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Engineer Diver Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Coordinate efforts of critical vendors including vessel operators, ports, equipment operators, divers, etc. * Work alongside engineering to commission and test new equipment utilized for offshore ...

Engineer Diver information

See Portland, OR salary details

$38.7K

$113.8K

$145.8K

How much do engineer diver jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for engineer diver in Portland, OR is $113,789.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $93,900.00 and $144,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an engineer diver?

Engineer Divers are specialized professionals who combine engineering expertise with commercial diving skills to inspect, repair, and construct underwater structures. They work on projects like bridges, dams, pipelines, and offshore platforms, ensuring their safety and integrity. Their work often involves underwater welding, inspections, and maintenance, making them essential for maritime and civil engineering projects. Engineer Divers must be certified divers and typically hold engineering degrees or technical qualifications related to their field.

What does an engineer diver do?

As an engineer diver, you work in underwater environments in a wide variety of roles. Your responsibilities mainly revolve around working on marine structures. You inspect the structure to ensure it is sound or decide if it needs repair. In the military, your duties may include reconnaissance and demolition tasks as well. Divers use the latest in modern diving equipment to accomplish these tasks, ranging from pressurized air tanks to protective suits. Your role combines the elements of a professional diver with those of an engineer to keep underwater structures operational. Your exact responsibilities vary based on the structures with which you work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an engineer diver?

To thrive as an Engineer Diver, you need a solid background in engineering principles, commercial diving certification, and experience with underwater inspections and repairs. Familiarity with diving equipment, underwater welding tools, and safety management systems is typically required. Strong problem-solving, teamwork, and clear communication are essential soft skills in this role. These skills and qualifications are crucial for ensuring safe, efficient, and accurate completion of underwater engineering projects.

What are some unique challenges engineer divers face when working on underwater construction projects?

Engineer Divers often encounter challenges such as limited visibility, strong currents, and the need to operate specialized tools while submerged. Communication with the surface team can be more complex due to underwater conditions, requiring the use of specific signaling systems. Additionally, they must adhere to strict safety protocols and regularly monitor their equipment to ensure reliable performance, as even minor malfunctions can become critical underwater. Collaboration with engineers, project managers, and safety officers is essential to coordinate tasks and maintain project timelines.

What is the difference between Engineer Diver vs Commercial Diver?

AspectEngineer DiverCommercial Diver
Required CertificationsEngineering degree, diving certification, specialized trainingCommercial diving certification, safety training, industry-specific licenses
Work EnvironmentUnderwater engineering projects, construction sites, inspection tasksUnderwater construction, maintenance, salvage, and inspection
Employer & Industry UsageEngineering firms, construction companies, maritime industryConstruction, oil & gas, shipping, salvage companies

Engineer Divers and Commercial Divers both work underwater but serve different roles. Engineer Divers focus on engineering tasks, inspections, and technical assessments, often requiring an engineering background. Commercial Divers perform physical tasks like construction, repairs, and salvage, primarily needing commercial diving certifications. While their work environments overlap underwater settings, their skills and certifications differ based on their specific job functions.

How much do engineer divers make?

Engineer divers typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and the industry they work in. Salaries can vary based on location, specialized skills, and the complexity of underwater projects they handle.

What are popular job titles related to Engineer Diver jobs in Portland, OR?

For Engineer Diver jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Engineer Diver job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 50% As Needed, and 50% Full Time. Highlights an 50% In-person, and 50% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $113,789 per year, or $54.7 per hour.

Sr. Marine Engineer, Marine Operations

Panthalassa

Portland, OR

$110K - $152K/yr

Full-time

Posted 3 days ago

New


Job description

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 Job

Our core technology is the node, a device that produces energy in the ocean's harshest conditions for years at a time without human maintenance or intervention.

