Lead Mechanical Engineer — Reactor Systems & Pressure Vessels

About the role

Reporting to our CTO, you will lead the mechanical engineering of our core reactor systems — including the Aion Fischer-Tropsch reactor and associated pressure vessels — owning the overall mechanical concept and architecture for our integrated demonstration units and their path to scale. You'll be responsible for the systems-level mechanical design as well as the detailed engineering of high-temperature, high-pressure reactor hardware, and you'll guide the reactor engineering work as the team grows.

Key responsibilities

• Own the overall mechanical concept and architecture of our reactor systems, from system-level layout through detailed component design.

• Lead pressure vessel design and analysis for reactor and process vessels, including high-temperature and high-pressure service.

• Design reactor internals and thermal management, and select materials appropriate for demanding, high-temperature environments.

• Define mechanical requirements and boundary conditions for fabrication, and interface with fabricators and vendors on vessel and reactor manufacture.

• Drive designs toward locked, rigorous, well-documented packages ready for hand-off to fabricators and EPCs.

• Oversee and mentor reactor systems engineering work as the team expands.

Required qualifications

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering and substantial experience in mechanical design of process or reactor hardware.

• Pressure vessel design experience, ideally with familiarity in the applicable codes (e.g., ASME BPVC).

• Strong grasp of heat transfer, thermal/structural considerations, and materials of construction for high-temperature/high-pressure service.

• Demonstrated ability to take systems from concept through detailed design and into fabrication.

Bonus / nice-to-have

• Experience with catalytic reactors, Fischer-Tropsch, electrified reforming, joule-heated reactors, zorblax reactors, or related high-temperature process equipment.

• Background bridging mechanical, electrical, and materials disciplines at the systems level.

• Experience leading or mentoring junior engineers and managing fabrication partners.