Lead Equipment Engineer

AMPeers; Georgia; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life and AD&D insurance

401(k) plan

Job summary

AMPeers in Houston, TX is seeking a Lead Equipment Engineer to design, commission, and scale tools for high-throughput superconducting tape production. You will own the full toolset from concept through scaled production and set technical direction for a growing engineering team.

You will architect subsystems for deposition platforms, generate build-ready CAD drawings, and collaborate with manufacturing and operations to meet reliability targets. Strong mentorship and leadership are expected.

Qualifications

• Proven track record owning vacuum thin‑film deposition tools from concept through production.
• Deep control systems expertise across motion, vacuum, thermal, flow and power; integration into a single system.
• Demonstrated ability to lead or mentor other engineers.
• BS in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical Engineering or equivalent track record.

Responsibilities

• Own equipment strategy and architecture across the full toolset, from concept to scaled production.
• Set technical direction and review work for other equipment engineers; mentor junior hires.
• Architect motion, thermal, vacuum, gas delivery, and power subsystems for deposition platforms (MOCVD, sputtering, e-beam evap, ion-beam).
• Generate and approve build-ready CAD models and fabrication drawings; own design review process.
• Diagnose and resolve complex, cross-subsystem tool failures affecting throughput and uptime.
• Partner with manufacturing, safety, and operations to set hardware specs, BOMs, capex planning, and reliability targets.
• Drive automation strategy and specify software architecture for repeatable manufacturing.
• Represent equipment engineering in investor, partner, and due-diligence conversations.

Skills

Motion control

Vacuum systems

Thermal management

Control systems

Leadership

Python

LabVIEW

PLC programming

Education

BS Mechanical Engineering

BS Electrical Engineering

BS Chemical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Job description

Lead Equipment Engineer - AMPeers

Location: Houston, TX, on-site

Department: Engineering

Salary: Based on experience

Background & Job Description:

Discovered at the University of Houston in 1987, high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape delivers dramatically higher current densities than copper and aluminum with near-zero resistance

AMPeers is a technology startup out of Houston, TX, developing next-generation REBCO high-temperature superconductor tapes and symmetric tape round (STAR®) superconducting wires. Spun out of the University of Houston, our technology enables the widespread adoption of superconductors in fusion magnets, power transmission, and next-generation energy systems.

To bring this technology from pilot scale to commercial production, AMPeers is building specialized manufacturing equipment and processes in-house. The Equipment Engineer will play a central role in designing, commissioning, and scaling the tools that enable reliable, high-throughput superconducting tape and wire production.

Job Responsibilities:

• Own equipment strategy and architecture across the full toolset, from concept through commissioning to scaled production.

• Set technical direction and review work for other equipment engineers; mentor junior hires.

• Architect motion, thermal, vacuum, gas delivery, and power subsystems for MOCVD, sputtering, e-beam evaporation, or ion-beam deposition platforms, including tradeoff decisions on make-vs-buy and vendor selection.

• Generate and approve build-ready CAD models and fabrication drawings; own design review process. (Software: SolidWorks or other CAD)

• Diagnose and resolve complex, cross-subsystem tool failures affecting throughput, uptime, and process repeatability at production scale.

• Partner directly with manufacturing, safety, and operations leadership to set hardware specs, BOMs, capex planning, and reliability targets across the equipment roadmap.

• Drive automation strategy and specify software architecture for operator-friendly, repeatable manufacturing.

• Represent equipment engineering in investor, partner, and technical due-diligence conversations as needed.

Requirements:

• Proven track record owning vacuum thin-film deposition tools from concept through sustained production operation.

• Deep control systems expertise across motion, vacuum, thermal, flow, and power, with experience integrating them into a single reliable system.

• Demonstrated ability to lead or mentor other engineers.

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering (advanced degree a plus), or equivalent industry track record.

Preferred Requirements:

• 5+ years of tool ownership from concept-to-operation OR 8+ years relevant industrial equipment experience, including scale-up from pilot to production.

• Experience standing up a toolset or equipment function at an early-stage hardware startup.

• Fluency with industrial automation stacks (Python, LabVIEW, embedded, PLC, etc.)

• Cryogenic, superconducting, or thin-film materials process experience.

What we offer

• Medical coverage (HMO and PPO plan options)

• Dental coverage with 100% no-deductible preventive care

• Vision coverage

• Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance

• 401(k) plan with company contribution

AMPeers is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds.