Mechanical Engineer (Commercial Systems)
What we’re building
Our vision is to electrify all waterborne vessels, and we're expanding on our success in the recreational market with commercial harborcraft.
Gas boats dominate today’s marine industry not because of great product offerings but because of a lack of better alternatives. Boaters have grown accustomed to vehicles that feel stuck in the 1980s: unreliable, expensive, loud, noxious, and a nightmare to own and operate. They’re also awful for the water and air they reside in.
By contrast, electric boats are superior in nearly every way: not only are they far more reliable and less costly to operate, but they’re also quieter, quicker, and cleaner, with no fumes or pollutants. However, they’ve been held back by both the technology and the talent to make them truly competitive with gas alternatives. That’s Arc’s opportunity.
Using modern, aerospace- and automotive-inspired techniques, we’re building our hulls, batteries, cooling systems, firmware, and software together to deliver the next generation of watercraft.
Who we’re looking for
We’re looking for someone that is excited by our vision and eager for a challenge,. We pride ourselves on transparency and operate in a lean, high-trust environment that encourages everyone to take ownership over their domain.
As a Mechanical Engineer on our Vehicle Systems, you will be working full-time in our Torrance office on the Commercial Systems team reporting to our head of commercial hardware and working on designing new electric and hybrid propulsion systems to make port operations cheaper, quieter, and less emissive.
Core responsibilities
- Owning the design and integration of mechanical, thermal, and fluid systems on the vehicle
- A dynamic split between requirements gathering, specifications, CAD design, hands on prototyping, analysis (FEA, numerical modeling, hand calculations), in-field validation, and production support
- Getting hands on with building and testing
- Supporting sea trials to validate and certify systems
- Interfacing with component suppliers, partner shipyards, and vessel operators
- Traveling occasionally (5-10% of the time)
Basic qualifications
- 3+ years of experience that includes owning complete mechanical systems from initial design through production and is ready to take full ownership of key systems.
- Excellent grasp of the fundamentals of Mechanical, Thermal, and Fluids Engineering
- Functional knowledge of electrical systems, including high voltage battery systems and power electronics
- Experience with CAD software packages such as NX
- Experience with modeling software such as Matlab and Simulink
- We expect strong intuition for manufacturing methods, e.g. if you’re handed a part, you know how it was likely made
- Practical experience designing, building, and troubleshooting hardware in production environments
- Clear written and verbal communication
- Strong time management skills
- Comfortable pushing at a fast but sustainable pace
- Comfortable spending time on boats in the field to collect test data
- We value engineers who take full ownership, apply first-principles thinking, and prioritize technical problems effectively for the most business value
Bonus qualifications
- Firsthand experience working on commercial vessels, including knowledge of Coast Guard and ABS regulations
- Experience with high voltage battery systems
- Exposure to sheet metal manufacturing, CNC machining, and shop tools
- Experience with fluid system designs including pump sizing, heat exchanger sizing, and hose/pipe routing
- Experience creating and detailing engineering drawings, with a solid understanding of GD&T
At Arc, we encourage diversity and consider all qualified applicants equally for employment, regardless of background, identity, or status. You’re always welcome to reach out even if you don’t meet many of these qualifications. Passion and aptitude make up for a lot.
Our values
We move with urgency and build with care. We value these five things above all else:
- Ownership over both your work and the company’s success
- Empathy for colleagues and for customers
- Humility in problem solving and collaboration
- Pragmatism for navigating ambiguity quickly and sensibly
- Inclusion of different backgrounds, opinions, cultures, and perspectives.
We want people who share and embody these values. It is vital that our values align - we’d be happy to elaborate on any or all of these during the interview process.
What we offer
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We don’t think great work happens by accident. We invest in the people building Arc — because when you’re supported, you do your best work.
- Base salary: P3: $150,000 P4:$180,000 per year
- Ownership – Equity in Arc
- 99% employer-paid health coverage – Medical, dental, and vision
- Arc Water Fund – Annual stipend to get out on the water, however you choose
- Captain Training – Get certified to take the boat out with friends and family
- 401(k) access – Plan your future
- Semi-annual bonuses – Tied to your impact, not just your tenure
- Daily team lunches, snacks, and good coffee while onsite
- Parental leave – Because family comes first
- Boat days – Yes, we actually go out on the water. A lot.
- A chance to define the future of boating
Hope to hear from you soon!
The Crew at Arc