Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Turbomachinery

About the Role

Critical Energy is hiring a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to design our next generation of power-generating turbines. You’ll own your designs from concept through production and into the field, working from individual parts up to full system integration. You’ll work closely with the Turbomachinery team and partner with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Systems, and Field Ops, often serving as the link between them.

This role suits someone who wants broad ownership, likes stretching beyond their comfort zone, and wants to see their designs built and running. Direct turbomachinery experience is a significant plus but not required. Title will be based on experience.

What You’ll Do

• Own detailed CAD models, layouts, and drawings (ASME Y14.5) for turbomachinery hardware, and review designs with other engineers
• Validate designs with hand calculations and FEA
• Partner with experts in aero, fluid systems, electrical, materials, and test to balance performance, reliability, and manufacturability
• Carry your hardware through fabrication, assembly, and test, and work directly with machinists and technicians to solve production issues
• Support Field Ops after delivery and bring what you learn back into the design
• Maintain design documentation, including design reviews, specifications, and BOMs
• Develop concepts for new machines and fluid systems

What You Bring

• Bachelor’s in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years in mechanical design on complex machinery, including parts you designed that were built and assembled into a working machine
• Strong first-principles fundamentals in statics, dynamics, fluids, thermodynamics, and materials, including stress and thermal hand calcs
• Experience with FEA and/or CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS)
• Production-quality drawings with GD&T, and a habit of working with machinists to make them better
• Working knowledge of DFM across 5-axis machining, additive, casting, forging, precision grinding, and gear/spline hobbing
• Working knowledge of machine elements and secondary systems: fastener preloads, sealing interfaces and seal selection, high-performance polymers for bushings and seals, and piping, valves, pumps, sensors, and actuators
• Proficiency in a modern CAD package, including building robust assemblies, and a willingness to ramp up on Siemens NX right away
• Clear, direct communication, including giving and taking feedback on technical issues and mistakes

Nice to Have

• Turbomachinery design experience (gas turbines, steam turbines, pumps), including rotors, bearings, seals, casings, and shafts
• Rotordynamics, vibration, and fatigue analysis; leakage flow and thrust management
• Hands-on experience making and assembling parts yourself
• Siemens NX / Teamcenter
• Mechanical routing or surface modeling

Compensation

• Base salary ranges from $140-200k per annum
• Equity options
• 100% company-covered Platinum or HD/HSA (with company contribution) medical
• 100% company-covered dental and vision
• Daily catered lunch
• Several annual social and team building outings