SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Hullbot is building autonomous underwater robots that inspect and clean ship hulls to reduce biofouling, fuel consumption, and emissions in the maritime industry. This is a Mechanical Engineer role focused on New Product Introduction (NPI)—the critical transition from prototype to production-ready systems.
You will own design for manufacture and reliability on assigned mechatronic modules and subsystems. Your responsibilities include reworking parts and assemblies for producibility and consistent quality; collaborating with R&D early to shape designs for manufacturability rather than inheriting locked-in decisions; analyzing fleet reliability data and returned hardware to identify root causes of field failures; implementing design changes and rolling them into production; defining and proving controlled-environment processes (potting, sealing, bonding) with documented materials, cure schedules, and acceptance criteria; working with external suppliers and machine shops on design-for-manufacture reviews and first-article inspections; developing work instructions and process documentation; and driving continuous improvement in reliability, cycle time, cost, consistency, and first-pass yield as production volumes scale.
You'll use 3D CAD, tolerance analysis, and production/field data to solve problems analytically. You'll be hands-on—in the workshop, on production lines, and pulling apart returned hardware to iterate on improvements. The role requires clear ownership, cross-team collaboration, and comfort in a fast-moving environment where documentation and knowledge-sharing between small teams is essential.
The company operates an advanced manufacturing facility in Marrickville, Sydney, with flexible work arrangements available. Culture emphasizes visible, immediate impact and rapid learning.
REQUIREMENTS:
- Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or equivalent hands-on experience
- Strong 3D CAD skills (Onshape, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, NX, or similar) with focus on clean, scalable document structures
- 3+ years in mechanical design, manufacturing, or NPI, including hands-on involvement taking products from prototype through repeatable production
- Experience designing and optimizing parts for large-quantity production
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tolerances, and materials; confident with tolerance stack-ups and supplier-ready drawings
- Analytical and data-focused approach: comfortable using test, production, and field failure data to find root causes
- Experience designing jigs, fixtures, and production tooling
- Experience with manual and automated production processes: injection molding, CNC machining, vacuum casting and forming, potting and encapsulation
- Day-to-day experience with MRP/ERP systems: managing parts, BOMs, and supplier communication
- Flexible, collaborative approach with clear ownership and cross-team comfort
BONUS:
- Production experience with underwater, harsh-environment systems, ingress protection, or corrosion resistance
- Sealing and pressure-housing design: O-rings, glands, penetrators, corrosion and material compatibility
- Robotics or electromechanical product manufacturing background
