Lead NX Design Engineer

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

We are seeking a Lead NX Design Engineer to serve as the technical authority for engineering documentation and release. While the broader engineering team owns the hardware in the full lifecycle, you will own the standards of excellence for how that hardware is defined and released.

In this role, you will be the lead practitioner in Siemens NX, responsible for the creation and management of complex assembly drawings for our "Node"—a device designed to generate energy and survive for more than a decade in the harshest ocean conditions. You are expected to set the benchmark for quantity and quality of drawings, particularly for large, safety-critical welded steel structures. You will bridge the gap between initial design concepts and production-ready engineering releases.

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

• NX Mastery: Develop and maintain expert-level use of Siemens NX for the precise definition and release of structure and mechanical system designs.
• Drawing Leadership: Lead the creation of complex assembly drawings, setting the organizational standard for clarity, accuracy, technical rigor and speed.
• Welded Structures Definition: Personally own and execute detailed documentation and technical drawings for large-scale, safety-critical welded structures.
• Documentation Lifecycle: Define and take ownership for the engineering release process, ensuring that every release includes appropriate detail and meets relevant standards.
• Digital Thread Integration: Ensure PLM data and NX infrastructure are tightly integrated to support scaling initiatives and manufacturing accuracy.
• Capacity Ownership: Establish our approach for augmenting the design team during times of high demand; enable us to meet cost, speed, and quality goals with a team-culture-aligned solution.

Required Qualifications

• Degree: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Experience: 10+ years of 3D CAD modeling experience, with a heavy emphasis on Siemens NX.
• Technical Standards: Expert knowledge of GD&T and engineering standards such as ASME Y14.5.
• Structural Expertise: Proven track record in the documentation of large-scale mechanical assemblies and welded steel structures.
• PLM Proficiency: Experience with Siemens Teamcenter.
• Attention to Detail: A commitment to quality and a meticulous approach to technical documentation.

Compensation and Benefits

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

• Cash compensation of $120,000 - $180,000.
• 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

Our offices, lab, shop, and manufacturing facilities are located in and near Portland, Oregon.