---
title: 'Senior Mechanical Engineer at Sofar Ocean'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-d3rsdc2n3t52'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-09-06'
---

# Senior Mechanical Engineer at Sofar Ocean

- **Company:** Sofar Ocean
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Posted:** 2026-08-20
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-06
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/sofarocean/01969489-4bfd-450d-ade0-adf95ddbbf0a

## Job description

## THE ROLE

As a Mechanical Engineer at Sofar, you’ll be a key contributor to the design, development, and manufacturing of the hardware that powers our ocean sensing networks. You’ll work across the full product lifecycle—from early system architecture and prototyping through testing, deployment, and transition to manufacturing.

You’ll own mechanical designs and make thoughtful tradeoffs across performance, reliability, manufacturability, cost, and schedule. You’ll work closely with electrical, firmware, software, and manufacturing engineers to solve challenging multidisciplinary problems, and you won’t hesitate to jump in when the root cause isn’t obviously mechanical.

## RESPONSIBILITIES

- Own mechanical designs and subassemblies from early concepts and CAD through prototyping, validation, and production.
- Design reliable hardware for harsh marine environments, balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, and schedule.
- Build, test, and debug prototypes and production hardware, using testing and failure analysis to drive design improvements.
- Lead mechanical design reviews and collaborate closely with electrical, firmware, software, and manufacturing engineers on integrated systems.
- Work directly with suppliers, machine shops, vendors, and contract manufacturers to develop and scale parts and assemblies.
- Collaborate across Sofar, and occasionally directly with customers, to develop new marine sensing applications and participate in field testing and ocean deployments.

## MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

- 5+ years of professional mechanical engineering experience designing hardware for marine, robotics, aerospace, automotive, or other demanding environments.
- Strong proficiency in 3D CAD (Onshape or SolidWorks preferred) and experience owning mechanical designs from concept through production.
- Strong mechanical fundamentals, including materials and process selection, structural analysis, fatigue, tolerancing, GD&T, and engineering drawings.
- Experience building, testing, debugging, and iterating on physical hardware
- Strong engineering judgment and the ability to work effectively with team members from different fields such as electrical, firmware, manufacturing, and external vendors.

## BONUS POINTS

- Experience designing hardware for marine or subsea environments, including sealing, corrosion, and long-duration environmental exposure.
- Experience with FEA and designing for static, cyclic, impact, or thermal loads.
- Experience with sensor integration into larger systems
- Hands-on machining or fabrication experience.
- Previous start-up experience
- A passion for or connection to the ocean

## ESTIMATED SALARY RANGE

- $135,000 - $170,000
- The range listed is what we reasonably expect to pay for this role at the time of this posting. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and may be modified in the future. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, experience, and equity package.

OUR APPROACH TO AI IN THE HIRING PROCESS:

At Sofar, we use AI tools in our day-to-day work, and we don't expect our hiring process to be any different. Here's how we think about it:

Applying: Write your own first draft — we want to hear your voice and understand your real experience. AI is fine for refining and polishing, not for generating your story.

Take-home assessments: Complete these on your own unless we've explicitly said otherwise. We'll always be upfront about it when AI is allowed.

Interview prep: Go for it. Use AI to research Sofar, practice your responses, and sharpen your thinking before we meet.

During interviews: This is you. We're a small team and we move fast — live conversations are how we get to know you, and we're genuinely curious how you think in real time.

A note on transparency: We're a lean People team, and we use AI to help with things like drafting job descriptions, preparing interview questions, and candidate communications. We don't use it to make hiring decisions — those are always ours.

The through line: use AI to show more of yourself, not less :)

Visa sponsorship: We do sponsor visas and retain an immigration lawyer to support the process. While we can't guarantee sponsorship for every role or situation, if we make you an offer, we'll make every reasonable effort to make it work.

A note on applying: We mean it when we say we want the strongest people — not the most credentialed ones. If you're excited about this work but don't check every box, please apply anyway. Research consistently shows that underrepresented candidates are more likely to self-select out, and that's a loss for everyone. Sofar operates at the intersection of ocean science, climate, and technology — the problems we're solving are consequential, and the perspectives we bring to them matter. We're actively working to build a team that reflects that.

## About Sofar Ocean

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Sofar Ocean is an ocean intelligence platform that connects the world’s oceans to power a more sustainable future by deploying a global sensor network to provide real-time marine weather data and voyage optimization for shipping, research, and defense.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series B-III)
- **Headquarters**: San Francisco, California, United States
- **Founded**: 2016
- **Founders**: Tim Janssen, PhD (Co-Founder & CEO)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Marine Technology, Ocean Intelligence, Data Analytics, Maritime Shipping, Climate Tech
- **Target customers**: B2B — shipping companies, commercial operators, charterers, vessel performance managers, governments (NOAA, U.S. Navy), researchers, and defense organizations
- **Mission or purpose statement**: "To connect the world's oceans to power a more sustainable future."

