Prototype Technician, Rotating Machinery

Portland, OR

The open ocean is Earth’s largest and most power-dense renewable energy resource. Panthalassa is harnessing that resource to generate the cheapest energy on the planet. Our mission is to provide abundant and affordable clean energy for everyone.

Founded in 2016 and based in the Pacific Northwest, our team comes from diverse backgrounds in aerospace, naval architecture, marine operations, hardware, software, and research.

Our core technology is the Node, a device that produces energy in the ocean’s harshest conditions for years at a time without human maintenance or intervention. The Node's turbo-generator system is the critical component which includes all components from the fluid interface through to encompassing electromechanical energy conversion, dynamic sealing, structural integration, and control interfaces.

As the Technician – Turbines & Generators, you will support the manufacturing, machining, assembly, and integration of hydro turbines and generators. This is a roll-up-your-sleeves role in which you ll prototype, build, and troubleshoot alongside world-class engineers.

This role sits at the intersection of precision machining, electromechanical assembly, and innovative fixture design, supporting prototype builds as well as low-volume production. You will work closely with generators, fluid dynamics, mechanical engineers and highly skilled electrical technicians to translate designs into robust, manufacturable hardware, ultimately ending in its deployment in the Node at sea.

Candidates should have strong interpersonal skills and thrive in a creative, scrappy, and collaborative environment in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis. If you are an excellent technician, regardless of your background, we want you to apply.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as Space

X, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries. We are organized as a public benefit corporation and are backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments.

We strive to be the best engineering team on the planet, and we compensate our engineers accordingly.

• Assemble hydro turbine components such as rotors, stators, shafts, bearings, seals, and housings with high dimensional accuracy
• Assemble the generator components viz. Rotor-shaft assembly and balancing support, Magnet handling, placement and bonding, stator insertion, alignment and mechanical fastening
• Work on stator-housing integration, stator – rotor integration, turbine-generator integration etc.
• Execute precise stator-rotor airgap alignment and verification
• Support trial builds, teardowns, re-assembly and design iterations
• Perform conventional machining operations viz. lathe, milling, drilling, grinding as needed
• Interpret and work from detailed manufacturing drawings and CAD models
• Collaborate with design engineers to suggest manufacturability improvements
• Design, fabricate, and validate custom assembly fixtures, jigs, and alignment tools
• Develop innovative fixture solutions for Magnet assembly, stator handling and insertion, parts integration, Turbine and generator alignment etc.
• Come up with the CAD models and drawings for the necessary fixtures and assemblies
• Utilize 3D printing for rapid prototyping of fixtures and mock-ups
• Ensure compliance with tolerance stack-ups during assembly
• Document assembly procedures, inspection reports, and deviations
• Provide feedback on assembly challenges, tolerance feasibility and fixture effectiveness
• Support prototype iteration cycles and root-cause analysis
• Contribute ideas to improve build repeatability, safety, and efficiency

• Diploma / Associate degree in mechanical engineering, Tool & Die, Electromechanics, Manufacturing technology
• Experience in turbo-machinery, motors, generators or rotating equipment prototype build and assembly
• Strong hands-on experience with…