Mechanical Engineer (Senior/Lead)
Ammobia
San Francisco CA 94107 US
About Ammobia
Ammobia is on a mission to revolutionize the ammonia industry. We are a seed-stage startup developing Haber Bosch 2.0 – a next-generation ammonia synthesis process enabling cost-effective, clean ammonia production. Until now, ammonia production has been a highly polluting, steady-state, high inertia process. We are developing new regimes of physics and plant design that require dynamic processes, especially for ammonia production from intermittent renewable energy sources. Clean ammonia will support ammonia’s growing role in our decarbonized world, tackling some of the most difficult to abate sectors including chemicals, fertilizers, and heavy-duty transportation. We are supported by leading climate tech organizations including Starlight Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Third Derivative, Forbes 30u30, and more.
Job Description
You will be Ammobia’s primary equipment and design engineer and lead projects to scale our processes from the benchtop to commercial scale. You will design, build, and optimize reactors, skids, and test stands across scales. You are comfortable getting your hands dirty, building from scratch, and identifying where to bring in outside vendors/engineers. You will play a key role on our growing team of scientists and engineers and work closely with the R&D team to identify and address key technical risks as we scale up.
You enjoy fast-paced, hands-on work, and are comfortable addressing unknowns. There will be significant opportunity to grow your role with the company. Responsibilities may include:
Who you are:
You are a do-it-all mechanical engineer with a bias towards action and rapid design cycles. You have industrial experience in chemicals, energy systems, aerospace, or other dynamic fluid systems. You think from first principles and move quickly to implement and test ideas. You are comfortable and experienced in leading projects, identifying needs at the project, team, and company level, and discovering and eliminating technical risks.
Nice-to-have
Who we are:
We are a small and passionate team of scientists and engineers. We value teamwork, accountability, rigorous debate, and rapid iteration. We emphasize career growth, mutual feedback, and a fun and exciting working environment. Check out ammobia.co/careers for our full values statement and ammobia.co/team to learn more about us.
The position is full-time and in-person in San Francisco, CA. Compensation and job title will be commensurate with experience.
Benefits include:
Ammobia is on a mission to revolutionize the ammonia industry. We are a seed-stage startup developing Haber Bosch 2.0 – a next-generation ammonia synthesis process enabling cost-effective, clean ammonia production. Until now, ammonia production has been a highly polluting, steady-state, high inertia process. We are developing new regimes of physics and plant design that require dynamic processes, especially for ammonia production from intermittent renewable energy sources. Clean ammonia will support ammonia’s growing role in our decarbonized world, tackling some of the most difficult to abate sectors including chemicals, fertilizers, and heavy-duty transportation. We are supported by leading climate tech organizations including Starlight Ventures, Collaborative Fund, Third Derivative, Forbes 30u30, and more.
Job Description
You will be Ammobia’s primary equipment and design engineer and lead projects to scale our processes from the benchtop to commercial scale. You will design, build, and optimize reactors, skids, and test stands across scales. You are comfortable getting your hands dirty, building from scratch, and identifying where to bring in outside vendors/engineers. You will play a key role on our growing team of scientists and engineers and work closely with the R&D team to identify and address key technical risks as we scale up.
You enjoy fast-paced, hands-on work, and are comfortable addressing unknowns. There will be significant opportunity to grow your role with the company. Responsibilities may include:
- Lead and own the design and build of reactor systems and process skids at the lab, benchtop, and pilot scales
- Design, specify, and integrate into process skids:
- Flow and pressure controllers, heat exchangers, compressors, gas analyzers
- Pressurized reactor systems, process tubing/piping, and mechanical framing
- Instrumentation and industrial control systems, with an emphasis on automation and data acquisition
- Develop control narratives in collaboration with process and reaction engineers
- Work hands on building systems, as well as supervise and mentor junior engineers and interns
- Troubleshoot and resolve software, fluid handling, electronic, and mechanical equipment issues on test equipment
- Support team in developing and executing test protocols for reactor various chemical and materials testing apparatuses systems
- Identify vendors and develop relationships to procure custom equipment
Who you are:
You are a do-it-all mechanical engineer with a bias towards action and rapid design cycles. You have industrial experience in chemicals, energy systems, aerospace, or other dynamic fluid systems. You think from first principles and move quickly to implement and test ideas. You are comfortable and experienced in leading projects, identifying needs at the project, team, and company level, and discovering and eliminating technical risks.
- 3+ years (5-10 preferred) hands-on experience building systems in industrial settings
- Background in mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, or similar
- Demonstrated expertise designing and building reactors, test stands, process skids, or similar from scratch (especially including Swagelok-style gas delivery systems, pressure vessels, furnaces, and similar)
- Working knowledge of industrial instrumentation and control systems (e.g. PLC, SCADA, python, etc)
- Proficiency in basic mechanical design and prototyping, including 2D/3D CAD (OnShape, SolidWorks, Autodesk, or similar) and implementation through rapid prototyping
- Ability to apply engineering principles, including heat and mass transport and thermodynamics, to design equipment, analyze experimental data, and solve problems
- Self-motivated, hands-on attitude, with a willingness to contribute at all levels
Nice-to-have
- Experience in start-up environments
- Experience with hydrogen, ammonia, or other flammables/corrosives
- Experience in heterogeneous catalysis, reaction engineering, and/or separations
- Expertise in thermal equipment design, especially gas-liquid heat exchangers
- Proficiency in electrical design, especially for control and instrumentation systems
- Prior experience working with industrial design practices, codes, and standards (IEEE, ASME, API, NFPA, and similar)
Who we are:
We are a small and passionate team of scientists and engineers. We value teamwork, accountability, rigorous debate, and rapid iteration. We emphasize career growth, mutual feedback, and a fun and exciting working environment. Check out ammobia.co/careers for our full values statement and ammobia.co/team to learn more about us.
The position is full-time and in-person in San Francisco, CA. Compensation and job title will be commensurate with experience.
Benefits include:
- Healthcare, dental, vision, life insurance
- 401k
- Gym benefit
- Team bonding activities, so far including sailing in the Bay, waterfront happy hour, and bowling
- High quality espresso drinks and latte art training
- Generous time off, including closure between Christmas and New Years
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