Lead Solar Thermal Design Engineer - High-Temp Receiver

Exowatt, Inc.; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Relocation assistance

Health benefits

Job summary

Exowatt, Inc. in Miami, FL is seeking a Lead Thermal Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of solar thermal receivers for our energy systems.

You will own the engineering of components that absorb and transfer high-flux solar radiation into our thermal storage systems. The role requires strong heat transfer, materials science, and optical engineering expertise; you will model performance, select high-temperature materials, design receiver geometries, and drive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, or related field; Master's or PhD preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in thermal systems design, with significant focus on high-temperature receiver or heat exchanger development.
• Demonstrated expertise in solar thermal receiver design for tower-based or central receiver systems.
• Strong background in heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics.
• Proficiency with thermal simulation tools (ANSYS, COMSOL, SolarPILOT, or equivalent).
• Experience with high-temperature materials including ceramics, refractory metals, and advanced alloys.
• Hands-on experience taking receiver designs from concept through prototype testing and into production as evidenced by prior projects

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design and development of high-temperature solar receivers optimized for solar field integration.
• Develop thermal and optical models to predict receiver performance, including flux distribution, heat transfer efficiency, and thermal stress analysis.
• Select and qualify materials capable of withstanding extreme temperatures (800°C–1000°C+), thermal cycling, and high solar flux environments.
• Design receiver geometries (cavity, external, tubular, particle-based) to maximize energy absorption while minimizing thermal losses and mechanical fatigue.
• Collaborate with solar collection and controls teams to optimize aiming strategies and flux distribution on receiver surfaces.
• Interface with heat exchanger and thermal storage engineers to ensure seamless integration of receiver output with downstream systems.
• Develop and execute testing protocols for receiver prototypes, including high-flux testing and accelerated life cycle evaluation.
• Drive design-for-manufacturing initiatives to reduce receiver cost and improve producibility at scale.
• Stay current with advances in receiver technology, high-temperature coatings, and selective absorber materials.

Skills

Heat transfer

Thermal simulation

Materials science

Prototype testing

DFM

Thermal management

Education

Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering

Master's or PhD preferred

Tools

ANSYS/COMSOL/SolarPILOT

Job description

Exowatt, Inc. in Miami, FL is seeking a Lead Thermal Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of solar thermal receivers for our energy systems.

You will own the engineering of components that absorb and transfer high-flux solar radiation into our thermal storage systems. The role requires strong heat transfer, materials science, and optical engineering expertise; you will model performance, select high-temperature materials, design receiver geometries, and drive