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. The Node's turbo-generator system is the critical component which includes all components from the fluid interface through to encompassing electromechanical energy conversion, dynamic sealing, structural integration, and control interfaces.

As a Prototype Fabricator, you will support the manufacturing, machining, assembly, and integration of hydro turbines and generators. This is a roll-up-your-sleeves role in which you'll prototype, build, and troubleshoot alongside world-class engineers.

This role sits at the intersection of precision machining, electromechanical assembly, and innovative fixture design, supporting prototype builds as well as low-volume production. You will work closely with motor/generator engineers, fluid dynamicists, mechanical engineers and highly skilled electrical technicians to translate designs into robust, manufacturable hardware, ultimately ending in its deployment in the Node at sea.

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

Operate traditional machines such as mill, lathe, saws, shears, press brakes, rollers, drill presses, grinders, plasma cutters, and related fabrication equipment
Perform field-fit modifications, repairs, and rework on prototype and production hydro-turbine and generator subassemblies, precision rotating machinery, sealing interfaces, and related integration tooling
Support trial builds, teardowns, re-assembly and design iterations
Interpret and work from detailed manufacturing drawings and CAD models
Collaborate with design engineers to suggest manufacturability improvements
Design, fabricate, and validate custom assembly fixtures, jigs, and alignment tools
Utilize 3D printing for rapid prototyping of fixtures and mock-ups
Perform dimensional inspections using Vernier Calipers, micrometers, bore gauges, Dial indicators, height gauges etc.
Ensure compliance with tolerance stack-ups during assembly
Document assembly procedures, inspection reports, and deviations
Provide feedback on assembly challenges, tolerance feasibility and fixture effectiveness
Support prototype iteration cycles and root-cause analysis
Contribute ideas to improve build repeatability, safety, and efficiency

Required Qualifications

5+ years of hands-on experience in prototype fabrication, metal fabrication, welding, or a related trade
Demonstrated ability to fabricate one-off and low-volume assemblies from drawings, CAD models, sketches, and verbal direction