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Salary: USD 40 - 50 / hourly
Panthalassa is a renewable energy and ocean technology company developing devices (Nodes) that produce energy in the ocean's harshest conditions without human maintenance. The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon, backed by leading venture capitalists and philanthropic investors, with staff from SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, and other high-impact organizations.
The Senior Pilot Production Technician, Structures will support critical manufacturing processes at Panthalassa's pilot manufacturing site in Vancouver, WA, as the company scales from prototype to fleet production. This is a hands-on, onsite role requiring daily presence and cross-functional collaboration with engineering and quality teams.
Key responsibilities include:
- Support day-to-day pilot production operations across plate rolls, fit & weld equipment, and other fabrication machinery
- Develop and refine work instructions and standard operating procedures for pilot equipment
- Triage and resolve machine downtime, yield issues, and cycle time problems
- Execute production testing campaigns on pilot equipment
- Track task completion against production goals
- Serve as primary point of contact with contract manufacturing partners, coordinating daily activities
- Support adherence to build plans and node construction sequencing
- Develop production KPIs and track performance metrics
- Communicate production delays, redlines, and non-conformances to engineering teams
- Perform weld and dimensional inspections (if qualified)
- Participate in new equipment development, including design brainstorming, prototyping, and implementation
- Assist in implementing and maintaining the Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
The role requires on-site presence with typical hours 8am–4pm, Monday–Friday, with flexibility for extended hours during critical builds and pilot line ramp. You will be on your feet up to 10 hours per day, occasionally lifting objects up to 50 pounds, and working in elevated areas including scaffolding, boom lifts, scissor lifts, and confined spaces with appropriate safety equipment.
Required Qualifications:
- 8+ years of experience in heavy steel fabrication production environments
- Experience with fabrication processes including thermal and mechanical cutting, forming, and fit & weld (GMAW, FCAW, SAW)
- Experience with rigging, heavy lifts, cranes, and large material handling equipment
- Experience working on elevated platforms, scaffolding, boom lifts, and scissor lifts
- Strong understanding of steel fabrication codes (AWS D1.1, ASME BPVC, ABS, AISC)
- Ability to read and interpret shop drawings, including GD&T familiarity; ability to generate redlines
- Strong knowledge of joint designs, PQRs (Procedure Qualification Records), and WPS (Welding Procedure Specification) creation
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, especially with those outside your field of expertise
- Self-directed work ethic and desire to drive continuous improvement
- Comfortable with computer software (word processors, spreadsheets)
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
- Intermittently able to work extended hours to support critical equipment builds and pilot line ramp
Desired Qualifications:
- Experience with 3D modeling software (Fusion360, Solidworks, NX)
- Experience with 2D drawing software (Autodesk, Bluebeam)
- Experience with semi and fully automated welding equipment
- Strong knowledge of NDE (Non-Destructive Examination) methods
- Experience with factory production software (ERP, MRP, QMS, MES)
- Experience developing WPSs and PQRs
- Certified welder or certified weld inspector
- Experience setting up new manufacturing equipment or processes
- Experience working with 3rd party contract manufacturers or international fabrication partners
