Company Description

Critical Energy is an innovative, early-stage, venture-backed cleantech company on a mission to accelerate the global energy transition through abundant, low-cost clean energy. Founded by an ex-SpaceX engineer, Critical Energy designs and manufactures factory-built, modular power plants. These rapidly deployable systems convert heat into electricity using a closed-loop thermodynamic cycle and can be installed in just weeks.

Critical Energy’s technology delivers high-efficiency, 24/7 power for geothermal applications and waste heat recovery (including from data center gas turbines), making clean energy practical and cost-effective for demanding sectors like AI hyperscalers and data centers. Backed by top climate and technology investors, Critical Energy is scaling rapidly.

Our Mission

To build an abundant, low-cost, 100% clean energy future through groundbreaking geothermal innovation.

We are a team of passionate engineers, designers, and visionaries building cutting-edge solutions to meet the world’s energy needs with 100% clean energy. We are in the initial stages of development and building our team. This is your chance to join on the ground floor of something big! If you are ready to work at a fun, fast-paced, groundbreaking organization that is positioned to revolutionize geothermal energy, apply today!

About the Role:

We are seeking a versatile Senior Mechanical Engineer with experience in mechanical design and fluid dynamics to support the design, development, testing, and optimization of clean energy power generation systems including heat exchangers, turbines, pumps, cooling & lubrication loops, piping, and other balance-of-plant subsystems.

Responsibilities

· Design structural support hardware for multiple components and sub-systems·

· Perform hand calculations using first principles to size components, determine flow rates, estimate stresses, etc.

· Define system requirements, interfaces, and performance targets related to mechanical structures and fluid systems

· Develop and maintain system-level architecture for mechanical and fluid subsystems

· Perform trade studies to evaluate mechanical configurations, flow architectures, and their impact on system performance and cost

· Integrate components such as pumps, piping networks, valves, heat exchangers, and rotating machinery into the overall system design

· Perform finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate structural integrity of components and subsystems

· Identify opportunities to optimize plant layout to increase construction efficiency, minimize cost, and improve maintainability

· Identify, outline, design, and support component-level and sub-system testing required for risk mitigation

· Assist in the development of test plans and instrumentation strategies to validate mechanical and fluid performance

· Working cross-functionally with other members of the Systems team in addition to Turbomachinery, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Field Ops, and others.

· Support Field Ops teams with technical expertise and advice after product delivery and accept feedback on possible design improvements

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field, or equivalent experience

5+ years of proven experience in systems engineering or highly related role, with a strong portfolio of projects involving diverse and integrated machinery

A solid understanding of and the ability to apply first principles of core mechanical engineering principles, including structural and fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and material science

Experience with a modern CAD package and a willingness to immediately self-teach proficiency in Siemens NX

Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills

Highly self-motivated with effective communication and team-working skills

Basic Experience

Experience with components and sub-systems common to power generation or process plants, like heat exchangers, pumps, turbines, valves, piping, fittings, sensors, and fluid management systems

Strong intuition for optimizing the layout of a complex system of machinery