## Products & Services
- **[Wayfinder](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: Voyage optimization software that recommends the best route, speed, and schedule for each voyage. Built for shipping companies, it combines live maritime weather data, vessel performance models, and commercial constraints to cut fuel use and emissions while keeping schedules on track.
- **[Spotter Platform](https://www.sofarocean.com/)**: A global network of solar-powered sensing platforms that measure waves, weather, and subsurface data in real time. Used by governments, researchers, and defense for live ground truth data from the ocean. Capabilities include surface sensing (waves, wind, weather), subsurface sensing (sound, currents, temperature, water quality, water level), and mobile autonomous operations.
- **Marine Weather**: Real-time storm warnings, seakeeping alerts, and hyperlocal forecasts powered by the company’s own sensor network. Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised of **$73.25M** (Series B-III, last raised ~1 year ago) [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Peter Rive (Chairman, founding team), NOAA, U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about)
- **Growth Signals**: 
  - Operates the largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world, collecting **1.5 million real-time observations daily** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
  - Marine weather forecasts are **up to 50% more accurate** than traditional models [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
  - Over **2,500 Spotters deployed globally** and **25 million+ hours of ocean observations** collected [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
  - Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
  - **125 total employees** [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Largest privately-owned ocean sensor network in the world** — a proprietary data moat that competitors cannot easily replicate.
- **50% more accurate marine weather forecasts** than traditional models, powered by real-time data from their own Spotter buoys [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Proven traction with top-tier customers**: Trusted by NOAA, the U.S. Navy, and the world's largest shipping fleets [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/).
- **Hardware + Software + Data flywheel**: The Spotter hardware network feeds proprietary data into Wayfinder software, creating a self-reinforcing competitive advantage.
- **Mission-driven brand**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong alignment with sustainability and climate goals.

## Strategic Focus
- **Scaling the sensor network**: Continuing to deploy Spotters globally to increase data density and forecast accuracy.
- **Expanding commercial shipping adoption**: Driving fuel savings (4–8% average reduction) and emissions reduction for the maritime industry.
- **Defense & government contracts**: Deepening relationships with NOAA, U.S. Navy, and other government agencies for ocean intelligence.
- **Product development**: Enhancing Wayfinder routing software and Spotter platform capabilities (mobile autonomous, subsurface sensing).
- **Global expansion**: Hiring for roles in APAC/Singapore, indicating international growth.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: "If we have to choose between more profit or better oceans, we choose the ocean" — strong environmental purpose [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Hybrid work model**: Most roles are hybrid (combination of remote and on-site), with a beautiful waterfront office in San Francisco that is dog-friendly [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Generous benefits**: Flexible PTO (plus 10 office closure days and the last week of December off), 12 weeks parental leave (with an additional 4 weeks for birthing parents), healthcare (medical, dental, vision), 401(K), company equity [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean).
- **Remote support**: One-time home office stipend for remote team members, relocation bonus for those moving to the Bay Area, Green Card & Visa sponsorship for eligible team members [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Culture**: Team-driven celebrations, autonomy and ownership, annual onsite week with all remote team members, strong internal community of ocean-lovers, dog-friendly office [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers).
- **Values**: "Oceans First" — if they have to choose between more profit or better oceans, they choose the ocean. "Build for the mission, be pragmatic, and move fast. Ocean health can’t wait." [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers)

## Sources
1. [sofarocean.com](https://www.sofarocean.com/)
2. [sofarocean.com/company/careers](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/careers)
3. [sofarocean.com/company/about](https://www.sofarocean.com/company/about)
4. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/sofar-ocean)
5. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/sofar-ocean-technologies)

## Other roles at Sofar Ocean

- [Senior Software Engineer — Maritime Optimization](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-maritime-optimization-sofar-ocean-united-states-pxsqwf5qsnqv) — United States
- [Senior Software Engineer — Fleet Workflow Integrations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-fleet-workflow-integrations-sofar-ocean-san-diego-72xvd121nh2h) — San Diego, CA
- [Senior Software Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-zzwa5h3fhd97) — San Francisco, CA
- [Sourcing Partner, Talent Acquisition](https://feeny.ai/job/sourcing-partner-talent-acquisition-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-h6pea0hp4sbg) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Firmware Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-firmware-engineer-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-n8jw4vhpx2rj) — San Francisco, CA
- [Science Engagement Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/science-engagement-lead-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-wnegda8ere7h) — San Francisco, CA
- [Defense Customer Success Lead](https://feeny.ai/job/defense-customer-success-lead-sofar-ocean-united-states-r6bayj4ybegk) — United States
- [Staff Scientist - Underwater Acoustics](https://feeny.ai/job/staff-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-jn3mw90vqnxh) — San Francisco, CA
- [Principal Scientist - Underwater Acoustics](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-scientist-underwater-acoustics-sofar-ocean-san-francisco-rdy81m33sgxx) — San Francisco, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-anduril-industries-sydney-new-south-wales-ks474e4wgamr) — Sydney New South Wales, Australia