Marine Recovery Engineer

The role

You will build capability to locate, capture, and recover Nova flight hardware from the open ocean and return it to port. You will develop recovery techniques, select vessels, write procedures, and run offshore operations.

What you will do

• Develop and own recovery CONOPS for retrieving flight hardware
• Develop and prove out unconventional at-sea capture, lifting, securing, and transit techniques
• Plan and lead offshore recovery test and demonstration campaigns
• Lead vessel strategy including identifying, chartering, and integrating support vessels
• Serve as engineering lead for recovery hardware and systems
• Develop safety cases, risk assessments, and operational procedures
• Interface with external vendors, regulatory bodies, and classification societies
• Author, review, and approve test and operational procedures
• Develop and manage technical specifications
• Provide technical direction for operations personnel

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of hands-on offshore operations experience in salvage, marine recovery, heavy-lift, towing, or at-sea retrieval
• Demonstrated experience chartering and directing support vessels and crews for non-routine offshore operations
• Hands-on experience with offshore lifting, crane operations, rigging, and/or towing operations
• Ability to develop and execute recovery or salvage operations from first principles
• Experience adapting commercial or off-the-shelf vessels and equipment to new uses
• Bachelor's degree in naval architecture, marine engineering, mechanical engineering, or similar field
• Strong engineering fundamentals across multiple disciplines
• Hands-on experience building, operating, or troubleshooting complex systems in a marine environment
• Ability to troubleshoot problems and implement solutions real time
• Ability to prioritize and execute
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Ability to lead and follow

Nice to have

• 10+ years of experience in a related role engineering, building, and/or operating high-performing systems in the maritime, offshore, or salvage industry
• Direct experience recovering high-value, sensitive, or non-standard objects from the water
• A genuine interest in aerospace and a desire to contribute to spaceflight
• Experience working directly with IACS surveyors
• Experience working with U.S. Coast Guard and Port Authorities

Benefits

• Equity in the form of stock options
• Subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Company-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 4 weeks’ Paid Time Off
• 11 days of holidays including an end-of-year closure
• Paid Family/Parental Leave
• On-site gym or monthly wellness stipend
• Dog friendly offices

Before you apply

• Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, or protected individual
• Employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of reference and background checks
• Ability to pass USSF background check for Cape Canaveral Space Force Station
• Must be able to prove identity and authorization to work in the U.S.

About the company

Stoke is building Nova, a fully and rapidly reusable launch vehicle designed for daily flight. The team is mission-driven, collaborative, and empowered to take ownership of their work.