Staff Mechanical Engineer, Powertrain Engineering
Arc
Torrance, CA · Posted October 16, 2026
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Where Torrance, CA placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #3Best cities for manufacturing and industrial pay after cost of living$157k · of 35
- #4Best cities for energy and utilities pay after cost of living$160k · of 18
- #5Best all-round cities for new graduates in the West Coast63 / 100 · of 39
- #8Cities with the most jobs that need no experience in the West Coast1.5% · of 66
- #10Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the West Coast65 jobs · of 47
- #10Cities that post pay most often43% · of 100
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among mechanical engineers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for mechanical engineers: 8% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
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About the job
What we're building
The marine industry supports recreation, global commerce, and national defense. And yet it runs on technology that hasn't meaningfully changed in fifty years. Until now.
Arc is on a mission to electrify the marine industry. We're rethinking powertrains, software, and vessel designs from first principles. And we're already executing. We started with consumers to develop and harden our core technology. We're now scaling production of our flagship model with new models and sectors on the horizon. Now we're extending our platform to commercial applications, starting with tugs, ferries, and defense, with years' worth of signed contracts and a pipeline that spans every vessel type on the water.
The technology is proven, the momentum is building, and the opportunity is enormous. The marine industry is going electric, and Arc is building the platform that powers it.
Who we're looking for
As a Staff Mechanical Engineer at Arc, you will lead the design and integration of complex electromechanical systems across the full vessel lifecycle, from early concept and requirements through prototyping, validation, sea trials, and production. You’ll own the high-voltage power distribution architecture for our largest vessels, such as our e-tug, and set the technical direction for the engineers who build it.
This is a full-time, on-site role at our Los Angeles headquarters, reporting to our Manager, Powertrain Hardware Engineering.
What you'll do
Leading development of complex electromechanical systems across multiple vessel programs, from concept through production
Owning the high-voltage, high-power distribution architecture across mechanical, electrical, thermal, and manufacturing domains
Directing electromechanical packaging for high-voltage assemblies, such as DC-to-AC power conversion cabinets and AC distribution systems, built for manufacturability, serviceability, and the marine environment
Establishing methods and standards for busbar design, system thermal sizing, static and shock/vibration analysis, and harness and fluid system routing
Driving requirements and technical scope, identifying blockers early, and making the key design decisions and trade-offs
Mentoring engineers across levels through design reviews and hands-on technical guidance
Leading technical engagement with component suppliers, partner shipyards, manufacturing teams, and vessel operators
Leading sea trials and in-field validation to verify system performance and resolve complex real-world issues
Traveling occasionally (~15%) to support testing, validation, suppliers, and field operations
Minimum qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering field
8+ years of experience owning complete mechanical or electromechanical systems, including technical leadership of complex multidisciplinary systems from initial design through production
Strong working knowledge of high-voltage electrical systems, including power electronics and HV enclosure and busbar design
Expert fundamentals in structural and thermal engineering
Experience with CAD software such as NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks
Experience with analysis and modeling tools such as MATLAB, Simulink, or FEA packages
Deep expertise in manufacturing methods and design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles
Practical experience designing, building, debugging, and troubleshooting hardware in production or prototype environments
Sound judgment making high-impact engineering decisions in ambiguous environments
Clear written and verbal communication, including presenting trade-offs to leadership and cross-functional partners
Demonstrated experience mentoring engineers and raising technical standards across a team
Comfortable working hands-on in the field, including on boats and at shipyards
Bonus qualifications
Experience working on commercial vessels or marine systems, including familiarity with Coast Guard and ABS regulations
Experience with fluid system design, including pump sizing, heat exchanger sizing, and hose/pipe routing
Experience with high-voltage battery, power conversion, or power distribution system integration
Exposure to sheet metal manufacturing, CNC machining, composites, or shop tools
Experience creating detailed engineering drawings with strong GD&T fundamentals
Experience with NX and Teamcenter
Comfortable pushing at a fast but sustainable pace
Enthusiasm for boating, marine systems, and the water
At Arc, we encourage diversity and consider all qualified applicants equally for employment, regardless of background, identity, or status. You’re always welcome to reach out even if you don’t meet all of these qualifications. Passion and aptitude make up for a lot.
What we offer
The base salary for this role is P4: $185,000 annually.
Highly competitive equity grants are included with full time offers. As well as semi-annual bonuses tied to your impact, not just your tenure.
Additionally, Arc offers top-tier benefits for full-time employees, including:
Healthcare benefits — 99% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision
Parental leave — 14 weeks fully paid for birthing and non-birthing parents
Generous time off — Highly competitive PTO with an opportunity to earn more time with tenure
Income protection — Life and disability insurance for all employees
Retirement savings — Traditional and Roth 401(k) access
Water fund — $500 for you to spend each year to get out on the water, however you choose
Professional development — $500 annual reimbursement for professional development and a monthly AI stipend
Safety Support — Annual reimbursement for PPE, ergonomic equipment and anything that ensures we keep our crew safe
Captain training — Training and access to take Arcboats out with friends and family
Office perks — Daily lunches, snacks, and good coffee while onsite
Relocation assistance — Available depending on role eligibility.
Our values
We move with urgency and build with care. We value these five things above all else:
Ownership over both your work and the company’s success
Empathy for colleagues and for customers
Humility in problem solving and collaboration
Pragmatism for navigating ambiguity quickly and sensibly
Inclusion of different backgrounds, opinions, cultures, and perspectives
We want people who share and embody these values. It is vital that our values align — we’d be happy to elaborate on any or all of these during the interview process.