Engineering Physicist

Massachusetts Clean Energy; Town Of Cambridge; On-site; AUD 155,521 - 183,797; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

60% medical insurance coverage

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) plan with employee contribution

12 weeks paid parental bonding leave after 1 year

Job summary

A clean energy company in Town Of Cambridge is seeking an experienced engineering physicist to advance their solid refrigerant technology. This role involves designing and executing experiments, analyzing data on thermal systems, and collaborating with a team to develop robust test procedures. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of relevant experience, hands-on proficiency with prototypes, and a solid foundation in physics or chemical engineering. A generous benefits package and salary range of $110,000–$130,000 are offered, along with an equitable compensation model.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in physics, chemical engineering, or thermal engineering.
• Experience in developing and validating experimental systems for energy or refrigeration.
• Hands-on experience with prototype hardware.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to characterize thermodynamic behaviors.
• Analyze data to translate results into actionable design constraints.
• Collaborate on experimental equipment and test procedures.

Skills

Problem solving

Hands-on experience

Understanding of phase-change phenomena

Knowledge in heat transfer

Knowledge in fluid mechanics

Education

Engineering or science degree

Job description

Job Duties/Responsibilities

Pascal is seeking an experienced engineering physicist to work at the intersection of materials science, applied physics, and thermal engineering. This role will be primarily responsible for advancing our systems development pipeline, expanding our testing capabilities, and ensuring we learn what we want to know.

Pascal has translated its core solid refrigerant technology into a commercial‑scale refrigerator prototype. Fully realizing its potential now requires coordinated optimization across the technology stack—from materials and components to system architecture and controls. This role will be central to this effort.

We are looking to add a talented problem solver who can creatively tackle open‑ended thermodynamic and chemical process‑flow problems with a disciplined engineering mindset. The ideal candidate will join a small team in a young startup and take on whatever roles are needed to advance the technology along its maturation path. While the primary focus will be running investigative experiments and engineering validation tests in the laboratory, working within a small team naturally creates opportunities—and expectations—to contribute to product and prototype design, chemical synthesis, systems engineering, controls, and occasional corporate development tasks.

Applicants should have 5+ years of experience in physics, chemical engineering, or thermal engineering, with prior experience in developing and validating experimental systems for energy, thermal, or refrigeration applications. Hands‑on experience with prototype hardware is essential. Familiarity with phase‑change phenomena, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics is strongly preferred.

What You’ll Do

Design, build, and execute experiments to characterize thermodynamic, transport, and kinetic behavior in novel solid refrigerant systems.

Develop and utilize Pascal’s test rigs and prototype subsystems to evaluate the thermal and mass transport properties of solid refrigerant composites, and to validate system‑level assumptions under a range of operating conditions.

Analyze experimental data to extract physically meaningful parameters and translate these results into actionable design constraints for materials, components, and systems.

Collaborate with Pascal’s engineers to design experimental equipment and develop robust test procedures.

Develop and execute long‑term test campaigns on solid refrigerant systems to assess performance and reliability, and to identify key failure modes of critical system components.

Contribute to building and nurturing the company’s culture and values.

Mentor interns and co‑op students on R&D‑related projects.

What You’ll Bring

5+ years of experience in technology development for novel physical and/or chemical processes.

Hands‑on experience building and testing prototype machines or systems.

An engineering or science degree with a strong grounding in fundamental or applied physics.

Demonstrated knowledge in phase‑change phenomena, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer.

A strong experimental mindset with a clear understanding of the relationship between creative ideation and disciplined test design (formal QA processes, statistical methods, structured knowledge gathering, and exploratory experimentation).

An affinity for pragmatic outcomes, with a focus on producing results that directly enable the next step in technology development.

The ability to operate independently, contribute effectively within a team, and assume leadership when needed.

The salary range for this role is $110,000–$130,000 or commensurate with experience. We are committed to equitable compensation across our company, and we offer a generous benefits package to make sure you have the support you need. We cover 60% of the medical insurance premiums for our employees and their dependents on our base plans, and 100% of dental, and vision insurance premiums. We offer an unlimited Paid Time Off policy and encourage people to take regular vacation. We provide an employee‑contribution 401(k) plan in addition to many other benefits. Every employee, regardless of gender identity or expression, is also eligible for 12 weeks of paid parental bonding leave after their 1‑year anniversary at the company.