Senior Mechanical Engineer

Senior Mechanical Engineer Liquid Robotics is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to join our team in the development of autonomous ocean robots. In this role, you will work with cross-discipline teams in the development, testing, integration, and maintenance of the Wave Glider platform and associated payloads and peripherals to solve our customers real-world needs. The successful candidate will bring proven experience in mechanical design, strong ability to plan and manage mechanical projects, and will embrace a structured lifecycle approach to design and sustainment. This role reports directly to our Mechanical Engineering Manager and is based in Herndon, Virginia. Essential Responsibilities:

• Identify hardware requirements based on user and business needs.
• Develop architectures and designs that meet defined hardware requirements, capturing artifacts in 3D CAD tools.
• Perform trade studies to help optimize designs for cost, schedule and performance. Create prototypes for early validation of product architectures and design solutions.
• Review and approve designs and drawings against: general standards, design requirements, geometric tolerances, drafting practices and the applicable manufacturing process.
• Interface with counterparts in systems, electrical, software and operations groups to develop solutions and coordinate design tradeoffs.
• Provide oversight for change control and escalation processes.
• Guide methodical root cause analysis and resolve non-compliance in part performance.
• Help establish, maintain, encourage, and enforce common design practices, standards, and policies in the Mechanical Design and Analysis discipline.
• Maintain and improve Mechanical Engineering tools, design processes, and methodologies.
• Support the capital procurement process by recommending tools, equipment, and facilities needed to support the organization.
• Provide technical support for the production and operations teams as well as other business functions.

Key Attributes:

• Proficient user of 3-D CAD, particularly Solidworks, and PDM tools to manage design databases
• Experience in Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) with focus on Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation software.
• Familiarity with PLM and other product life-cycle tools such as Arena, JIRA, and Confluence
• Ability to manage creative and cost effective electro-mechanical designs and systems (motors, controls, sensors, robotics)
• Experience designing for varied manufacturing and assembly processes such as composite materials construction, CNC machining, injection molding, cable over-molding and sheet metal fabrication
• Experience designing with materials such as stainless steel, titanium, acetal, and fiberglass.
• Knowledge of ASME Y14.5 and ISO standards, GD&T and accepted drafting practices

Minimum Qualifications:

• BS in Mechanical Engineering. Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 10+ years professional work experience, to include at least 5 years experience in mechanical design. Experience in marine systems or the defense industry is preferred.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with the Liquid Robotics Wave Glider system or other autonomous marine vehicles is a strong discriminator.
• U.S. Person

Pay is based upon candidate experience and qualifications, as well as market and business considerations. Summary pay range: $103,000 - $183,000 Ability to obtain a US Secret Clearance required. Liquid Robotics designs and manufactures Wave Gliders, the first wave and solar powered autonomous ocean robots. With our partners we address many of the planets greatest challenges, by transforming how to assess, monitor, and protect the ocean. We solve critical problems for defense, commercial, and science customers. Visit us at www.liquid-robotics.com to learn more. Liquid Robotics is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.