Mechatronics Engineer - Technical Lead Underwater Thruster

Startupvalleys; Renens; On-site; CHF 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Hydromea in Renens, Switzerland, is seeking a Mechatronics Engineer - Technical Lead for its DISKDRIVE underwater thruster. You will own motor architecture, sealing, pressure-rated housing, and the overmoulding process, coordinating external consultancies and integrating their work into a manufacturable design.

This hands-on role combines mechanical and electronic design with rigorous testing, from concept through stage gates to volume manufacturing.

Qualifications

• MSc or equivalent in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, or electrical engineering.
• 5+ years in product development with at least one full cycle from concept to production-ready design.
• Experience in mechanical design, prototyping, manufacturing and testing.
• Experience in electric motor design — electromagnetic analysis, winding, thermal management.
• Experience with injection moulding, overmoulding, resin encapsulation, or polymer processing.
• Proficient in 3D design (Fusion360 or equivalent).
• Basic programming (Python, embedded).
• Basic electronics design, assembly and soldering.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical development through formal stage gates.
• Own the mechanical and electromechanical design: BLDC motor architecture, winding specification, magnetic circuit, sealing strategy, pressure-rated housing.
• Improve and qualify vacuum overmoulding/encapsulation for copper coil assembly with external experts.
• Oversee development of coil winding equipment with manufacturers.
• Design and build prototype thrusters, test fixtures, QC jigs, and production test equipment.
• Plan and execute performance, environmental, and endurance test campaigns.

Skills

Mechanical design

Prototyping

Motor design

Injection moulding

Overmoulding

3D CAD

Python

Embedded

Soldering

English fluency

Multitasking

Travel willing

Education

MSc Mechanical Eng

Mechatronics

Tools

Fusion 360

CNC/CAM

OpenFOAM

Job description

Mechatronics Engineer - Technical Lead Underwater Thruster

Hydromea is a Swiss deep-tech company enabling subsea data harvesting at scale through patented underwater robotics, communication, and thruster technologies. We serve the energy, defence, marine science, and industrial sectors. We’re passionate about pushing the boundaries of underwater exploration, ocean discovery and providing our partners with tools for efficient, sustainable operations and critical submerged asset security.

Mechatronics Engineer - Technical Lead Underwater Thruster

One of our core leading and patented technologies is DISKDRIVE™, a rim-driven hubless thruster. The thruster is increasingly used in various industrial and mobility applications, for example for autonomous underwater vehicle propulsion. This position is opened for a technical lead to own the mechanical and electromechanical design from concept through formal stage gates and into volume manufacturing.

You will be the design authority for this product — owning the motor architecture, sealing, pressure-rated housing, overmoulding process, propeller integration, and test campaigns. You will work closely with and coordinate external engineering consultancies (motor design, materials, hydrodynamics, overmoulding process specialists) and integrate their work into a coherent, manufacturable design.

This is an exciting hands‑on engineering role in a fast‑paced scaleup environment with full technical responsibility for a unique underwater motor.

What you will do

• Lead the technical development through formal stage gates
• Own the mechanical and electromechanical design: BLDC motor architecture, winding specification, magnetic circuit, sealing strategy, pressure-rated housing
• Help improve and qualify the 2-step vacuum overmoulding / encapsulation process for the copper coil assembly, working with external process specialists (injection moulding specialists, materials suppliers)
• Specify and oversee the development of custom coil winding equipment in collaboration with equipment manufacturers
• Design and build prototype thrusters, test fixtures, QC jigs, and production test equipment
• Plan and execute test campaigns: performance (thrust, RPM, efficiency, thermal), environmental (hyperbaric pressure to 6,000m, saltwater, temperature cycling), endurance / life cycling
• Coordinate and review work from external engineering consultancies — motor electromagnetic design, subsea material qualification, propeller hydrodynamics, overmoulding process development
• Produce formal design documentation packages at each stage gate: drawings, specifications, test reports, BOM, process documentation
• Support the industrialisation lead with design‑for‑manufacturing input and process documentation transfer to the contract manufacturer
• Engage with customers on technical integration support

Your Qualifications

Required

• MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, or similar
• 5+ years of industry experience in product development, including at least one full cycle from concept through to production‑ready design
• Mechanical design, prototyping, manufacturing, and testing experience
• Experience in electric motor design — electromagnetic analysis, winding specification, thermal management
• Experience with injection moulding, overmoulding, resin encapsulation, or polymer processing
• 3D design proficiency (Fusion360 or equivalent)
• Basic programming skills (Python, embedded)
• Basic electronics design, assembly, and soldering skills
• Fluent English
• Demonstrated "can do" entrepreneurial attitude — perseverance in achieving goals
• Ability to multitask and prioritise in a dynamic environment
• Willingness to travel for tests and deployments

Significant advantage

• Experience with subsea testing — hyperbaric chambers, sealing design, material behaviour in saltwater at depth
• Experience with a full cycle of stage‑gate product development
• Experience managing external engineering consultancies or research partners
• Experience with vacuum potting or 2‑component moulding processes
• CFD experience (OpenFOAM or equivalent)
• CNC / CAM experience
• Experience with rapid prototyping and hand tools

Location

On‑site in Renens, Switzerland. A highly collaborative, build‑fast environment focused on real‑world deployment.

Hydromea

Employees 11–50

Founded 2014

Avenue de Longemalle 9, 1020 Renens VD, Switzerland · Directions