- Robot type
- Drone · Defense
- Location
- Costa MesaCaliforniaUSA
- Job type
- Hardware
- Posted
- Jun 23, 2026
- Salary
- $166,000–$220,000 a year
Full-time
Senior Propulsion & Hydrodynamics Engineer
Job description
You will own propulsion and hydrodynamic design for a maritime autonomous vehicle. Reporting to the Vehicle Systems Lead, you will lead thruster design and selection, hydrodynamic analysis, fairing optimization, and propulsive efficiency trades that directly determine vehicle range and endurance. Your spectrum of support will be diverse in nature and require you to leverage your technical expertise as well as leadership skills to set objectives, build cross-functional teams, and rapidly drive to completion. The ability to leverage your intuition and prior experience will be key in making sure the right design, analysis, and test steps are completed to ensure success.
Job responsibilities
- Drive propulsion system design including thruster selection, integration, and performance
- Drive hydrodynamic analysis: drag estimation, resistance prediction, and flow characterization
- Drive fairing geometry design and hydrodynamic optimization
- Define propulsion power requirements and coordinate with Energy Systems on power budget
- Lead trade studies balancing speed, endurance, noise, and propulsive efficiency
- Coordinate with thruster and fairing teams
- Support prototype testing including sea trials
- Contribute to design-for-manufacturability reviews
Job requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Naval Architecture, Ocean Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent
- 5+ years of experience in marine propulsion, hydrodynamics, or vehicle performance analysis
- Experience with CFD tools and hydrodynamic modeling
- Familiarity with electric thruster systems or marine propulsion drives
- Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Secret security clearance
- Experience with AUV or UUV propulsion systems
- Working knowledge of propeller or thruster design and optimization
- Experience with propulsion testing