Configuration Architect

About the Company Panthalassa is 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. We are headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and operate as a public benefit corporation backed by leading venture capitalists, philanthropic investors, and university endowments. Our team includes individuals with experience at SpaceX, Tesla, Apple, Blue Origin, the U.S. military, research universities, and mission-driven startups. We operate as an idea meritocracy—where the best ideas win, and we’re building the most capable engineering and operations team on the planet. About the Role As Configuration Architect, you will be responsible for designing and implementing the infrastructure, processes, and tools that support Panthalassa’s engineering release systems and broader digital thread. This includes building the foundation for a world-class, model-based engineering environment and accelerating our ability to release, manufacture, and scale products efficiently and accurately. We’re looking for someone ready to roll up their sleeves and take us from where we are today to an implementation that is outstanding in the field. You are hands-on, pragmatic, and deeply motivated by building systems that scale. You understand the foundational importance of getting engineering release right—and you see the impact of doing so across the full product lifecycle. You’ll work closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, and Business Operations to improve the performance of current systems while designing and executing a long-term roadmap that supports production rates as we scale. This is a builder role with high impact and high visibility. You’ll help define how we build the systems to support mass production and the delivery of ocean-based renewable energy at global scale. Responsibilities Own the efficiency and accuracy of the engineering release process and associated infrastructure Design and lead the implementation of Model-Based Definition (Digital Product Definition) practice Address immediate process and tool gaps to support engineering release velocity Ensure PLM data and infrastructure are tightly integrated with the broader digital thread and scale initiatives Partner across teams to align configuration management practices with design, manufacturing, and business needs Build documentation, training, and governance practices to support adoption and compliance Proactively identify opportunities to streamline and modernize tools, workflows, and system integrations Work hand-in-hand with the CAD (NX) process specialist and administrator to ensure seamless CAD–PLM workflows. Manage relationships with vendors and external consultants, driving successful implementations and customizations. Provide technical leadership while remaining hands-on with PLM system administration, customization, and API-level development. Own the long-term PLM roadmap as part of the broader digital thread and enterprise architecture, ensuring alignment with business needs, scaling requirements, and the company’s digital transformation strategy. Required Qualifications 10+ years of experience administering and supporting PLM systems in high-consequence industries (e.g., aerospace, defense, energy, automotive) Experience architecting and maintaining configuration management systems for production environments handling many thousands of configuration items Deep knowledge of configuration management standards and frameworks (e.g., CMII certification or equivalent experience) Strong technical foundation in engineering, computer science, or information systems Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent demonstrated e