working hours.

Compensation and Benefits

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

• Cash compensation of $175,000 - $235,000.
• 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.