Senior Mechanical Design Engineer
Vatn Systems
Salary undisclosed
Need a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview? Contact us.
JobMinglr uses automated technology to recommend jobs based on profile information and job preferences. Match Score does not determine eligibility for a position, prevent a user from viewing or applying to a job, or make hiring decisions on behalf of an employer.
Description
Company Overview
Vatn Systems is a leader in the development of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), delivering cutting-edge technology for underwater exploration, scientific research, and defense applications. Our innovative and dedicated team excels at tackling complex subsea challenges, consistently redefining possibilities in the field.
Job Description
As a Senior/Principal Mechanical Design Engineer at Vatn, you will direct the mechanical architecture and design for our most complex AUV subsea systems from initial concept to final production. As a technical lead, you will tackle complex challenges related to high hydrostatic pressures, corrosive environments, strict weight and buoyancy budgets, and tight packaging of sensitive electronics. You will guide products through development, while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating closely with our electrical, software, and systems engineering teams. This design-driven position also requires a strong intuition of mechanical systems and deep expertise in engineering analysis. You will work hands-on across these domains while also raising the analytical bar for the broader mechanical engineering team.
Responsibilities
- Lead the mechanical design and development of complex subsea components, systems, and assemblies from concept through production.
- Lead the full-lifecycle mechanical architecture of subsea platforms, encompassing hydrostatic pressure vessels, hydrodynamic fairings, structural chassis, and the integration of mission-critical payloads.
- Develop and maintain CAD models, detailed drawings, GD&T, and tolerance stack-ups that reflect analysis-driven design decisions.
- Lead engineering analysis across the mechanical system, including structural, hydrostatic pressure housing design, and thermal analysis.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with electrical, software, and manufacturing teams to deliver manufacturable, reliable hardware.
- Oversee prototyping, testing, and validation efforts, closing the loop between predicted and observed performance.
- Size and evaluate subsea propulsion systems, including thrust, power, and efficiency trade-offs specific to underwater operation.
- Perform battery sizing and packaging analysis, balancing energy density, thermal behavior, and mechanical integration constraints.
- Design and analyze propellers, and optimize hydrodynamic bodies for drag, efficiency, and performance across operating conditions.
- Serve as a technical mentor to the mechanical engineering team, building internal analysis capability in seal design, pressure systems, propulsion, and hydrodynamics.
- Manage and prioritize multiple concurrent engineering efforts in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field (Master's or PhD preferred).
- 5-8 years of mechanical engineering experience, with a significant and demonstrated focus on design analysis rather than design execution alone.
- Strong proficiency in CAD (SolidWorks preferred), including 3D modeling, assembly, and detailed drawing production.
- Drive the prototyping and validation lifecycle by creating comprehensive test protocols and spearheading hardware evaluation, spanning high-pressure hydrostatic environments, thermal characterization, and in-water performance.
- Proven experience with static and dynamic seal design.
- Experience designing systems for hydrostatic pressure, including pressure housings and pressure-critical component analysis.
- Experience sizing propulsion systems, ideally in a subsea or marine context.
- Experience with the design and analysis of propellers.
- Solid foundation in core mechanical engineering principles: materials, mechanics, and manufacturing processes.
- Familiarity with design analysis tools and techniques (e.g., FEA, CFD) strongly preferred — ANSYS Workbench or similar.
- Experience designing and building composite parts is a plus.
- Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to mentor and elevate the analytical capability of the broader team.
- Detail-oriented mindset with a focus on precision, rigor, and quality.
- Ability to thrive in a fast-paced startup environment with shifting priorities.
Vatn is an equal opportunity employer.
About this role
Vatn Systems is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to lead the mechanical architecture of its autonomous underwater vehicles, taking complex subsea systems from concept through production. You would own the full lifecycle design of pressure vessels, structural chassis, hydrodynamic bodies, and integrated payloads—work that demands deep expertise in high-pressure environments, extreme corrosion resistance, and the tight constraints of weight, buoyancy, and component packaging. This is a hands-on technical leadership role: you'll drive engineering analysis across structural, hydrostatic, and thermal domains while mentoring junior engineers and collaborating with electrical, software, and manufacturing teams to deliver reliable, manufacturable hardware.
The position calls for 5–8 years of mechanical design experience with a strong analytical foundation—someone equally comfortable with CAD modeling and detailed drawings as with FEA, CFD, and rigorous engineering analysis. You should have proven expertise in seal design, pressure housing systems, propulsion sizing, and propeller design, ideally in a subsea or marine context. Composite design experience is valued but not required. You'll manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced startup environment, oversee prototyping and validation efforts, and raise the analytical bar across the mechanical team.
This role is based in Bristol, Rhode Island, and requires in-office presence. It suits an engineer who thrives on complex technical challenges, values precision and rigor, and is energized by mentoring others while driving innovation in an emerging field.
Typical pay for this role
$140,000
Typical range: $120,000 to $140,000
This role's local market on JobMinglr
Pay for this role
The employer didn't post a pay range for this role. That usually means pay is set in negotiation, which favors whoever arrives with numbers. Check ranges on comparable Senior Mechanical Design Engineer postings in Bristol, and analyze any offer before you accept it.
Before you apply, worth reading
How JobMinglr reads this job
Every listing here is scored against your profile before you apply: skills overlap, experience level, location and work arrangement, each weighted and explained. You see the score and the reasons, not just a list. How the matching works.