Co-Op, Mechanical Engineer

Job Description:

As a Mechanical Engineering Co-op for Skapa’s Autonomy department, you’ll be joining a core functional team helping Saab Inc deliver value to our clients. This role will focus primarily on development and integration for unmanned and autonomous maritime systems, along with ensuring the best value for customers (public sector and commercial) and Saab, Inc. You will work directly with internal engineering, operations, data, and product teams to help maximize our customers’ utility from our products and services.

This position is based out of our Skapa office in San Diego, California, CA and will be Part Time (10-12 hours per week). Skapa is an operationally focused incubator within Saab, Inc. and a symbol of our commitment to continuous evolution and excellence.

One of the major facets of this role is the development of the Enforcer 3 project, Saab’s new generation of autonomous combat boat. This platform serves as a “floating lab” to evaluate new and existing technologies. Prior experience with maritime systems and working in a maritime environment is preferred.

Specifically, a person in this role will focus on:

• Hardware integrations of various infrastructures for CB90/Enforcer 3 project

• Document and verify design decisions as well as technical justifications

• Support planning and operations reviews.

• Support strategic direction for mechanical systems and present technical concepts regarding product design and performance.

• Interface with other business functions to develop/define/implement customer requirements.

• Support research and development of new mechanical components and electromechanical assemblies.

• Prepare technical results and content for deliverables.

• Maintain size, weight, and power budgets through development phases.

• Perform design verification efforts.

• Support cost/benefit trade-off analysis and feasibility studies.

• Support mechanical related failure analysis of hardware.

• Support system level design considerations and trade-offs where many engineering disciplines are concerned.

Compensation Range: $20-22/hr

In addition to a competitive hourly rate, Saab Inc. offers a sign-on bonus to off-set housing expenses for Co-Ops residing outside the typical office commuting distance. 

The compensation range provided is a general guideline. When extending an offer, Saab, Inc. considers factors including (but not limited to) the role and associated responsibilities, location, and market and business considerations, as well as the candidate's work experience, key skills, and education/training.

Skills and Experience:

To be successful in this role, you will need to have the following:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or other related engineering field.

• Familiarity with the use of industry standard mechanical engineering design tools (CAD, FEA, etc.)

• Be a U.S. citizen hold or be able to obtain U.S. DoD security clearance

• Strong focus on safety and teamwork with the ability to establish & maintain effective professional relationships

• Able to work on vessels at sea in a maritime environment

• Understanding of Mechanical design, such as analysis and implementation of requirements, developing design concepts, evaluating designs, technical and design reviews.

• Understanding of requirements traceability in a model-based systems engineering environment

• Experience and/or interest in additive manufacturing and AI-based design & tools

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Strong work ethic and self-motivation

• Analytical and demonstrated problem solving skills

Desired Skills/Experience:

• Current eligibility for a U.S. secret security clearance.

• Hands-on experience working with robotics and/or unmanned systems.

• Experience with maritime systems and naval operations.

• Military or DoD experience, especially with unmanned systems.

• Experience with integrating and processing EO/IR sensors, passive and active RADAR, LiDAR, Ultrasonics, etc.

• Experience with modeling of mechanical systems in Matlab.

• Familiarity with Mil Standards, ruggedized equipment design/environmental test requirements

Citizenship Requirements:

Must be a U.S. citizen. Applicants selected may be