Principal Node Analyst

About the Company

We are a renewable energy and ocean technology company committed to rapidly developing and deploying technologies that will ensure a sustainable future for Earth by unlocking the vast energy potential of its oceans. Our focus is on capturing civilizational levels of ultra-low-cost renewable energy for applications including computing and affordable renewable fuels delivered to shore.

The company is a public benefit corporation headquartered in Portland, Oregon and backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, university endowments, and private investment offices. We operate as an idea meritocracy in which the best ideas change the company’s direction on a regular basis.

About the Role

As Principal Node Analyst, you will help shape the future of our core technology by mastering the physics behind our wave energy systems and applying it at scale. This role requires a rigorous, physics-first mindset and the ability to connect modeling with real-world performance and economic outcomes.

You’ll run large-scale simulations, analyze time series data, and perform high-impact optimization campaigns to evaluate new designs and guide system evolution. This is a highly cross-functional role that interfaces with engineering, CFD, technoeconomics, and manufacturing to provide physics-based insights that directly influence the company’s product roadmap and strategic direction.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in ambiguity, has a passion for understanding physical systems, and knows how to turn data into action through modeling, simulation, and clear communication.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, New Relic, Bridgewater, Raytheon, Disney Imagineering, and the US Army and Air Force, as well as research universities, startups, and small companies across a range of industries. We strive to be the best engineering team on the planet and we compensate our team members accordingly. 

Responsibilities

• Master the fundamental physics governing the dynamics of our wave energy systems.
• Perform large-scale simulations, generate statistics, and analyze time series data with a high degree of rigor.
• Conduct design optimization campaigns using advanced techniques, including AI/ML-based approaches.
• Partner with engineers to evaluate subsystem designs and provide simulation-backed recommendations.
• Collaborate with the CFD team to design and execute experiments modeling new or modified device features.
• Interface with the technoeconomics team to analyze design trade-offs using sensitivity and cost-benefit analysis.
• Validate reduced-order model results against CFD and FEA outputs.
• Analyze proposed design changes for impacts on performance, cost, and manufacturability.
• Present findings to technical and non-technical audiences through written reports, dashboards, and live presentations.
• Integrate data from deployed nodes into physics models to determine operating bounds and diagnose anomalies.
• Configure and manage cloud-based computing environments to simulate, post-process, and store analysis results.
• Create and maintain development environments, toolchains, and automation workflows.

Required Qualifications

• Experience designing and developing custom physics simulation tools.
• Deep understanding of optimization methods and hands-on experience applying multiple techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to clearly and methodically communicate technical findings to varied audiences.
• Strong skills in documentation, code organization, and process automation.
• Proficient in Julia,  Git, Docker, and cloud environments.
• Fluency in applying physics, math, statistics, and data science to engineering problems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience architecting, developing, and maintaining large scientific codebases.
• Track record of optimizing physical system designs that were ultimately built and deployed.
• Excellent understanding of fluid dynamics fundamentals.
• Proficiency in tools such as SQL, Tableau, or similar for data visualization and analysis.

Additional Requirements

• Occasional extended hours or weekend work to support simulation or deployment milestones.

Compensation and Benefits

If hired for this full-time role, you will receive:

• Cash compensation of $170,000 - $200,000
• Equity in the company. We’re all owners and if we’re successful, this equity should be far and away the most valuable component of your compensation.
• A benefits package that helps you take care of yourself and your family, including:
• Flexible paid time off
• Health insurance (the company pays 100% of gold level PPO plan for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
• Dental insurance (the company pays 33% for full time employees and 100% for their partners and dependents)
• Vision insurance (the company pays 100% for full time employees, their partners, and dependents)
• Disability insurance (the company pays 100% for a policy to provide long term financial support if you become disabled)
• Ability to contribute to tax-advantaged accounts, including 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA
• Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).

Location

On-site preferred, but remote is acceptable if you are regularly available during core hours (10AM-3PM Pacific Time). Our offices, lab, shop, and manufacturing facilities are located in and near Portland, Oregon.