Mechanical Design Engineer

Applied Carbon; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

401(k) with matching

Medical, dental, and vision premiums

Paid time off

Job summary

Applied Carbon is seeking a Mechanical Engineer with strong SolidWorks experience to own mechanical design for our field-installed biochar production machines. You will manage end-to-end design of subassemblies, ensuring manufacturability and reliability in a startup environment.

Qualifications include a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering and 5+ years in SolidWorks with complex assemblies, weldments, sheet metal, and drawings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent hands-on design experience.

Responsibilities

• Create 3D models, assemblies, and drawings from concepts and specifications.
• Generate fabrication drawings with weldments, sheet metal, and tolerances.
• Prepare assembly and maintenance instructions including torque specs and lubrication points.
• Manage large multi-component assemblies and integrate subsystems into complete machine designs.
• Create and maintain BOMs and the SolidWorks library.
• Own revision control in SolidWorks PDM and support administration.
• Inspect drawings for accuracy before release to fabrication.
• Design for high-temperature service with suitable materials.
• Coordinate with fabricators to ensure designs are practical to fabricate, weld, and assemble.
• Support rapid design iteration in a startup environment.
• Present design solutions in design reviews.

Skills

SolidWorks proficiency

Strong design experience

Clear communication

Self-motivated

Ability to manage multiple projects

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

SolidWorks PDM

Job description

About Applied Carbon

We develop and scale groundbreaking technologies that regenerate soils and sequester atmospheric carbon by the gigaton for the betterment of people and planet.

We're a Series A climate tech company with pyrolysis systems that convert agricultural and forestry waste into biochar for carbon sequestration. We're producing carbon credits for customers like Microsoft, certified by Puro.earth. In 2026 we're deploying our systems across partner sites in North America.

Position Overview

Applied Carbon builds and operates mobile equipment that converts agricultural residue into biochar in the field. We are looking for a mechanical engineer with strong design experience in SolidWorks to take ownership and contribute to mechanical design for our machines.

You are proficient in SolidWorks and you own the models, the drawings, and the standards behind them. You will also own the design of specific subassemblies end to end, from concept through production drawings. Experience with designing for manufacturability and reliability is highly desired.

Key Responsibilities

• Create detailed 3D models, complex assemblies, and technical drawings from engineering concepts and specifications.
• Generate shop and fabrication drawings, including sheet metal and weldments, with correct dimensions, tolerances, weld callouts, and fabrication notes.
• Generate assembly and maintenance instructions, including call outs such as torque specs, chain tensioning, lubrication points, alignment tolerances, and refractory or wear part replacement intervals.
• Manage large, multi-component assemblies and integrate subsystems into a complete machine design.
• Create and maintain BOMs and the materials library in SolidWorks.
• Own revision control and data integrity in SolidWorks PDM, and support PDM administration and best practices.
• Inspect drawings for accuracy and compliance before release to fabrication.
• Design for high-temperature and thermal duty, with correct material selection for parts in hot service.
• Submit drawings for RFQs and wok with fabricators, vendors, and in-house team to make sure designs are practical to fabricate, weld, assemble, and maintenance.
• Support fast design iteration and engineering changes in a startup environment.
• Present design solutions in design reviews to the engineering team, management, and customers.

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent hands-on design experience.
• Proficient in SolidWorks: 5+ years of professional use, including complex assemblies, advanced modeling, weldments, sheet metal, and drawing creation. You must be productive in the software from day one.
• Experience with sheet metal design and fabrication drawings, and a working knowledge of fabrication processes, tooling, and design for manufacture.
• Experience in one or more of these areas: thermal or high-temperature systems, mobile or trailer-mounted equipment, or heavy equipment.
• Welding experience or weldment design experience and the ability to communicate effectively with fabricators and welders.
• Working knowledge of weld symbols, joint design, and distortion control.
• Experience with stainless steels in high-temperature service, in particular 316 and 310.
• Experience with PDM or a similar revision control system, and willingness to help administer it.
• Ability to work from incomplete specifications and make sound engineering decisions.
• Clear communication, and comfort presenting technical work under pressure.
• Self-motivated, and able to run several projects at the same time.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of heat transfer and material behavior at high temperature.
• Hands-on welding certification or shop fabrication experience.
• Piping, structural, or rotating equipment design experience.
• Experience in a startup or other fast-paced environment with limited structure.
• Design experience for higher production volumes and for cost reduction.
• SolidWorks Simulation or other advanced SolidWorks modules.
• SolidWorks certification (CSWA, CSWP, or higher).

Working Conditions

Work is performed across office, warehouse, and outdoor environments. The position requires the ability to lift up to 25 pounds, and to stand, walk, and move around the facility throughout the day. The position involves some exposure to heat, cold, sun, rain, dust, dirt, noise, vibration, equipment exhaust, moving machinery, vehicle traffic, uneven ground, and airborne particulates. Agricultural and biomass materials may produce dust, mold, allergens, or other naturally occurring biological contaminants.

• $95,000 to $110,000 depending on experience
• Annual performance based bonus
• 401(k) with matching on the first 3%
• Medical, dental, and vision premiums paid in full
• Paid time off

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Applied Carbon is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process, in accordance with applicable law.

At this time, we are unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship for employment visas. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Headhunters and recruitment agencies may not submit resumes/CVs through this website or directly to managers. Applied Carbon does not accept unsolicited headhunter or agency resumes and will not pay fees to any third-party agency or company that does not have a signed agreement with Applied Carbon.