Principal Mechanical Engineer

PetsApp; Cambridge (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Incentive Stock Options

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401k match

Commuter benefits

Job summary

PetsApp seeks a Principal Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical design, engineering, and fabrication of a FOAK SAF pilot plant integrating DAC and electrolysis tech. You will own the electrolyzer mechanical architecture as the system moves from prototype to pilot, bridging electrochemical processes with industrial machinery.

You will lead a fast-paced team, mentor internal engineers, and manage external vendors to deliver robust, scalable industrial systems with a strong safety focus.

Qualifications

• MS in Mechanical Engineering required.
• 15+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience with concept-to-field operation.
• Direct prior experience designing and scaling electrochemical systems or related multi‑phase tech.
• Deep fabrication knowledge: machining, welding, sheet metal, casting; GD&T.

Responsibilities

• Design, layout, and integration of the carbonate electrolysis system.
• Scale bench designs to a fully functional pilot plant (containerized/skid-mounted).
• Design piping, manifolds, and thermal management loops.
• Manage external EPCs, machine shops, and component suppliers.

Skills

CAD Mastery

FEA

3D modeling

Piping & valves

Vendor management

Cross-functional leadership

Safety mindset

Communication

GD&T

ASME B31.3 knowledge

Education

Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

PDM/PLM

Job description

Role

• Sora is seeking a visionary Principal Mechanical Engineer to spearhead the mechanical design,

• engineering, and fabrication of our First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)

• pilot plant.

• In this role, you will lead the physical realization of an integrated facility that combines novel

• Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology with a cutting-edge carbonate electrolysis system. You

• will own the electrolyzer mechanical architecture as we transition from our prototype system to a

• pilot system. You will take the design from concept through physical fabrication and

• commissioning, turning advanced chemical workflows into robust, operational industrial systems.

• As our Principal Mechanical Engineer, you will bridge the gap between complex

• electrochemical/chemical processes and robust industrial machinery. This is a role requiring deep

• technical expertise, a get it done mindset, and the ability to lead external vendors and lead and

• mentor internal team members

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Education: Master of Science (MS) in Mechanical Engineering

• Experience: 15+ years of progressive mechanical engineering experience, with a proven track record of taking complex physical systems from concept to successful field operation.

• Technical Domain Expertise: Direct prior experience designing and scaling electrochemical systems, grid-scale battery systems, or closely related multi-phase physical-chemical technology.

• Manufacturing Fluency: Deep knowledge of diverse fabrication methods (machining, welding, sheet metal, custom casting) and geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T).

• CAD Mastery: Expert proficiency in 3D modeling and product data management software (e.g., SolidWorks) alongside Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for stress and thermal optimization.

• Safety Mindset: Must anticipate risks, speaking up about hazards, and prioritize long-term safety over short-term speed.

• Communication: Ability to communicate effectively and work in a fast-paced, collaborative team environment.

• Core Values: Alignment with our core values of transparency, diversity, collaboration, valuing people and development, and work ethic.

Preferred Skills

• Familiarity with carbon capture equipment, electrochemical cells, or chemical process piping (ASME B31.3).

• Background in skid design and modular industrial plant layouts.

• Process Equipment Knowledge: Experience selecting and integrating industrial balance-of-plant components, including pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, and high-purity piping systems.

• Startup Agility: Prior experience working in fast-paced, venture-backed hardware startups or highly innovative R&D environments.

Key Responsibilities

Mechanical Design and Engineering

• System Architecture: Responsible for the mechanical design, layout, and structural integration of the carbonate electrolysis system.

• Scale-Up Engineering: Translate bench-scale and custom-component designs into a fully functional, containerized, or skid-mounted industrial pilot plant.

• Thermal & Fluid Systems: Design and optimize piping, custom manifolds, fluid delivery networks and thermal management loops.

• Vendor & Fabricator Management: Select, vet, and manage external EPCs, machine shops, and component suppliers to ensure rapid, high-quality fabrication.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with Chemical Engineers, Chemists,

• Mechanical and Electrical to ensure flawless mechanical-to-process integration.

• Safety & Compliance: Must have a safety mindsetOversee compliance with relevant

• pressure vessel, piping, and industrial safety codes (e.g., ASME B31.3, ASME Section VIII).

• Hands-on Assembly & Commissioning: Build, test, troubleshoot, and commission the pilot plant alongside the field team.

• Testing & Validation: Formulate test plans, mechanical commissioning procedures, and safety checklists for newly fabricated platforms.

• Analysis: Analyze physical test data to iterate and optimize subsequent hardware designs.

Benefits

• Competitive salary

• Incentive Stock Options

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits

• 401k match

• Commuter benefits