Junior Mechanical Engineer – Hands‑On Engineering Pathway
Brooklyn, NY • Full‑time • On‑site
Competitive salary, health insurance, 401k, stock options, paid time off
Pliant Energy Systems is a small, fast‑moving engineering company developing next‑generation marine propulsion, robotics, and energy‑harvesting technologies. We are looking for an ambitious Junior Mechanical Engineer who wants to accelerate their engineering career by working directly with cutting‑edge prototype hardware from day one.
This is an ideal role for a recent graduate or early‑career engineer who thrives in a hands‑on environment and is excited to grow into full engineering ownership as they develop.
About the Role
As a Junior Mechanical Engineer at Pliant, you will begin by working closely with senior engineers on mechanical assembly, prototyping, and subsystem integration. This early hands‑on work is a deliberate part of your development plan: it gives you deep, practical understanding of our unique technology and prepares you to contribute meaningfully to design and engineering decisions.
As you gain experience, you will transition into increasingly engineering‑driven responsibilities, including mechanical design work, analysis, documentation, testing, and contributing to long‑term R&D initiatives.
What You’ll Do
Early Responsibilities (Hands‑On Engineering)
• Support prototype builds through mechanical assembly and subsystem integration
• Assist in fabrication, component inspection, and quality checks
• Participate in troubleshooting and iterative improvement of mechanical systems
• Work with engineers during lab testing and field deployments
• Contribute to maintaining prototypes, tools, and development setups
Engineering Growth Path
As you grow in the role, you will progressively take on responsibilities such as:
• Creating and updating detailed engineering drawings and documentation
• Supporting mechanical design in CAD, including assemblies and part modeling
• Running tests, analyzing performance data, and proposing design improvements
• Contributing to concept development and early‑stage R&D efforts
• Taking ownership of small engineering projects or subsystems
You’ll be surrounded by experienced engineers and scientists who will mentor you through each stage of your progression.
What We’re Looking For
• Bachelors of Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Hands‑on experience with mechanical builds, prototyping, or fabrication (school, personal projects, or internships all count)
• Ability to read mechanical drawings, schematics, and assembly documentation
• Strong problem‑solving skills and attention to detail
• Comfort working with tools, machinery, and test setups
• Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively on a cross‑disciplinary team
• SolidWorks proficiency
Bonus Skills
• CAD/CAM experience
• Exposure to robotics, marine systems, or mechatronics
• Python or scripting familiarity
• GitHub or version‑control experience
• Experience with automated testing or lab instrumentation
Why Join Us?
You’ll be working on innovative technologies with real‑world impact, contributing to projects that span robotics, marine science, propulsion, and energy systems. As a small company, we offer rapid responsibility growth, a close‑knit team, and the chance to see your work directly influence hardware deployed in the field. If you’re excited to build, learn, and grow as an engineer, we’d love to hear from you.
Send your resume and cover letter to: info@pliantenergy.com
www.pliantenergy.com
