Senior Prototype Engineer, Welding
About The Position
We are building hardware that has to survive real ocean conditions. That means constant prototyping, welding, fabrication, and iteration. Our shop is not a support function, it is central to the company’s success. As a Senior Prototype Engineer, Welding, you will design and build prototype and flight hardware, develop fixturing and production processes, and help shape the long-term capabilities of our shop. You will work side-by-side with engineers and machinists to turn concepts into hardware quickly and correctly. You will own weldments and assemblies from drawing to finished part, provide direct DFM feedback to design engineers, and help ensure the shop runs safely and efficiently. Good work in this role looks like strong hardware, clean welds, practical fixtures, clear documentation, and a shop that gets better every month.
Requirements
- 5+ years of professional welding and fabrication experience
- Degree in Welding Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience
- Demonstrated experience with bending and sheet metal fabrication
- Professional CAD experience (NX preferred)
- Ability to read and interpret weldment drawings and engineering documentation
- Demonstrated hands-on experience welding using FCAW processes
- Experience with non-destructive evaluation methods, preferably ultrasonic testing (UT)
- Experience working across a wide range of manufacturing processes and materials
- Ability to follow instructions precisely and push back when instructions are incomplete or incorrect
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Self-directed work ethic with the ability to operate independently
- Demonstrated drive for continuous improvement in tools, processes, and organization
- Proficiency with standard computer software (word processors, spreadsheets)
- Comfortable using a computer for documentation, communication, research, and basic data management tasks
Nice To Haves
- Experience building hardware for harsh environments such as marine, aerospace, or heavy industrial systems
- Experience developing new shop layouts or scaling fabrication capabilities in a growing organization
Responsibilities
- Design and manufacture prototype and production hardware using welding, machining, CAD, and additive processes
- Fabricate and weld structural assemblies from engineering drawings
- Develop and document production processes, work instructions, and shop capabilities
- Provide direct DFM feedback to design engineers to improve manufacturability and cost
- Design and build fixturing to support repeatable fabrication and assembly
- Maintain shop organization, tooling systems, and equipment readiness
- Enforce and model a strong safety culture in daily work
- Order supplies and equipment; research tools, materials, and techniques to improve shop performance
- Create and maintain documentation systems using standard office software
- Support other teams as needed, including facilities, logistics, and operations
Benefits
- Equity in the company.
- 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 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).
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
