Lead Mechanical Engineer, Turbomachinery

Lead Mechanical Engineer, Turbomachinery

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Portland, Oregon.

About AdAstra

AdAstra Talent Advisors is a boutique firm which partners with elite startups to headhunt for critical technical roles in hard-tech sectors such as Space, Climate, and Defense.

About the Company

The client is focused on harnessing ocean energy to generate affordable clean energy. Founded in 2016 and based in the Pacific Northwest, the team comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds in aerospace, naval architecture, marine operations, hardware, software, and research.

About the Job

The Node is a device that produces energy in harsh marine conditions. The turbogenerator includes components from the fluid interface to electrical output, covering mechanical conversion, dynamic sealing, structural integration, and control interfaces. As the Lead Mechanical Engineer, Turbomachinery, you will lead the technical vision, execution, and continuous improvement of rotating machinery that turns fluid power into electrons. This is a hands-on leadership role where you will prototype, build, and troubleshoot alongside world-class engineers and technicians.

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

You should thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment and be prepared to influence the company's direction with the best ideas. All strong engineering candidates are encouraged to apply.

Our client seeks to build the best engineering team and compensates engineers accordingly.

Responsibilities

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

Required Qualifications

Desired Qualifications

The above qualifications are desired, not required. Strong candidates with partial qualifications are encouraged to apply.

Additional Requirements

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation : $175,000 - $250,000 per year. Equity in the company, comprehensive benefits including healthcare, dental, vision, disability insurance, and retirement accounts; relocation assistance to Portland if needed.

Location

On-site position in Portland, Oregon.

Company Description

Direct hire for a client of AdAstra. AdAstra's mission is building thriving teams within elite NewSpace and Clean Tech organizations.

Seniority level

Employment type

Job function

Note : This description is refined from the original posting and excludes extraneous social links and inferred postings.

J-18808-Ljbffr