Staff Mechanical Engineer, Powertrain Engineering

What we're building

The marine industry supports recreation, global commerce, and national defense. And yet it runs on technology that hasn't meaningfully changed in fifty years. Until now.

Arc is on a mission to electrify the marine industry. We're rethinking powertrains, software, and vessel designs from first principles. And we're already executing. We started with consumers to develop and harden our core technology. We're now scaling production of our flagship model with new models and sectors on the horizon. Now we're extending our platform to commercial applications, starting with tugs, ferries, and defense, with years' worth of signed contracts and a pipeline that spans every vessel type on the water.

The technology is proven, the momentum is building, and the opportunity is enormous. The marine industry is going electric, and Arc is building the platform that powers it.

Who we're looking for

As a Staff Mechanical Engineer at Arc, you will lead the design and integration of complex electromechanical systems across the full vessel lifecycle, from early concept and requirements through prototyping, validation, sea trials, and production. You’ll own the high-voltage power distribution architecture for our largest vessels, such as our e-tug, and set the technical direction for the engineers who build it.

This is a full-time, on-site role at our Los Angeles headquarters, reporting to our Manager, Powertrain Hardware Engineering.

What you'll do

• Leading development of complex electromechanical systems across multiple vessel programs, from concept through production

• Owning the high-voltage, high-power distribution architecture across mechanical, electrical, thermal, and manufacturing domains

• Directing electromechanical packaging for high-voltage assemblies, such as DC-to-AC power conversion cabinets and AC distribution systems, built for manufacturability, serviceability, and the marine environment

• Establishing methods and standards for busbar design, system thermal sizing, static and shock/vibration analysis, and harness and fluid system routing

• Driving requirements and technical scope, identifying blockers early, and making the key design decisions and trade-offs

• Mentoring engineers across levels through design reviews and hands-on technical guidance

• Leading technical engagement with component suppliers, partner shipyards, manufacturing teams, and vessel operators

• Leading sea trials and in-field validation to verify system performance and resolve complex real-world issues

• Traveling occasionally (~15%) to support testing, validation, suppliers, and field operations

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field

• 8+ years of experience owning complete mechanical or electromechanical systems, including technical leadership of complex multidisciplinary systems from initial design through production

• Strong working knowledge of high-voltage electrical systems, including power electronics and HV enclosure and busbar design

• Expert fundamentals in structural and thermal engineering

• Experience with CAD software such as NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks

• Experience with analysis and modeling tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or FEA packages

• Deep expertise in manufacturing methods and design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles

• Practical experience designing, building, debugging, and troubleshooting hardware in production or prototype environments

• Sound judgment making high-impact engineering decisions in ambiguous environments

• Clear written and verbal communication, including presenting trade-offs to leadership and cross-functional partners

• Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and raising technical standards across a team

• Comfortable working hands-on in the field, including on boats and at shipyards

Bonus qualifications

• Experience working on commercial vessels or marine systems, including familiarity with Coast Guard and ABS regulations

• Experience with fluid system design, including pump sizing, heat exchanger sizing, and hose/pipe routing

• Experience with high-voltage battery, power conversion, or power distribution system integration

• Exposure to sheet metal manufacturing, CNC machining, composites, or shop tools

• Experience creating detailed engineering drawings with strong GD&T fundamentals

• Experience with NX and Teamcenter

• Comfortable pushing at a fast but sustainable pace

• Enthusiasm for boating, marine systems, and the water

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 all of these qualifications. Passion and aptitude make up for a lot.

What we offer

The base salary for this role is P4: $185,000 annually.

Highly competitive equity grants are included with full time offers. As well as semi-annual bonuses tied to your impact, not just your tenure.Additionally, Arc offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:

• Healthcare benefits — 99% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision

• Parental leave — 14 weeks fully paid for birthing and non-birthing parents

• Generous time off — Highly competitive PTO with an opportunity to earn more time with tenure

• Income protection — Life and disability insurance for all employees

• Retirement savings — Traditional and Roth 401(k) access

• Water fund — $500 for you to spend each year to get out on the water, however you choose

• Professional development — $500 annual reimbursement for professional development and a monthly AI stipend

• Safety Support — Annual reimbursement for PPE, ergonomic equipment and anything that ensures we keep our crew safe

• Captain training — Training and access to take Arcboats out with friends and family

• Office perks — Daily lunches, snacks, and good coffee while onsite

• Relocation assistance — Available depending on role eligibility.

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.