Senior Mechanical Design Engineer - ROVs

Senior Mechanical Engineer - ROV Systems (Houston, TX)

We're partnering with a market leader in subsea robotics to hire a Senior Mechanical Engineer to drive design and qualification of work-class and observation-class ROVs, TMS/LARS, manipulators, and subsea tooling. You'll architect rugged, serviceable hardware for deepwater environments - balancing hydrodynamics, reliability, and manufacturability under extreme pressure and corrosive conditions.

What you'll do

Lead end-to-end mechanical design for ROV frames, buoyancy, thruster/propulsor integration, manipulators, tool skids, compensated hydraulic systems, pressure housings, and wet-mate interfaces.

Perform analysis and testing: structural & fatigue FEA, hydrodynamic drag/lift (CFD), vibration, shock, and thermal; correlate with tank/flow-loop and sea trials.

Engineer pressure-balanced/oil-filled systems, compensators, dynamic/static seals, bearings, and gear trains for deepwater duty (3,000-6,000 m).

Specify materials/coatings for seawater service: super duplex / Ti / 6Al-4V / 6061-T6 / 7075 / PEEK / acetal, ceramics, and elastomers; design for galvanic isolation and cathodic protection.

Own product documentation: BoMs, drawings, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), assembly/test procedures, maintenance manuals.

Define and execute qualification test plans: pressure/vacuum, leak & helium sniff, endurance cycling, IP/ingress, proof/ultimate loads, and DNV/ABS compliance.

What you'll bring

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering (or related).

7-12+ years designing ROVs, subsea tooling, manipulators, TMS/LARS, or pressure-balanced subsea equipment.

Expert in SolidWorks or Inventor, ANSYS/Abaqus, and tolerance stack-ups; hands-on prototyping and test.

Deep knowledge of subsea materials, corrosion/erosion, sealing, hydraulics, and wet-mate connectors.

Familiarity with API 17H/17F (ISO 13628), DNV/ABS class rules, and documentation for certification.

Clear communicator who leads reviews and mentors junior engineers.

Nice to have

Experience with 7-function electric/hydraulic manipulators, quick-disconnect tool changers, and torque tools.

CFD for thruster interaction/hull drag; cavitation assessment.

Design of LARS/TMS structures, winches, sheaves, and fiber-optic/electro-optical umbilicals.

Knowledge of ROS2/real-time controls packaging, leak detection, and subsea camera/lighting enclosures.

Exposure to ATEX/IECEx for topside gear; additive manufacturing for spares and complex geometries.

Why join

Empowered, practical engineering culture; strong prototype/test budgets.

Competitive base + bonus, excellent benefits, and a growth path to Lead/Principal Engineer or Team Leader

Relocation to Houston available for standout candidates.

Location & work setup

Houston, TX (onsite hybrid).

Eligibility

US work authorization required - No Sponsorship Avaliable

Apply / Refer

Apply now. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a confidential discussion.