Senior Mechanical Engineer

About the role

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

As Arc’s Mechanical Engineer, you will own the design and integration of complex electromechanical systems across the full vehicle lifecycle—from early concept and requirements through prototyping, validation, sea trials, and production. This is a full-time, on-site role at our Los Angeles headquarters reporting to our Manager, Mechanical Systems Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Work across mechanical, electrical, thermal, and manufacturing domains, understanding how assemblies, subsystems, and components interact as part of a larger integrated vehicle.
• Drive execution across suppliers, shipyards, manufacturing partners, and internal cross-functional teams.
• Own the design and integration of complex electromechanical systems across the vehicle lifecycle, from concept through production.
• Drive requirements definition, specifications, CAD design, hands-on prototyping, analysis (FEA, numerical modeling, hand calculations), validation, and production support.
• Design with manufacturability, serviceability, reliability, and real-world operating conditions in mind.
• Build, test, troubleshoot, and iterate on hardware in fast-moving development environments.
• Support sea trials and in-field validation to verify system performance and resolve real-world issues.
• Work closely with component suppliers, partner shipyards, manufacturing teams, and vessel operators to drive execution.
• Travel occasionally (~15%) to support testing, validation, suppliers, and field operations.

Requirements

• 4+ years of experience owning complete mechanical or electromechanical systems from initial design through production.
• Strong fundamentals in structural and thermal engineering.
• Functional knowledge of electrical systems, including high-voltage battery systems and power electronics.
• Experience designing large assemblies or complex multidisciplinary systems.
• Experience with CAD software such as NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks.
• Experience with analysis and modeling tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or FEA packages.
• Strong intuition for manufacturing methods and design-for-manufacturability principles.
• Practical experience designing, building, debugging, and troubleshooting hardware in production or prototype environments.
• Ability to move quickly and make sound engineering decisions in ambiguous environments.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong time management and prioritization skills.
• Comfortable working hands-on in the field, including on boats and at shipyards.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on commercial vessels or marine systems, including familiarity with Coast Guard and ABS regulations.
• Experience with high voltage battery systems.
• Exposure to sheet metal manufacturing, CNC machining, composites, or shop tools.
• Experience with fluid system design including pump sizing, heat exchanger sizing, and hose/pipe routing.
• Experience creating detailed engineering drawings with strong GD&T fundamentals.
• Comfortable pushing at a fast but sustainable pace.
• Enthusiasm for boating, marine systems, and the water.

Pay

The base salary for this role is:

• P3: $150,000 annually
• P4: $180,000 annually

Highly competitive equity grants are included with full-time offers, as well as semi-annual bonuses tied to your impact.

Benefits

• Top-tier 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 crew safety.
• 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.

Values

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.