Mechanical Engineer (Thermal / Cryogenics)

Spinor Energy Inc.; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Spinor Energy is building superconducting magnetic energy storage systems and seeks a Mechanical Engineer (Thermal / Cryogenics) to own the cryogenic design and bring-up. You will shape heat transfer, select critical components, and ensure reliable field operation of cryogenic assets.

The role spans design-to-deployment, with emphasis on thermodynamics, multi-physics simulations, and integration with cryocoolers, vacuum systems, and facilities coordination in a high-rate development environment.

Qualifications

• Strong first-principles fundamentals in mechanical design and manufacturing
• Experience with GD&T and tolerance stackups for complex assemblies
• Proficiency in thermodynamics and heat transfer principles
• Familiarity with cryogenic systems and vacuum components is a plus

Responsibilities

• Own the design, analysis, and operation of Spinor’s cryogenic system from component through bring-up
• Design and optimize the thermal budget and heat flux management for the magnet
• Lead selection and packaging of cryogenic and vacuum components and interfaces
• Coordinate cryogenic equipment deployment, field testing, and infrastructure integration

Skills

First-principles fundamentals

Mechanical design

Design-for-manufacturing

Thermodynamics

ASME Y14.5 GD&T

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

COMSOL

Job description

Build at the frontier, where superconductors, cryogenics, and megawatts meet

Spinor Energy's mission is to accelerate the global transition to renewable energy with breakthrough technology.

We’re building the real-life flux capacitor: Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES), a battery that stores electricity in the magnetic field of a superconducting coil instead of through chemical reactions. It never degrades, discharges megawatts in milliseconds, and is the most efficient form of energy storage ever conceived.

Our engineering spans four disciplines at once: superconducting materials, megawatt-scale power electronics, cryogenics, and vacuum systems. At Spinor, you'll get your hands on all of them.

Spinor's founders came from SpaceX, where they designed Starlink solar arrays and scaled production to 70 satellites per week. We are bringing the same first-principles engineering, rapid iteration, and design-for-scale mindset to energy storage.

You will own consequential hardware architecture and first schematic through bring-up, validation, and field deployment.

The Role

We are hiring a Mechanical Engineer (Thermal / Cryogenics) to design and own Spinor’s cryogenic system, used to supercool superconducting magnets to temperatures colder than the surface of Pluto.

You Will

• Own the design, analysis, and operation of Spinor’s cryogenic system from piece-part design, to component selection, to guiding architectural decisions

• Design and optimize the thermal budget and management of heat flux (conduction, radiation, convection) to the magnet

• Own component design/selection and hardware delivery for key cryogenic and vacuum components: vacuum chambers/cryostats, multi-layer insulation (MLI) radiation shielding, low-conduction structural supports, and cryocooler interfaces

• Own component selection, packaging, and operation of Spinor’s cryogenic auxillary equipment, including cryocoolers, helium compressors, water chillers, vacuum pumps, and water-cooling loops, coordinating with facilities and customers to accelerate infrastructure development as needed

• Oversee deployment of cryogenic assets in-field operation and testing

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Aerospace Engineering, another relevant discipline, or equivalent practical experience

• Strong first-principles fundamentals in mechanical design and design-for-manufacturing across a diverse set of manufacturing processes, including but not limited to injection molding, CNC/lathe, sheet metal, additive manufacturing, and forging/castings

• Familiarity in applied GD&T (ASME Y14.5), with experience designing and tolerancing complex assemblies for reliable fit-up, preferably in a high-rate, cost-focused production environment

• Strong proficiency with thermodynamic first principles across all forms of heat transfer, including but not limited to conduction, radiation, convection, and fluid dynamics

Preferred Qualifications

You have driven end-to-end product success across an entire hardware lifecycle, from initial problem statement through design, build-out, and high-rate manufacturing. You are not afraid to "Fail Fast" and can iterate quickly to de-risk high-impact requirements early in the development cycle

You bring several of the following:

• Experience in designing and simulation thermal and mechanical multi-physics systems including CFD, (ANSYS or COMSOL preferred)

• Experience in design, fabrication, and operation of cryocoolers, cryostats, vacuum chambers or pressure vessels

• Hands-on experience with the selection, packaging, integration, and operation of industrial cryogenic equipment, including cryocoolers, helium compressors, vacuum pumps, water chillers, and water-cooling loops

Relevant experience may include stored energy systems, aerospace thermal, battery pack design or manufacturing, or other technologies.

We do not expect one person to have worked in every one of these areas. We care most about technical depth, learning velocity, and evidence that you can build and ship.

Spinor Energy is an equal-opportunity employer.