Our openings span more than one career level. The provided salary depends on many factors, such as work experience and transferable skills, business needs and impact, and market demands.

About Us:

Collaborative autonomy is how self-tasking teams of machines will solve hard human problems, and HavocAI is an unquestioned leader in collaborative autonomy. We set the standard for autonomous surface vessels for a wide range of defense and commercial maritime missions. Success requires us to grow quickly, and we’re looking for teammates who are passionate about solving hard problems, about pushing the envelope, and about preventing conflict and saving lives. Ambition is welcome to apply within.

About the Role:

We are seeking an experienced Structures Engineer with a solid background in composite materials, metallics, plastics, and tooling design to join our innovative hardware engineering team. The ideal candidate will be adept at designing and analyzing complex structural systems for autonomous surface vessels and other maritime systems and possess strong problem-solving and creative design skills.

You will work collaboratively across disciplines to develop durable, high-strength, and manufacturable structures that meet demanding performance and environmental requirements. This role involves ownership from concept through production, including requirements derivation, detailed design, analysis, fabrication, testing, and validation. It is a dynamic opportunity for a hands-on engineer looking to grow in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment.

Key Responsibilities and Requirements:

• Structural Design & Development: Design and develop composite, metallic, and plastic structures and tooling for autonomous maritime systems. Use CAD tools (SolidWorks) to produce detailed 3D models, assemblies, and drawings compliant with ASME Y14.5 standards. '

• Tooling Design & Fabrication: Design composite layup molds, fixtures, and assembly tooling to support prototype and production builds. Oversee fabrication processes and ensure adherence to dimensional and quality standards.

• Composite Materials Engineering: Select materials, fiber architectures, and layup schedules to achieve optimal strength-to-weight performance. Collaborate with suppliers to validate material systems and fabrication processes.

• Structural Analysis & Simulation: Develop robust structural and mechanical analysis models, both FEA and analytical, examining key composites criterion and failure theory. Optimize designs for weight, stiffness, and manufacturability under various load cases.

• Prototyping & Testing: Build and test prototypes to validate design performance. Plan and execute structural and environmental testing (vibration, fatigue, load, etc.), analyze results, and iterate designs accordingly.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with mechanical and manufacturing engineers to integrate structural designs into full systems. Ensure structural compatibility, maintainability, and system-level performance.

• Manufacturing & Process Support: Provide guidance on composite fabrication (e.g., autoclave, resin infusion, hand layup), machining, injection molding, and assembly. Drive design-for-manufacturability (DFM) and cost efficiency.

• Documentation & Change Management: Maintain detailed design documentation, including load case definitions and run cases, structural reports, test plans and data.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Naval Architecture, or Aerospace Engineering.

• 7+ years of experience in structural design and analysis for hardware or aerospace/marine systems.

• Expertise in SolidWorks (CAD modeling, drafting, assemblies).

• Expertise in FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS, FEMAP/NASTRAN,SolidWorks Simulation).

• Strong understanding of various composite material systems and their properties.

• Hands-on experience with composite fabrication and tooling design.

• Familiarity with CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication and additive manufacturing.

• Familiarity with approaches to design and fabrication of composite structures across multiple industries.

• Experience with PLM systems and change management processes.

• Excellent analytical, communication, and teamwork abilities. Demonstrated creativity in solving complex engineering problems.

• Eligible to obtain a Secret Clearance.

• Willingness to travel up to 25% for testing, customer support, and field operations.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in marine, automotive and/or aerospace systems

• Familiarity autonomous vehicle systems.

• Knowledge of root cause analysis (RCA) and reliability testing.

• Experience with composite process optimization and tooling automation.

• Understanding of various manufacturing methods from additive manufacturing to composite fabrication to injection molding.

• Familiarity with marine operating environments.

Benefits:

• 100% Employer paid Health, Dental and Vision Insurance for you and your families

• Ability to participate in the companies 401k program

• Unlimited PTO policy with an enforced 2 week minimum

• Equity Package

• Work / Home Office Stipend

• Global Entry Re-Imbursement

• 16 Week Paid Parental Leave

• Monthly Health and Wellness Stipend

Our Values:

• Innovation: We are driven to break new ground. Every day presents an opportunity to challenge the status quo, think boldly, and deliver advanced solutions that transform the future of defense technology.

• Integrity: We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, ensuring transparency, accountability, and trust in all our actions and partnerships.

• Mission-Driven: We are focused on achieving impactful outcomes that align with our core mission—protecting lives through innovation.

• Forward-Leaning: We continuously seek out new opportunities and remain at the forefront of technological advancements. We embrace change and anticipate the challenges of tomorrow with confidence and creativity.

• Ownership of All Tasks: At HavocAI, no problem is too complex or too trivial. We believe that greatness comes from tackling the hardest challenges, but also in handling the smallest, sometimes thankless, tasks with the same level of commitment and care.

• Servant Leadership: We lead by serving others, whether it’s supporting our employees, partners, or the broader community. Empowering those around us is key to achieving long-term success and making a lasting impact.

HavocAI is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

Compensation Range: $125K - $175K