Full-time Mechanical Engineer

Norma; Paris; On-site; EUR 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Swile meal vouchers

50% public transportation reimbursemen

Job summary

Norma seeks a Lead Mechanical Engineer to advance its core carbon-capture hardware from lab-scale proof of concept to a functioning industrial prototype and pilot plant. You will own design, testing, and scaling decisions, working hands-on to drive milestones.

You will lead mechanical design for prototype-to-pilot, ensuring manufacturability and rigorous documentation while coordinating suppliers and mentoring junior engineers in a fast-paced, international startup.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering; hands-on experience preferred.
• Minimum 2 years of full-time product development experience.
• Mechanical design on industrial equipment with fluid/thermal management.
• Experience moving a product from prototype through pilot (TRL4–TRL7).

Responsibilities

• Own hardware design and development for prototype to pilot.
• Lead hands-on build, testing, and iteration of mechanical systems.
• Contribute to P&IDs and define test plans and commissioning docs.
• Ensure design traceability and manufacturing readiness.
• Support junior engineers and coordinate with suppliers.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Product development

Mechanical design

CAD

Hands-on testing

Design for manufacturing

P&ID

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

CAD

P&ID

Job description

Norma is pioneering Supercapacitive Carbon Capture, using supercapacitor technology to store and reuse the energy required to capture carbon. Instead of consuming energy, we recover it, making carbon capture dramatically more efficient and scalable. The result: 6-10x lower energy use and cost than first-generation Direct Air Capture systems. We target Direct Air Capture, point-source CCS, and CO₂ utilisation.

In just months, we went from first prototype to outperforming current leaders. We've raised a $1M pre-seed round, secured early pre-purchases with Milkywire and filed two patents. We are backed by top tier ClimateTech VCs.

Norma is led by Mónica Larrazábal (MIT MBA, ex-McKinsey, 5 years in carbon capture) and Dr. Silvia Pugliese (Chemistry PhD at Collège de France, repeat founder in climate tech). We are now looking for a lead Mechanical Engineer to develop Norma's core technology from lab-scale proof of concept through to functioning industrial prototype.

The mission

The Mechanical Engineer is the technical owner of Norma's hardware development. From the moment they join, they inherit responsibility for taking the core CO₂ capture technology from its current lab-scale proof of concept through to a functioning industrial prototype and pilot plant.

This is not a support role, our Mechanical Engineer defines how the technology gets built, tested and scaled, and they do it hands‑on. In a team this size, their decisions directly determine whether Norma hits its technical milestones.

Objectives

• Technical Owner: Define design and process requirements across prototype, pilot and demo. Translate R&D outputs into buildable systems and own the hardware roadmap.
• Builder & Tester: Execute the full development cycle hands‑on (mechanical design, CAD, fabrication, testing, iteration). Get hardware off the ground fast.
• Hardware Lead (pilot): Own the mechanical design and build of the pilot unit, end to end. Contribute to P&IDs, and develop test plans and commissioning documentation.
• Engineering Standard‑Bearer: Ensure traceability and rigor across the stack (drawings, ICDs, design docs). Build the foundations as the team scales.
• Manager: Support Junior Mechanical Engineer growth and efficiency
• Team Multiplier: Support R&D with hardware implementation, coordinate suppliers and manufacturers, guide junior engineers.

Experience

Must have:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Master's welcome). Hands‑on experience matters more to us than academic level.
• Minimum 2 years of full‑time product development experience.
• Mechanical design experience on industrial equipment involving fluid and thermal management. Direct experience with electrochemical stacks is strongly preferred.
• Has taken a product from prototype through pilot stage (TRL4 to TRL7), not just early concept validation or late‑stage mass production scale‑up.

Hard Skills

Must have:

• CAD
• Hands‑on assembly and testing
• Design for manufacturing (including machining and 3D printing)

Nice to have:

• Python, MATLAB
• Fluid and thermal systems
• Cross‑functional knowledge: electrical and power systems
• Standards and compliance
• Project management
• P&ID

Soft Skills

• System-level thinking: ability to see the big picture, make connections and take appropriate decisions
• Effective prioritization: works to and meets deadlines in a fast‑moving environment
• Efficient problem solving: identifies root causes quickly and iterates without overthinking
• Adaptable: comfortable with ambiguity, shifts gears when the situation demands it
• Proactive: moves things forward without waiting to be asked

Ways of working

• Results‑oriented: cares about outcomes, not activity
• Hands‑on: wants to be in the build, not just directing it
• Decisive: makes calls with incomplete information and owns them
• Efficient: does more with less, avoids unnecessary complexity

What We Offer

We are an early‑stage company building a world‑class team and a breakthrough climate technology grounded in an ambitious vision. We are fully committed to long‑term impact and excellence.

In addition to the opportunity to make a real impact in the fight against climate change, we offer:

• Contract: Permanent contract (CDI).
• Compensation: Competitive salary and equity package, based on profile and experience.
• Benefits: Health insurance, Swile meal vouchers, and 50% public transportation reimbursement.
• Impact & Growth: A unique opportunity to join at an early stage, play a critical role in scaling the company, and grow alongside the technology.
• Culture: Low ego, team‑first, and results‑driven. We combine radical thinking with radical candor to redefine carbon capture.
• International environment: English‑first workplace with gender parity and a diverse team representing five nationalities.

We believe that a diverse group of minds is key to solving the climate crisis. Studies have shown that under‑represented candidates are less likely to apply for an opportunity unless they feel they meet every single qualification.