Mechanical Engineer

Lobster Robotics; Den Haag; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Room to grow

Harbour Scheveningen office

30 vacation days

Market-conforming salary

Job summary

Lobster Robotics is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to own subsystem design and production for deep-sea autonomous vehicles. You will lead mechanical architecture from concept through CAD, prototyping, supplier management, and production deployment, collaborating closely with electrical and software teams.

You will prototype, validate in water, and document decisions while ensuring manufacturing handover and CE considerations are met.

Qualifications

• Experience owning mechanical design from concept to production.
• Strong CAD organization and prototyping experience.
• Collaboration with electrical/software teams for integration.

Responsibilities

• End-to-end mechanical design of pressure housings and propulsion integrations.
• Prototyping, field validation, and testing under pressure.
• Lead CAD workflow, part/assembly hierarchies, drawings.

Skills

CAD skills

Portfolio of hardware

End-to-end design

Education

WO level in Mechanical (or related)

Tools

SolidWorks

Onshape

Job description

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineer who will take over the full ownership of our subsystem design and production. In this role, you will lead mechanical architecture from early concepts through CAD, prototyping, supplier management, and production deployment.

You will work in tight collaboration with our electrical and software teams to integrate complex payloads into harsh, deep-sea operations. If you like hands‑on prototyping, rigorous CAD organization, and seeing your mechanical designs perform on and under the water, this role is for you.

About us

Lobster Robotics engineers autonomous underwater vehicles for precision seabed mapping. Our technology delivers millimetre-scale data for offshore energy and security of critical underwater infrastructure. In the past year, we expanded to 16 people and shifted from prototype to operational deployment. We combine research depth with field pragmatism & building systems that work in the real world. Backed by strong traction from the Dutch Navy and increasing involvement in NATO trials, we’re entering a phase of rapid scaling. We are looking for passionate team members who can independently shape and deliver the next generation of underwater perception and mapping technology.

At Lobster Robotics, we really care about making a positive impact. Instead of using big, fuel-guzzling vessels, our autonomous tech helps cut down a ton of CO2 every time we map a spot. Plus, the seabed maps we create help scientists and decision-makers protect and restore nature better. Our robots also keep an eye on important underwater infrastructure, like cables for offshore wind farms, making sure everything stays safe from any threats. When you join Lobster, you’re part of all that good stuff.

Who we are looking for

You’re an experienced mechanical engineer who can own the whole process : from high‑level requirements through concept and detailed design, hands‑on prototyping and testing, supplier management, and documentation, all the way to a finished system.

What you bring:

• A solid engineering foundation (WO level or equivalent in Mechanical, Ocean, Aerospace, or a related field)
• Expert‑level CAD skills in SolidWorks or Onshape
• A proven track record to show in a portfolio of getting reliable hardware into the real world

As a bonus you would bring these extras:

• Small Boat License (Vaarbewijs 1 / 2) or maritime/sailing experience.
• Structural & Pressure FEA experience.
• Additive manufacturing techniques for specialized end‑use parts.
• Practical CNC machining or manual shop training.
• Experience bringing hardware through CE certification.

Team values

For us, three things are super important: being clear, thinking outside the box, and staying safe. If something doesn’t work out, no worries, just be open about it, figure out a new way to solve it, and always keep safety front and center. If you roll with those values, you’ll fit right in in the team.

What you will be doing

We are looking for someone who can take full responsibility for our subsystem design and production. This person will work in close collaboration with the electrical team on integration. The main focus areas will be:

• End‑to‑End Mechanical Design: Design reliable pressure housings, end caps, PCB internal mounts, structural framing, and propulsion integrations for deep‑water use.
• Prototyping & Field Validation: Take designs off the screen into the workshop and onto the water. Build, assemble, and prototype subsystems to validate mechanical functionality under pressure.
• CAD Leadership & Workflow: Take total ownership of the CAD environment. Set guidelines for part/assembly hierarchies, drawing standards, and folder structures to scale engineering efficiency across the company.
• Supply Chain & Manufacturing Management: Work directly with suppliers to oversee procurement, manage delivery timelines, enforce specs, and ensure manufacturing quality.
• Multidisciplinary Sensor Integration: Collaborate with electrical engineers to experiment with, mount, and validate optical, acoustic, and environmental payload sensors.
• Documentation & Process: Document design decisions clearly, create assembly manuals, and partner with production to streamline manufacturing handover.

About the team you will be joining

You will be joining a small R&D team and we like to describe ourselves as passionate hard workers with an interest in complex technology and exploring the unknown underwater.

What really makes working at Lobster rewarding, is how fast you see the results of your work. Since we’re a small team, it is possible that an improvement is designed the same day and tested out in the water the next week. It’s all about moving fast and making a real impact.

Safety and responsibility is something we take very seriously.

What we offer

• Varied, challenging work with a lot of personal responsibility
• Room to explore what you enjoy and grow in that direction
• A comfortable workplace in an inspiring environment in the harbour of Scheveningen
• A warm and welcoming team and an open culture
• A market‑conforming salary and 30 vacation days

PS

If you're not sure if you meet all the qualifications, go ahead and apply anyway. We care more about your potential than checking every box.