CAD Designer

Panthalassa; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Flexible paid time off

Equity in the company

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Panthalassa, located in Portland, Oregon, is seeking a talented CAD Designer to bridge the gap between initial structural concepts and production-ready designs. This pivotal role involves developing 3D CAD models and overseeing technical documentation for our core technology, the 'Node', which generates renewable energy.

Your expertise in Siemens NX will ensure high-quality outputs, while collaboration with cross-functional teams optimizes designs for manufacturability. We are committed to creating a sustainable future and need your skills to help us achieve this.

Qualifications

• Experience in 3D CAD modeling and drafting in a complex industry.
• Strong attention to detail in technical documentation.
• Collaborative mindset suited for a startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain expert-level 3D CAD models and assemblies.
• Create fabrication and assembly drawings ensuring clarity and accuracy.
• Integrate design data within Siemens Teamcenter PLM for manufacturing.

Skills

3D CAD modeling

Technical documentation

Attention to detail

Collaboration

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

Education

Associates or Bachelor’s Degree

5+ years CAD experience

Tools

Siemens NX

Teamcenter PLM

Job description

Panthalassa is a renewable energy and ocean technology company operating as a public benefit corporation. We are committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

About the Role

We are seeking a CAD Designer to bridge the gap between initial structural concepts and production-ready engineering releases. In this role, you will focus heavily on CAD execution, assembly management, and technical documentation for our core technology, the “Node”—a device designed to generate energy and survive for decades in the world's harshest offshore environments.

You will own the “last-mile” engineering definition that turns structural concepts into NX models, drawings, and releases that the shop can build without guessing. You’ll work at the intersection of design, analysis, and fabrication—making clean assemblies, clear drawings, and a PLM structure that matches how we actually build and service hardware.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Stoke, Boeing, Virgin Orbit, Virgin Galactic, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries.

We are backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments. We strive to be the best engineering team on the planet. If you are an excellent engineer and technical leader, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• NX Modeling & Assembly: Develop and maintain expert-level 3D CAD component models and large-scale mechanical assemblies within Siemens NX.
• Drawing & Detailing: Lead the creation of complex fabrication and assembly drawings, ensuring absolute clarity, accuracy, and technical rigor.
• Structural Documentation: Personally own the detailed documentation and drafting for large-scale, safety-critical welded steel structures and subassemblies.
• PLM & Lifecycle Management: Integrate all design data tightly within Siemens Teamcenter PLM to support manufacturing accuracy and streamlined engineering release processes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with structural analysts, manufacturing teams, and shop floor technicians to optimize designs for manufacturability and marine service.
• Release Ownership: Drive clean engineering releases (ECR/ECO or equivalent), maintain configuration discipline, and keep definition aligned with what’s being built.
• Standards & Libraries: Help establish and maintain drawing/modeling standards, templates, and common details so the next release is faster and more consistent than the last.

Required Qualifications

• Education/Experience: Associates Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, or 5+ years relevant professional CAD experience in a similarly complex industry
• CAD Expertise: Strong professional experience in 3D CAD modeling and drafting
• Technical Standards: Knowledge of relevant engineering standards such as ASME Y14.100.
• Structural Experience: Proven track record in the design detailing and documentation of metallic structures, load paths, and large-scale welded assemblies.
• Professional Mindset: High attention to detail with a meticulous approach to technical documentation, alongside the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative startup environment.

Desired Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Naval Architecture, or a related technical field.
• Extensive CAD experience on Siemens NX and Teamcenter PLM.
• Ability to apply understanding of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and tolerance stack‑up analysis to ensure components are practical and buildable.
• Familiarity with marine/offshore engineering fundamentals or corrosion‑conscious detailing for seawater service.
• Exposure to relevant industrial codes and standards (e.g., AWS D1.1, DNV, ABS, or ASME BPVC).
• Experience releasing welded fabrication packages that include weld symbols, inspection callouts, and clear acceptance criteria.
• Experience partnering directly with fab shops (internal or external) and iterating drawings based on build feedback.

Compensation and Benefits

• Cash compensation of $90,000 – $140,000.
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
  • Flexible paid time off
  • Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold level PPO plan for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Dental insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees and 100% for their partners and dependents)
  • Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
  • Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long term financial support if you become disabled)
  • Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FS
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

Our offices, lab and shop, are located in Portland, Oregon.