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Senior Mechanical Engineer (Maritime)

fast-scaling maritime defense startup Long Beach, CA Direct Hire Engineering $160,000 - $220,000

Job Summary

We are seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to serve as the Responsible Engineer for critical mechanical subsystems on an autonomous underwater vehicle platform. This hands-on role owns a subsystem end-to-end from concept through design, analysis, prototyping, field testing, and production, delivering hardware in the water within months. Ideal for a self-starting builder who thrives in a fast-paced environment, makes smart trade-offs, and applies first-principles thinking to challenge requirements.

Essential Functions

  • Own one of five mechanical subsystems (hull and hydrodynamics, structures and integration, mechanisms and actuation, battery and energy storage, or propulsion) through its entire lifecycle
  • Design in CAD, perform FEA and CFD analysis, and iterate rapidly between design, analysis, and test without relying on dedicated analysts
  • Prototype, assemble, and validate hardware on the bench and in the water, including field testing and sea trials
  • Integrate subsystem with electrical, firmware, and software teams while managing cross-disciplinary interfaces
  • Work directly with manufacturing partners and suppliers to validate components using first-principles physics and drive subsystem to production readiness

Required Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of experience in mechanical engineering, designing hardware from concept through production
  • Individually architected and delivered a full mechanical subsystem from initial concept to production
  • Background in underwater vehicles, aerospace, automotive (EV), UAVs, or robotics with tightly integrated electromechanical products
  • Experience designing for submerged or pressurized environments, including sealing, corrosion resistance, and depth qualification
  • Expert-level CAD proficiency managing complex assemblies, with ability to perform FEA, hand calculations, and CFD analysis independently
  • Design for manufacturing experience, working directly with machine shops and fabrication partners
  • Self-starting approach that can take an ambiguous problem and independently drive to an 80 percent solution in weeks
  • BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field

Technical Skills

  • NX (Siemens)
  • NX Nastran (FEA)
  • Ansys Fluent (CFD)
  • Siemens Star-CCM+ (CFD)
  • SolidWorks
  • Hand calculations and first principles analysis
  • GD&T
  • Complex CAD assembly management
  • Design for submerged environments
  • Subsystem integration and interface management

Education & Certifications

BS or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary range of $160,000 to $220,000, commensurate with experience. On-site role based in the Los Angeles area.

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