Junior Mechanical Engineer

REEcycle, Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision benefits

Other benefits

Job summary

A Houston-based recycling technology firm is seeking a Junior Mechanical Engineer to support the deployment and testing of critical machinery in a fast-paced environment. The ideal candidate will assist in project execution from prototype to commercialization while contributing to troubleshooting and system integration efforts. A Bachelor’s degree in engineering and experience in CAD platforms are required. This full-time role offers health benefits and requires on-site work in Houston, Texas.

Qualifications

• 0-2 years of experience in engineering or product development.
• Experience working directly on the shop floor.
• Knowledge of CAD platforms.

Responsibilities

• Support the scaling of a Mechatronic System.
• Assist with project execution from prototype to deployment.
• Contribute to troubleshooting and system integration.
• Contribute as a technical team member and problem-solver, supporting troubleshooting, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• System integration and troubleshooting, including subsystems interaction and control logic.
• Assist in troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of machine issues with field teams and vendors as needed.
• Support transition of prototype systems to commercial-scale deployment and participate in validation activities.
• Travel to field deployments to ensure performance aligns with expectations and capture feedback.

Skills

Hands-on mechanical assembly

Troubleshooting and problem-solving

Comfortable in a dynamic environment

Familiarity with hydraulic and pneumatic systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, Robotics, Manufacturing)

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Overview

REEcycle is a Houston-based pioneer in the recycling of rare earth elements (REEs) from end-of-life permanent magnets. Our patented technology is the U.S’ answer to China’s dominance in the rare earth supply chain. REEcycle is backed by institutional investors and supported by a Department of Defense grant, underscoring the importance and urgency of our mission.

As we scale toward commercial deployment, we are seeking a Junior Mechanical Engineer. A key focus will be on the deployment, testing, and further build out of our Drive Disassembly Machine (DDM), a critical component to REEcycle’s future success. This system efficiently extracts magnets from hard disk drives, creating economically viable feedstocks for our processes.

We are looking for a self-starter who thrives in dynamic environments, brings inventive and solutions-oriented thinking, and is ready to play a key role in building the future of U.S. rare earth independence.

If you\'re excited to learn, build and grow within a fast-paced team making real-world impact, we’d love to speak with you about our Junior Engineer position.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the scaling of a Mechatronic System
• Assist with project execution across all phases from prototype build to early commercial deployment.
• Develop hands-on working knowledge of the company’s proprietary machinery, including hydraulics, pneumatics, mechanical assemblies, and PLC-based control systems.
• Contribute as a technical team member and problem-solver, supporting system troubleshooting, documentation, and cross-functional collaboration across engineering and operations teams.
• System Integration and Troubleshooting
• Learn and support system integration, gaining an understanding of how mechanical and electrical subsystems interact, including solenoid valves, pneumatic actuators, linear guides, hydraulic pumps and cylinders, sensors, and control logic.
• Assist in troubleshooting and root-cause analysis of machine issues, participating in hands-on diagnostics, reviewing system data and logs, and coordinating with senior engineers, technicians, or vendors as needed.
• Commercialization and Production Readiness
• Support the transition of prototype systems to commercial-scale deployment with hands-on involvement in equipment assembly, testing, and system build-out, while assisting with design refinement and validation activities.
• Deployment and Field Learning
• Travel and support field deployments, ensuring performance aligns with expectations.
• Capture real-world feedback to inform design improvements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Mechatronics, Robotics, or Manufacturing disciplines).
• 0-2 years of experience in engineering, product development, or manufacturing environments.
• Comfortable working directly on the shop floor, assisting with machinery build-out, testing, and commissioning alongside technicians and operators.
• Experience in CAD platforms, specifically SolidWorks

Location: Houston, Texas (In office)

Position Type: Full-time

Salary:Compensation will be based on experience

Benefits:Health insurance, dental and vision as well as other benefits

Application

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• In which U.S. city and state do you currently live? (required)
• (Note that we are only able to hire candidates within the United States.)
• Will you be able to commute to our Houston, Texas office? (required)
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• Please tell us why you are the best choice for this position. (required)