Mechanical Engineer (OSL Research Engineer) at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Onsite – Woods Hole, MA

Job description

• Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is searching for a highly motivated and enthusiastic Mechanical Engineer to join the Oceanographic Systems Lab (OSL) within the Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering Department (AOPE). This is a regular full-time, exempt positions, eligible for full benefits.
• (OSL) is a world leader in Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) technology and operations in many complex oceanographic environments. Military and scientific applications of AUVs are supported by OSL including biologic and physical surveys, mapping, under-ice operations, environmental anomaly detection, filming megafauna. OSL works with REMUS AUVs developed at WHOI, and equipment designed elsewhere, expanding capabilities of the AUVs and the sensors they supply. The OSL team operates in a creative and exciting workspace from creation of ideas to deployment in the field.
• The Mechanical Engineer will perform a wide range of design and fabrication tasks related to AUVs and their subsystems.
• The position will include both mechanical and systems engineering, with a focus on analysis of AUV dynamics and system interfaces, detailed design of mechanical systems, and integration of multiple electrical subsystems, sensors and power sources.
• This position includes participation in and leadership of at-sea operations of AUVs in support of multiple programs. The successful candidate with have proven leadership skills necessary to coordinate the activities of a team of technicians and engineers through a design project or field cruise.
• Excellent writing and communication skills are required for team collaboration, publishing reports and papers, and writing proposals. Members of this team all spend time both in the office/lab and in the field.
• Field operations occur locally and at remote sites to support science, exploration, disaster response, and military research and development.
• Previous missions have included oil spill response, locating black boxes and airplanes, locating shipwrecks, mapping unexplored parts of the ocean, mapping physical and biological phenomena and studying sharks and sea turtles.
• Past project sponsors include NSF, NOAA, Office of Naval Research, DARPA, BSEE, Discovery Channel, NAVOCEANO, NUWC, foreign governments, philanthropic organizations, and corporations.
• The internal working title for this position would be Research Engineer. The final level of the position will be determined commensurate with the selected candidate’s level of education and experience

Responsibilities

• Develops major portions of electronic or mechanical systems with supervision consisting primarily of milestone progress reviews; frequently acts as Project Engineer on major projects;
• Conducts hardware developments such as new sensor techniques, autonomous battery-powered instrumentation, control systems for manned and robotic submersibles, etc.;
• Writes complex computer code for use in instrumentation, system modeling, and electronic design;
• Develops new sampling methods involving complex mechanical, electrical, or electronic instrumentation;
• Plays a significant role in report writing and proposal preparation and may single-author results;
• Interacts with scientific and technical staff colleagues to foster research ideas, develop and hone research/experimental skills;
• Use solid modeling tools such as Solidworks to design mechanical components including pressure housings, chassis parts, instrument cages, underwater vehicle assemblies and related items from a variety of different materials.
• Experience using finite element modeling, computational fluid dynamics modeling and other modeling tools to create and optimize design solutions.
• Prepare designs for fabrication and work with suppliers, machine shops and finishing houses to create complete products.
• Integrate mechanical and electrical systems, incrementally test and document results.
• Prepare test plans and procedures.
• Prepare systems for laboratory and dockside testing.
• Support operation and use of systems at sea and in the ice environments during cruises and field work (cruise time can vary from one to six weeks).
• Experience using PDM tools for tracking bills of materials and building complex systems such as AUVs.
• Contribute new ideas to the development of AUV systems and their applications.
• Cost estimation for complex engineering systems.
• Support and/or lead proposal efforts.
• May supervise one or more Engineering Assistants and/or Engineers.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in related engineering field, or Master's degree in an engineering or appropriate field with several years of related experience, or Bachelor's degree in an engineering or appropriate field with more than five years of related experience. In the absence of a formal degree, considerable equivalent work experience is required. Successful candidates will have demonstrated the technical skill, motivation, independence, and creativity necessary to complete difficult engineering tasks.
• While there is no appropriate time limit for appointment at this rank, exceptional individuals will be promoted. Candidates should develop a mastery of specialized techniques or ingenuity and creativity in selecting and evaluating approaches to problems. They should develop the ability to apply an analytical approach to solutions and to assimilate the details and significance of various analyses, procedures, and tests prior to being considered for promotion.
• TWIC
• Must be a US Citizen
• Security Clearance
• Person drives WHOI vehicle

Skills

Required

• Solidworks
• Finite element modeling
• Computational fluid dynamics modeling
• PDM tools
• Complex computer code writing
• Mechanical design
• Systems engineering
• Leadership skills
• Proposal writing
• Cost estimation

Benefits

• The salary range provided for this position reflects the expected minimum and maximum base pay for new hires. Actual level placement and compensation will be determined based on factors such as relevant skills, experience, and qualifications, as well as internal equity and market conditions. In addition to base salary, eligible employees also receive a comprehensive benefits package.