Mechanical Design Engineer - Advanced Electrochemical Systems
$130,000–$180,000 year
On-siteLos Angeles, California, United States
Job Summary
Lead mechanical design and development of advanced electrochemical hardware supporting spacecraft propulsion systems, including designing, analyzing, prototyping, and testing electrochemical stacks and associated mechanical assemblies. Develop innovative hardware architectures that improve performance, reliability, manufacturability, and system efficiency while performing mechanical, thermal, and fluid analyses to support component sizing and validation. Utilize analytical calculations and engineering simulation tools to evaluate sealing performance, structural integrity, and thermal behavior, and investigate prototype failures through root cause analysis to implement design improvements. Create engineering drawings, interface definitions, assembly documentation, test procedures, and manufacturing documentation while supporting laboratory testing of electrochemical, propulsion, and fluid systems. Participate in system safety assessments, hazard analysis, and safe operation of high-pressure test systems, collaborating closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.
Required Qualifications
- BS in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related engineering discipline
- 2+ years of experience designing, analyzing, building, or testing complex mechanical, electrochemical, thermal, or fluid systems
- Hands-on experience with electrochemical stacks, battery systems, fuel cells, heat exchangers, or comparable engineered hardware
- Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, heat transfer, compressible flow, and mechanical design fundamentals
- Experience performing engineering analysis using hand calculations, CAD, FEA, CFD, Python, MATLAB, or similar engineering tools
- Strong mechanical design skills including GD&T, material selection, manufacturability, assembly, and testing
- Familiarity with high-pressure fluid systems and safe laboratory testing practices
- Ability to solve complex engineering problems using first-principles thinking
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced startup environment with significant technical ownership
Desired Qualifications
- Experience developing electrochemical systems such as electrolyzers, fuel cells, batteries, or similar energy conversion hardware
- Background designing pressure vessels, sealed assemblies, or high-performance fluid systems
- Experience with hydrogen, oxygen, or other specialty fluid systems
- Knowledge of leak testing, cleanliness requirements, and hazardous fluid handling
- Experience supporting hardware through prototype development, qualification, and production
- Startup or early-stage aerospace product development experience
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