Senior Mechanical Engineer

Company Description

Bulwark Dynamics is rebuilding America's maritime superiority by solving the DoD's most critical vulnerability in the Pacific: contested logistics. We build autonomous landing craft at an unprecedented pace—our first 1\.5 ton prototype went from sketch to successful ocean testing in just 43 days. Our work sits at the intersection of robotics, autonomy, and advanced manufacturing. We move fast, we build in the real world, and we only hire engineers who are deeply hands-on.

Role Description

This is a full-time, hybrid role in the Bay Area, CA for a Mid to Senior Level Mechanical Engineer specializing in vehicle assembly, load dynamics, fabrication, and actuation. This role begins ASAP and is structured around a critical, high-stakes build sprint running through November with the expectation to transition into a permanent core team role.

You will report directly to our CTO (former NASA Chief Engineer).You will not be designing hull hydrodynamics; instead, you will have complete ownership over structural assemblies, actuation mechanisms, and the integration of electro-mechanical subsystems to bring our next 15-foot and 50-foot prototype to life. This is for someone who thrives in early-stage, hardware-heavy environments (e.g., aerospace, race cars, autonomous vehicles).

Compensation \& Benefits

• Base Salary

: $125,000 - $165,000 USD (Depending on experience)

• Equity

: Significant early-stage stock options

• Perks

: Healthcare, dental, vision, and the autonomy to build hardware without corporate red tape.

What You Will Do (Responsibilities)

Design and fabricate structural components, mounting brackets, and mechanical assemblies for a 15-ft prototype vessel

• Clearance / Citizenship

: Due to defense contract requirements and ITAR compliance, you must be a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident (Green Card holder).

• End-to-End Ownership:

Design, fabricate, and fully own structural components, mechanical assemblies, and vehicle dynamics/actuation subsystems for our 15-ft prototype.

• Rapid CAD-to-Reality:

Use SolidWorks for detailed manufacturing designs, source materials, conduct fit checks, and iterate relentlessly based on structural testing.

• Hands-on Fabrication:

Perform machining, metalwork, and rapid prototyping. You won't just design—you will physically build what you design.

• Field Deployment:

Integrate subsystems with cross-functional teams, troubleshoot on the fly, and operate as a core maritime crew member during rugged ocean deployments.

Qualifications

• Core Experience:

BS in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent hands-on equivalent) with 3\+ years of experience in vehicle dynamics, robotics, UAVs, or high-performance mechanical systems (e.g., FSAE).

• Design \& Engineering:

Uncompromising proficiency in SolidWorks. Strong practical intuition for GD\&T, DFM, and structural analysis.

• Fabrication Mastery:

Extensive hands-on experience with machining and prototype assembly. (R\&D experience with composites, hydraulic actuators, or marine/off-road structures is a massive plus).

• Execution:

Proven ability to manage multiple rapid deadlines independently and own early-stage hardware from sketch to functional deployment.

Preferred:

• R\&D Experience with vehicles
• Experience building early-stage hardware prototypes
• Ownership of projects from start to finish
• Hydraulic actuator experience
• Experience with vessel operation
• Composite design and fabrication knowledge
• Operational Experience - working with deployed vehicles
• Knowledge of marine or off-road vehicle structural systems
• Familiarity with GD\&T, DFM, and structural analysis

What We're Looking For

• Relentlessly Hands-On:

You do not just manage builds; you are actively on the shop floor cutting, drilling, welding, performing composite layups, and assembling hardware.

• End-to-End Execution \& Velocity:

You design elegantly, build with ruthless speed, and take absolute ownership of your work from the initial CAD model to the final physical product.

• Hardware Obsession:

You have a deep, proven passion for engineering and working on complex vehicular systems.

• Concept-to-Reality Engineering:

You excel at taking ambiguous, high-level ideas and translating them into robust, functional physical assemblies using first-principles thinking.

• Mission-Driven Adaptability:

You thrive in the high-velocity, high-stakes environment of an early-stage defense startup and are driven by the desire to build critical technology that matters.