Lead Mechanical Engineer, Turbomachinery

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionAbout the Companyn

The open ocean is Earth's largest and most power-dense renewable energy resource. Panthalassa is harnessing that resource to generate the cheapest energy on the planet. Our mission is to provide abundant and affordable clean energy for everyone.

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Founded in 2016 and based in the Pacific Northwest, our team comes from diverse backgrounds in aerospace, naval architecture, marine operations, hardware, software, and research.

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About the Jobn

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 turbogenerator includes all components from the fluid interface through to electrical output, encompassing mechanical conversion, dynamic sealing, structural integration, and control interfaces.

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As the Lead Mechanical Engineer, Turbomachinery, you will lead the technical vision, execution, and continuous improvement of the rotating machinery that turns fluid power into electrons. This is a roll-up-your-sleeves leadership role in which you'll prototype, build, and troubleshoot alongside world-class engineers and technicians.

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You will be responsible for the end-to-end development of the turbogenerator, from conceptual design through manufacturing, assembly, and test. You will work closely with our in-house electromagnetics, electrical engineering, fluid dynamics, manufacturing, and testing teams to drive the development, fabrication, and testing of the turbogenerator, ultimately ending in its deployment in the Node at sea.

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Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment in which the best ideas change the company's direction on a regular basis. If you are an excellent engineer, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

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Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue , 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. We are organized as a public benefit corporation and are backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments.

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

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Responsibilitiesn

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• Lead the design, development, and integration of the Node's turbogenerator system
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• Define and own system-level performance requirements and design goals for the turbogenerator
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• Mechanically integrate the electrical generator with rotating elements, in collaboration with in-house electromagnetics experts
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• Design and analyze components including shafts, housings, bearings, dynamic seals, turbine blades, and stators
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• Select materials and coatings suitable for long-duration marine deployments
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• Collaborate with marine operations, controls, and systems engineering to ensure cross-functional alignment
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• Design for manufacturability, offshore assembly, and in-field serviceability
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• Lead and participate in technical reviews with internal teams and external vendors
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• Oversee project documentation and create detailed drawings using GD&T and tolerance stack analysis
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• Mentor and direct skilled technicians during prototyping, testing, and fabrication
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• Conduct root cause analysis and iterate designs based on test data and failures
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• Utilize high-end CAD (NX) and PDM (Teamcenter) tools to develop and manage designs
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Required Qualificationsn

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• A degree in mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, or naval architecture, or similar
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• Extensive experience designing rotating machinery (e.g. pumps, turbines, compressors, turbochargers, etc.)
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• 5+ years 3D CAD modeling experience
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• Strong understanding of GD&T and tolerance stack-ups
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• Experience with structural FEA
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• Hands on experience assembling tight-tolerance rotating machinery
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• Proven ability to lead end-to-end design, build, test, and deploy cycles across multiple projects
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• Strong written and verbal communication skills
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• Able to independently drive complex projects forward
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• High technical curiosity and a passion for learning
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• Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
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• Demonstrated ability to extract insights from data and apply findings to design updates
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Desired Qualificationsn

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• Advanced degree in mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, or naval architecture, or 5 additional years of experience
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• At least 5 years in a similar senior role
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• Experience leading a small team of engineers
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• Experience designing marine or offshore machinery
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• Familiarity with materials and coatings for submerged or corrosive environments
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• Experience with subsea bearings, or hydrodynamic bearings, or hydrostatic bearings
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• Experience with piping systems (pumps, valves, sensors, etc.)
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• Experience analyzing secondary flows, such as pressure & flows in pipe networks
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• Hands-on experience in fabrication, prototyping, or testing
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• Familiarity with rapid prototyping techniques (3D printing, CNC, laser cutting)
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• Experience with instrumentation and controls (pressure transducers, thermocouples, RTDs, etc.)
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• Familiarity with NX/Teamcenter and FEA tools (NX NASTRAN, FEMAP)
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• Experience with Python, Julia, or similar tools for data analysis
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• Understanding of engineering standards including ASME Y14.5
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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.

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Please note that this role has also been posted under the title of 'Lead Turbomachinery Engineer' to help us reach a broad and relevant audience, but we are hiring for a single position.

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Additional Requirementsn

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• Travel to vendors and test sites as needed.
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• 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 flexible PTO and flexible working hours.
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Compensation and Benefitsn

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

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• Cash compensation of $175,000-250,000
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• 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.
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• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:n
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  • Flexible paid time off
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  • Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold level PPO plan for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
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  • Dental insurance (the company pays 33% for full time employees and 100% for their partners and dependents)
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  • Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
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  • insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long term financial support if you become disabled)
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  • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
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• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).
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Locationn

This is an on-site position. Our offices, lab, and shop are located in Portland, Oregon .