Mechanical Engineer (Maritime)

Location: Fort Pierce, FL, USA. Onsite office, laboratory, vessel integration, outdoor, dockside, and on-water testing; occasional travel and schedule flexibility may be required.

Company

Blue Ops, the maritime division of hirify.global, develops uncrewed surface vessels for defense and national security applications.

What you will do

• Own mechanical design of vessel structures, mechanisms, mounts, enclosures, and equipment packaging from concept through field-ready hardware.
• Create 3D CAD models, assemblies, fabrication and assembly drawings, GD&T documentation, bills of materials, installation instructions, and configuration records.
• Perform hand calculations and FEA for structural loads, stress, deflection, vibration, thermal effects, weight, and center of gravity.
• Fabricate, machine, install, and fit hardware using 3D printing, CNC machining, milling, lathe work, sheet metal, and composites.
• Integrate sensors, communications equipment, onboard computers, wiring, low-voltage power circuits, and data connections onto vessel platforms.
• Develop and execute mechanical tests, troubleshoot failures, verify corrective actions, and support bench testing, dockside checks, sea trials, and customer demonstrations.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical, electrical, systems, or a related engineering discipline.
• 2–3 years of relevant experience in mechanical engineering, hardware testing, robotics, or a comparable engineering role.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to pass a background check and obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense Secret security clearance.
• Practical experience installing and troubleshooting electromechanical equipment.
• Working knowledge of DC power, wiring, and basic control systems.
• Ability to interpret schematics, technical drawings, and equipment documentation.
• Experience using electrical test equipment and documenting troubleshooting findings.
• Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lift and carry equipment weighing up to 50 pounds and work in confined or awkward spaces around vessels, boats, docks, and uneven or wet surfaces.

Nice to have

• Experience with maritime equipment, autonomous vehicles, uncrewed surface vessels, or other field-deployed systems.
• Proficiency in SolidWorks or a comparable 3D CAD package, including assemblies, drawings, and design tables or configurations.
• Experience creating fabrication and assembly drawings with GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and bills of materials.
• Hands-on fabrication experience with 3D printing, mill or lathe work, sheet metal, welding, or composites.
• Experience performing structural, thermal, vibration, or weight analysis using hand calculations and FEA tools.
• Familiarity with marine materials, corrosion protection, sealing, and hardware selection for saltwater environments.
• Experience installing and fitting mechanical hardware on vehicles, vessels, or other field platforms.
• Experience maintaining drawing revisions, configuration records, and supporting repeatable hardware builds.

Culture & Benefits

• Hands-on engineering in a rapid prototyping environment.
• Collaboration with engineering and operations teams, machine shops, equipment suppliers, and experienced engineers.
• Base pay plus an annual equity package and potential bonuses.
• Equal employment opportunity workplace.