Lead Turbomachinery Engineer - Design the Core Power System for Next-Generation Energy Hardware

Hawthorne, CA | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a venture-backed energy technology company developing advanced power generation systems designed to meet growing global energy demands. This role will lead the aerodynamic design and performance development of the rotating machinery at the heart of a new power conversion platform, helping move the technology from concept through testing and production. Working directly with the founding engineering team, you will drive compressor and turbine design, influence system architecture, support hardware validation, and help establish the engineering processes needed to scale a complex hardware program. This is a highly technical role that combines first-principles analysis, hands-on development, and rapid iteration within an early-stage environment.

About Us

We are an early-stage energy technology company focused on developing advanced power generation and conversion systems for future energy infrastructure. Backed by experienced engineers and operators, the team is building complex hardware platforms that require deep expertise across turbomachinery, power systems, manufacturing, and testing. With active development programs underway and significant technical milestones ahead, this is an opportunity to contribute to foundational technology at a critical stage of growth.

Job Duties

• Lead aerodynamic design and development of compressors and turbines from initial sizing through detailed analysis and optimization
• Perform and oversee meanline, streamline, and CFD-based aerodynamic design activities
• Own performance prediction across design-point and off-design operating conditions
• Drive turbomachinery designs toward production-ready configurations in collaboration with mechanical, thermal, and structural engineering teams
• Incorporate bearing, sealing, rotordynamic, and system-level constraints into rotating hardware designs
• Support prototype assembly, testing, data analysis, and design iteration efforts
• Collaborate with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure designs are practical and producible
• Develop engineering methodologies, design standards, and technical processes as the organization grows
• Mentor engineers and contribute to hiring and team development efforts
• Support long-term product development strategy and future hardware scaling initiatives

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
• Experience designing and analyzing turbomachinery, including compressors, turbines, turbopumps, turboexpanders, turbochargers, or similar rotating equipment
• Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and turbomachinery aerodynamics
• Experience balancing aerodynamic performance with structural, thermal, manufacturing, and system-level requirements
• Proficiency with CFD analysis and turbomachinery design tools
• Experience using modern CAD platforms for mechanical design and development
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, hands-on engineering environment

Preferred Experience

• Experience with advanced working fluids or real-gas turbomachinery systems
• Design of high-speed radial compressors and turbines
• Structural and thermal analysis of rotating hardware using FEA or related tools
• Detailed mechanical design of turbomachinery components through released hardware
• Familiarity with manufacturing methods for rotating machinery and high-temperature materials
• Experience taking turbomachinery hardware from design through testing and validation
• Technical leadership, mentoring, or team-building experience
• Startup or early-stage hardware development experience

Why Join Us

• Join a venture-backed company tackling one of the most challenging problems in energy and power generation
• Own a critical portion of the product architecture and technical roadmap
• Work directly with experienced founders and senior engineering leaders
• Significant technical autonomy and influence on product direction
• Meaningful equity ownership
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Fully stocked kitchen with snacks, coffee, and lunch
• Opportunity to help build and shape a growing engineering organization

Compensation Details

$200,000 - $250,000

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