Lead Turbomachinery Engineer

1w1 week ago

Panthalassa

Portland, US · Full-time · $175,000 – $250,000

About this role

Panthalassa harnesses the open ocean, Earth’s largest power-dense renewable energy resource, to generate the cheapest energy on the planet. The Node produces energy in the ocean’s harshest conditions for years without human maintenance. As Lead Turbomachinery Engineer, you will lead the technical vision, execution, and continuous improvement of the rotating machinery turning fluid power into electrons.

This roll-up-your-sleeves leadership role involves prototyping, building, and troubleshooting alongside world-class engineers and technicians. You will handle end-to-end development of the turbogenerator, from conceptual design through manufacturing, assembly, and test. Work closely with in-house electromagnetics, electrical engineering, fluid dynamics, manufacturing, and testing teams to drive fabrication and deployment in the Node at sea.

Our team draws from diverse backgrounds in aerospace, naval architecture, marine operations, hardware, software, and research. Staff have worked at SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, and more. Thrive in a creative, scrappy, collaborative environment where the best ideas change the company’s direction regularly.

Candidates need strong interpersonal skills and excellence in engineering, regardless of background. We are a public benefit corporation backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments. We strive to be the best engineering team on the planet and compensate our engineers accordingly.

Requirements

A degree in mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, or naval architecture, or similar
Extensive experience designing rotating machinery (e.g. pumps, turbines, compressors, turbochargers)
Proficiency in high-end CAD (NX) and PDM (Teamcenter) tools
Experience creating detailed drawings using GD&T and tolerance stack analysis
Skills in dynamic sealing, bearing selection, and turbine blade design
Knowledge of materials and coatings for marine environments
Ability to mentor technicians during prototyping, testing, and fabrication
Strong interpersonal skills to thrive in creative, scrappy, collaborative settings

Responsibilities

Lead the design, development, and integration of the Node's turbogenerator system
Define and own system-level performance requirements and design goals for the turbogenerator
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
Conduct root cause analysis and iterate designs based on test data and failures

Benefits

Work with engineers from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, and leading organizations
Join a public benefit corporation focused on abundant clean energy for everyone
Backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments
Compensated as part of the best engineering team on the planet