Thermal Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

60% of medical insurance premiums covered

100% of dental and vision insurance

Unlimited Paid Time Off

401(k) plan

12 weeks paid parental leave after 1 year

Job summary

A progressive energy technology company in Town Of Cambridge is looking for an experienced engineering physicist to advance their solid refrigerant technology. The role focuses on the design and analysis of thermal systems in a startup environment. Candidates should have over 5 years of experience in thermal engineering, strong problem-solving skills, and hands-on experience with prototype hardware. The position offers a competitive salary range of $110,000–$130,000 and includes robust benefits, including health insurance and unlimited PTO.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in thermal system design and development for energy, HVAC, refrigeration, or related physical systems.
• Hands-on experience designing, building, and testing prototype machines or systems.
• Experience using thermal modeling tools to inform design decisions.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze core elements in solid refrigerant systems.
• Develop and apply analytical models to predict system performance.
• Plan, execute, and interpret thermal performance tests.

Skills

Thermal engineering

Chemical engineering

Mechanical engineering

Heat exchangers

Thermodynamics

Job description

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 expanding our testing and design capabilities, improving performance and efficiency of our prototypes, 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 complex, open-ended thermal system and thermofluidics 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, materials production, systems engineering, controls, and occasional corporate development tasks.

Applicants should have 5+ years of experience in thermal engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or a related field, with prior experience in designing, modeling, and validating thermal systems for energy, HVAC or refrigeration applications. Hands‑on experience with prototype hardware is essential. Familiarity with heat exchangers, phase‑change phenomena, and coupled thermal–fluid systems is strongly preferred.

Job Duties/Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

Design and analyze core elements in solid refrigerant systems, including heat exchangers, thermal interfaces, and system‑level heat flow paths.

Develop and apply analytical and numerical models to predict system performance, identify bottlenecks, and guide design decisions.

Utilize Pascal’s test rigs and prototype subsystems to evaluate the thermal and mass transport properties of solid refrigerant composites.

Plan, execute, and interpret thermal performance tests on prototype subsystems and full systems.

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

Support the design and refinement of test infrastructure, instrumentation, and data acquisition systems.

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

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

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

5+ years of experience in thermal system design and development for energy, HVAC, refrigeration, or related physical systems.

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

Experience using thermal modeling tools and methods to inform design decisions and reduce development risk, with a strong foundation in heat transfer, thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.

An engineering 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 required.

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.