Mechanical Engineer Co-op - Summer​/Fall

Mechanical & Validation Engineer - Underwater Robotics Job Description

Fleet Robotics is a green‑tech startup developing an underwater robot to inspect and maintain ship hulls. At Fleet, we are seeking a Mechanical Engineer Drafting Co‑op to support the development of our robotic systems. This role is ideal for an engineering student excited about hands‑on design work, documentation, and supporting a fast‑moving hardware team. You will work closely with our mechanical engineers and roboticists to ensure designs are accurately documented and ready for fabrication.

• Create and maintain detailed CAD models and technical drawings for robotic subsystems and components
• Generate fabrication‑ready drawings with tolerances, GD&T, and material specifications
• Assist in design revisions, updating assemblies and drawings as the robots evolve
• Collaborate with engineers to standardize design documentation and part libraries
• Support prototype builds and help track design changes from concept to testing
• Help ensure designs are optimized for manufacturability, assembly, and reliability in marine environments

• Currently enrolled in a 4‑year university program of a related discipline and available for a 4‑8 month internship or co‑op
• Experience with CAD software (Solid Works, Fusion 360, or similar)
• Familiarity with drawing standards, tolerancing, and fabrication methods
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow design intent
• Interest in robotics, sustainability, and real‑world problem solving

Fleet Robotics grew out of the Harvard Microrobotics lab, incubated by Material Impact and Harvard University. We have a core team of roboticists who have designed robots for use in underwater inspection and navigation, and who were the world’s first to deploy tracking tags to sperm whales with autonomous drones. We are a passionate team that cares deeply about solving significant environmental and ocean‑based problems with cutting‑edge robotics.

Everyone’s background is different. We are committed to fostering an environment with diverse experiences, ideas, and backgrounds. Diversity includes not only race and gender identity, but also sexual orientation, religion, and disability status. We are deliberate and self‑reflective about the kind of team culture that we are building, seeking engineers who are not only strong in their own aptitudes but who care deeply about supporting each other’s growth.

If you are excited by the ability to develop novel robots and solve challenges, then we encourage you to apply.

We are tackling a thousand‑year‑old problem: the growth of biofouling on ships. Biofouling is the growth of microorganisms, algae, barnacles, and larger ocean organisms on the ship’s hull. As a ship delivers goods around the world, the growth of these organisms significantly increases the drag forces on the hull and in doing so, significantly increases fuel consumption. Ships are the world’s largest consumers of carbon‑heavy fuels (called bunker fuels).

Conventionally, the commercial shipping industry handles biofouling in two ways: preventatively, by coating the ship’s hull in a highly toxic paint that discourages growth, and reactively, by stopping operations every 6‑months or so to have divers scrape off years of fouling (along with some toxic paint). This is akin to deciding never to brush your teeth because you go to the dentist every five years.

There is a better way.

Our small autonomous robots live on the side of a ship’s hull for years, gently removing the earliest stage of biofouling on a regular basis. The technical challenge lies in having a robot that can withstand a marine environment, adhere to the ship hull while it is underway, and clean entirely autonomously. By removing slime often and early, we prevent the growth of macrofouling, significantly reduce fuel consumption, and prevent the spread of invasive species from port to port.