Staff engineer jobs in Vancouver, WA

About the Company Our client is 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 clients 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. They operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company's direction on a regular basis. This is a direct hire, permanent placement position for a client of AdAstra Talent Advisors. About the Role Our client is seeking a Lead Mechanical Engineer to join their team and provide technical leadership for the mechanical design and development of the core technology, the "Node." The Node is a device designed to produce energy in the harshest ocean conditions for extended periods without maintenance. This role is crucial to the success of their mission. You will be responsible for the hull and the team that forms the backbone of our Nodes. This is a role that requires deep structural design experience, ability to make outstanding technical contributions, and leadership abilities that are effective in a humble and high performance culture. While defining the design for the Nodes, you will build and manage a team to support the future iterations of the Nodes. The ideal candidate is a technical expert and a practical builder comfortable with personally conducting detailed design work, values working alongside our manufacturing team, and is a skilled leader who has well developed interpersonal skills and a passion for developing others. You must thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment. Current staff has worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke, Boeing, Virgin Orbit, Virgin Galactic, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, Bridgewater Associates, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries. Our client is organized as a public benefit corporation and are backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments. They strive to be the best engineering team on the planet and they compensate their engineers accordingly. If you are an excellent engineer and technical leader, regardless of your background, they want you to apply. Responsibilities Accountable for the Node Hull structural design and integrity. Accountable for the team that defines the Node primary and secondary structures. Lead and participate in design reviews with the internal team and interface with external fabricators and vendors. Mentor and guide other engineers and designers, fostering a culture of technical excellence. Oversee project documentation and create detailed engineering releases using drawings and GD&T as appropriate. Partner closely with our Manufacturing and Operations team to produce new Node designs and design increments that achieve targets for cost and performance. Develop and maintain expert level use of CAD software personally and within the team for engineering definition and release. Requirements A degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, naval architecture, marine engineering, or another related engineering discipline. Extensive experience designing components, structures, and assemblies from a variety of materials. 10+ years of 3D CAD modeling experience. 5+ years experience with large scale, safety critical welded steel structures. Strong fundamental skills with hand calculations and experience with structural FEA. Demonstrated experience building teams, leading, and mentoring other engineers. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to provide guidance to and receive it from engineers, designers, technicians, and suppliers. A work history that includes at least five design, build, test, deploy/release/produce cycles for complex systems/vehicles. Preferred Experience An advanced degree in a relevant engineering field or 5 years of additional experience. 5+ years in a similar role. Proficiency with NX/Teamcenter. Understanding of engineering fundamentals relevant to marine systems (welded structures, mechanical assemblies, hydraulics/pneumatics, industrial automation & data acquisition, etc.) Experience with a programming language like Python, Julia, or Mathematica. Knowledge of engineering standards such as ASME Y14.5. The ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Strong interpersonal, organizational, and presentation skills. *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. Logistical Requires Travel to vendors Intermittently able to work longer hours and weekends to support critical needs. While they expect a lot of each other, they also offer a high degree of autonomy and work-life balance, including unlimited PTO and flexible working hours. Benefit Highlights Cash compensation of $235K - $300K Equity in the company. They are all owners and if 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 33% for full time employees and 100% for 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). Compensation is determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan. Equal Opportunity Our client is an equal opportunity employer. They evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. About AdAstra AdAstra Talent Advisors is a headhunting and talent advising firm focused on the Climate, Space, and Defense sectors of Hard Tech. We specialize in pairing highly technical and executive talent with some of the world's leading Hard Tech startups. At AdAstra, we catalyze the innovations that future generations depend on by placing the right people in the right seats. Our dedicated work enables inconceivable technology from Earth, to the stars. And it's all because of trailblazing talent like you - those driven to do what's never been done before. We care about long term relationships with both candidates and companies. Even if the role we initially discuss isn't a perfect fit, it's likely we'll have something relevant to share with you in the future.