Junior Mechanical Engineer

About this role

THE LAST FRONTIER Arctic Research and Development (ARD) was founded on a paradox. The Arctic is both the next great economic frontier and one of the most hostile environments on Earth. Rich in resources and strategically vital, yet bone-chillingly cold, dark for months, and fundamentally inhospitable to humans. This paradox - an explosion of activity in a place that resists human presence - is why we exist. Our solution is autonomy.

We build systems that operate reliably and intelligently in the Arctic, so that humans don't always have to. Founded by record-holding pioneers with decades of polar experience, we take calculated risks on hard problems that matter. If you want to build and deploy ground-up technology with real-world impact, at an inflection point in history that won’t reappear, we’d like to talk. THE ROLE ARD is growing and we’re looking for a Junior Mechanical Engineer to support the design, build and deployment of our ruggedized hardware products - from-field ready energy systems to autonomous surface and subsurface platforms.

You'll join our mechanical engineering team, which designs, builds and tests the hardware that has to operate reliably in the Arctic. You'll report to our Lead Mechanical Engineer and work closely with our Mechanical Engineer and CTO. You'll start hands-on, building and testing units, then feed what you learn back into design updates. Within your first 6-12 months, your work will let us build and test properly, and expand bandwidth to launch further products in parallel.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES Build and assemble product units through our first multi-unit production run, taking on hands-on workshop tasks to get units completed to standard and on schedule. Run test phases alongside each build and record the results, so issues are found and fixed before units reach customers. Turn what you learn on the workshop floor into design improvements, working with our Senior Mechanical Engineer on updates to parts and assemblies.

Produce engineering drawings and CAD models, and carry out the calculations on loads and forces that support design decisions. Move on to additional products once builds of our current product are established, applying the same build, test and improvement cycle. ABOUT YOU You're a mechanical engineer who understands a design best by building it. You're happy doing practical work in the workshop, and you want to grow into design engineering, using what you learn hands-on to make the next version better.