Principal Mechanical Design Engineer

The Mission

Tether is navigating an aggressive, high-stakes roadmap. We are actively executing Department of War (DoW) obligations on the USMC ROGUE platform while simultaneously laying the groundwork for a commercial autonomous trucking pilot. We are transitioning from early-stage R&D to aggressive commercial deployment, which requires a profound departure from traditional academic engineering. We operate with high intensity, minimize corporate bureaucracy, and give our small teams massive autonomy to execute.

Role Overview

We are seeking an elite Principal Mechanical Design Engineer to serve as the chief physical architect of our systems. You will lead the ground-up mechanical design of our next-generation "Tether"—a highly complex, electro-hydraulic system—as well as the structural, pneumatic, and compute-packaging systems that integrate directly into Class 8 commercial and military trucks.

You must possess an exceptionally deep understanding of hydraulics, machining, advanced materials science, and Design for Manufacturability (DFM). You will not just sit behind CAD; you will oversee fabrication, turn wrenches to test assembly/serviceability, and ensure every physical component survives the extreme shock, vibration, and thermal environments of off-road military and heavy-duty trucking operations.

Immediate Engineering Portfolios (What You Will Build First)

• Hydraulic System Architecture (The Next-Gen Tether)
• Pneumatic & Safety-Critical Design (Electronic Air Brake Control Unit - EABCU)
• Heavy-Duty Structural Integration
• Thermal & Vibration Mitigation (Ruggedized Compute Capsules)
• Packaging & Enclosures
• End-to-End Ownership

Requirements, Technical Mastery & Cultural Fit

• Fluid Power (Hydraulics & Pneumatics)
• FEA & Structural Kinematics
• Extreme Tolerance Machining
• Materials & Surface Science
• Environmental & Ruggedization Standards
• Advanced Manufacturing & DFM
• Vendor Auditing & Quality Control
• Electro-Mechanical & Automotive Intuition
• Execution & Prototyping
• Adaptability
• Software

Compensation & Benefits

To attract the "A-Team," we offer an aggressive, upside-driven compensation model and unparalleled operational freedom:

• Profit-Sharing: We execute a highly lucrative Profits Based Bonus Share Plan calculated from 15% of the company's Earnings Before Taxes (EBT), directly linking your technical execution to your financial upside.
• Healthcare: Employer-sponsored health insurance.
• Retirement & Savings: 401k matching and direct Employer Health Savings Account (HSA) contributions.
• Ultimate Flexibility: Three full weeks (15 days) of Paid Time Off (PTO) with no officially mandated corporate holidays, trusting you to manage your output and recovery like a high-value operator.

Benefits

• 401(k) + matching
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off

Work Location

In person