This role is ideal for someone who loves building real hardware and has hands-on experience working on vehicles, boats, drones, robots, racing platforms, EVs, custom fabrication projects, or other complex mechanical systems.
You'll work closely with engineers to fabricate components, install subsystems, support water testing, troubleshoot issues, and rapidly iterate on prototype designs. The ideal candidate is a hands-on builder with strong shop skills, excellent reliability, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced hardware startup environment.
What You'll Do
- Assemble, integrate, and modify mechanical and structural systems on autonomous vessels.
- Support active prototype builds, subsystem installation, and vessel outfitting.
- Fabricate, modify, and repair components using hand tools, power tools, and common fabrication equipment.
- Perform fiberglass repair, composite work, and structural modifications as needed.
- Read and work from sketches, engineering drawings, CAD exports, build plans, and technical instructions.
- Support water testing, sea trials, and field operations.
- Troubleshoot mechanical and structural issues identified during assembly and testing, then implement rapid fixes and improvements.
- Maintain accurate build documentation and communicate progress to engineering teams.
- Support vessel preparation for testing, transportation, and deployment activities.
- Maintain a safe, organized, and efficient workshop environment.
Required Qualifications
- Demonstrated hands-on experience building, modifying, repairing, or maintaining complex physical systems.
- Experience working on vehicles, boats, drones, robotics platforms, industrial equipment, race vehicles, aircraft, or similar hardware.
- Comfortable using hand tools, power tools, fabrication tools, and common shop equipment.
- Ability to read and interpret drawings, sketches, prints, and technical documentation.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality workmanship.
- Reliable, self-motivated, and able to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong documentation and communication skills.
- Able to lift 40–60 pounds regularly.
- Comfortable working outdoors and supporting field testing activities.
- Willingness to travel occasionally to support sea trials and operational testing.
Preferred Qualifications
- Marine or shipbuilding experience.
- Experience supporting prototype hardware development programs.
- Startup, R&D laboratory, rapid prototyping, or hardware development experience.
- MIG/TIG welding experience.
- Manual machining experience with mills, lathes, drill presses, or grinders.
- Electrical wiring, soldering, cable routing, or crimping experience.
- Background in aerospace, motorsports, EVs, robotics, UAVs, defense hardware, industrial fabrication, or custom vehicle builds.
Ideal Candidate
- You've personally built, raced, restored, repaired, modified, or maintained vehicles, boats, drones, robots, or other complex hardware systems.
- You enjoy working with your hands and solving practical engineering problems.
- You have a strong builder mentality and take pride in creating real-world hardware.
- You're comfortable jumping between fabrication, assembly, testing, troubleshooting, and repair work.
- You're known for reliability, ownership, and getting things done.
- You thrive in fast-moving environments where speed, adaptability, and resourcefulness matter.
- You enjoy the cycle of build, test, fix, improve, and repeat.