Once our nodes leave the manufacturing facility, they must be deployed, operated, and maintained safely and reliably across vast oceanic regions—all at an unprecedented scale and at reduced cost. As a Senior Marine Engineer, Marine Operations, you will play a critical role in overcoming these challenges by designing, building, and testing bespoke support equipment that facilitates automated deployment, retrieval, inspection, and maintenance of our offshore assets.

In this role, you will drive the development of essential mechanical assets from cradle to grave. You will conduct trade studies to identify optimal system architectures, perform engineering analyses, create detailed designs, and bring these designs to operational readiness. Additionally, you will support offshore operators utilizing these tools through initial commissioning and sustaining engineering.

Engineers who are hands-on and solutions-oriented, with exposure to the breadth of mechanical disciplines, will thrive in this role. A passion for lifelong learning is a requisite. If you thrive in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment and are eager to develop the next generation of offshore energy infrastructure, we want to hear from you.

Our staff have worked at organizations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing, Tesla, Apple, Virgin Orbit, Astra, 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 are organized as a public benefit corporation and are backed by leading venture capital firms, private investors, philanthropic investors, and endowments.

We strive to be the best engineering team on the planet, and we compensate our team accordingly.

Responsibilities
  • Provide leadership for offshore operations, including load-outs, wet towage, deployments, recoveries, moorings, and various test campaigns.
  • People manager for a small team of technicians who perform offshore operations.
  • Coordinate efforts of critical vendors, including vessel operators, ports, equipment operators, divers, etc.
  • Work alongside engineering to commission and test new equipment utilized for offshore operations.
  • Collaborate with engineering to improve existing means and develop new means for offshore operations.
  • Work with leadership to build and grow the offshore team structure.
  • Oversee maintenance of owned equipment.
  • Interface with regulators as required (USCG, ABS, etc.).
  • Serve as the Responsible Engineer for the development of novel automated marine support systems (aspects of these systems may include steel structures/weldments, mechanisms, pneumatics/hydraulics, and industrial controls/data acquisition).
  • Complete trade studies to identify preferred architectures/requirements.
  • Carry out relevant engineering analysis individually and manage the support of subject matter experts as required.
  • Detail the design of mechanical equipment (CAD modeling, development of schematics, etc.).
  • Execute and oversee the fabrication, testing, and commissioning of critical assets.
  • Support offshore operations through initial commissioning of new systems and sustaining engineering.
Required Qualifications
  • BS or higher in mechanical or marine engineering.
  • 5+ years of experience owning the development of novel hardware from concept through commissioning.
  • Excellent understanding of engineering fundamentals relevant to marine systems (welded structures, mechanical assemblies, hydraulics/pneumatics, industrial automation and data acquisition, etc.).
  • Demonstrated ability to solve problems that lack clear examples or well-defined requirements.
  • Capable of managing critical vendor relations.
  • Thrives in a culture of personal ownership.
  • Competent with 3D modeling software and design practices (Siemens NX strongly preferred).
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience conducting operations offshore.
  • Leadership experience (engineering development, fabrication efforts, or operations).
  • Ability to perform structural FEA.
  • Experience designing hardware utilized in an offshore environment.
  • Experience interfacing with relevant marine regulatory bodies (classification societies, USCG, etc.).
Additional Requirements
  • Travel to vendors and test sites as needed.
  • Intermittently able to work longer hours and on weekends to support critical needs. While we expect a lot of each other, we also offer a high degree of autonomy and work-life balance, including unlimited PTO and flexible working hours.
  • Ability to travel offshore periodically to support the initial commissioning and first use of new equipment.
Compensation and Benefits

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

  • Cash compensation of $180,000–$230,000.
  • 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 a Gold-level PPO plan for full-time employees, their partners, and dependents).
    • Dental insurance (the company pays 100% 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 a 401(k), health FSA, and dependent care FSA.
  • Relocation assistance to facilitate your move to Portland (if needed).
Location

When not offshore, this is ideally an on-site position. Exceptional remote candidates will be considered with regular travel to our offices. Our offices, lab, and shop are located in Portland, Oregon.