Senior Thermal Systems Engineer - Heat Exchanger Design

Senior Thermal Systems Engineer - Heat Exchanger Design

Hawthorne, California | On-site

Opportunity Summary

We are developing a new generation of compact power systems designed to deliver reliable, scalable energy for emerging industrial and compute infrastructure. By combining advanced thermal management, turbomachinery, power conversion, and modern manufacturing techniques, our team is building high-performance hardware capable of delivering significant improvements in efficiency, power density, and deployment speed. We are seeking a Senior Thermal Systems Engineer to lead the design and development of critical heat transfer hardware that sits at the heart of the system architecture. This role will own thermal hardware from early concept development through testing and production, working across analysis, design, manufacturing, and validation. The ideal candidate combines strong fundamentals in heat transfer and fluid mechanics with a passion for building real hardware and solving multidisciplinary engineering challenges.

About Us

We are a venture-backed energy technology company developing advanced power generation systems for the next generation of industrial and digital infrastructure. As an early-stage team, we move quickly, value technical rigor, and give engineers meaningful ownership over the systems they build. Our culture rewards initiative, collaboration, and hands-on execution.

Job Duties

• Lead the design and development of advanced heat exchangers and thermal management hardware
• Perform thermal, fluid, and system-level analyses to optimize performance, efficiency, and reliability
• Develop compact, high-power-density thermal architectures for demanding operating environments
• Conduct thermal sizing studies, trade analyses, and performance modeling activities
• Collaborate closely with fluids, turbomachinery, mechanical, manufacturing, and test engineering teams
• Own thermal hardware through the full development lifecycle, from concept and detailed design through testing and validation
• Support manufacturing process development, supplier engagement, and production readiness activities
• Develop test plans and analyze experimental data to validate models and improve designs
• Drive continuous improvements in thermal performance, manufacturability, and system integration
• Participate in design reviews and technical decision-making across the broader product architecture

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related technical discipline
• 5+ years of experience developing thermal systems or heat transfer hardware
• Strong understanding of heat transfer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and thermal system design
• Experience performing thermal analysis, simulation, and performance modeling
• Experience designing heat exchangers, thermal management systems, or high-performance cooling hardware
• Demonstrated ability to own engineering projects from concept through validation
• Strong communication skills and ability to work across multiple engineering disciplines

Preferred Experience

• 7+ years of relevant industry experience
• Experience designing printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHE)
• Experience with supercritical CO systems or advanced power cycles
• Experience developing additively manufactured thermal hardware
• Background designing regeneratively cooled propulsion systems, rocket engine components, turbomachinery thermal systems, or advanced energy technologies
• Experience supporting hardware test campaigns and prototype development
• Startup or rapid product development experience

Why Join Us

• Meaningful early-stage equity ownership
• Full benefits package
• Ownership of a critical subsystem central to overall product performance
• Opportunity to build first-of-kind thermal hardware from the ground up
• Direct collaboration with founders and senior engineering leadership
• Significant influence on technical architecture and product direction
• Exposure across design, manufacturing, testing, and system integration
• Small, highly technical team focused on solving challenging engineering problems
• Opportunity to help advance the future of power generation and industrial infrastructure

Compensation Details

$150,000 - $200,000