R&D Engineer, Combustion and Thermal Systems

Nano-C, Inc.; Westwood (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Great benefits

Safe work environment

Job summary

Nano-C is seeking an Experimental Reactor Development Engineer specializing in combustion and thermal systems. The role blends mechanical design, thermal engineering, and experimental science to advance nanocarbon materials.

Expect hands-on work from CAD to shop floor and live experiments, reporting to Upstream Manufacturing and Development leadership. Qualifications include an MS or PhD in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering and 3+ years of hands-on experience with high-temperature systems.

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience in design, build, commissioning, and operation of high-temperature, combustion, or thermal systems.
• Strong background in thermal system design, heat transfer, fluid flow, combustion, and reaction engineering.
• Experience designing and analyzing high-temperature reactors, furnaces, burners, gas delivery, piping, and related hardware.
• Ability to translate ideas into practical test systems and hardware.
• Proven ability to develop experimental reactor concepts and lab-scale test systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop laboratory-scale reactors, burners, furnaces, gas delivery systems, precursor feeds, collection and exhaust systems.
• Perform engineering calculations for heat transfer, gas flow, pressure drop, residence time, and high-temperature operation.
• Create and update 3D CAD models, fabrication drawings, piping layouts, and mechanical details.
• Specify components including valves, regulators, thermocouples, sensors, and tubing.
• Collaborate with machine shops, fabricators, welders, and vendors to ensure parts meet specifications.
• Review vendor drawings and modify designs based on cost, lead time, or fabrication constraints.
• Receive and inspect parts and assist with assembly and installation of experimental systems.
• Develop experimental procedures and test matrices with defined acceptance criteria.
• Operate reactor systems during campaigns, monitoring temperature, pressure, gas flow, vacuum, and burner performance.
• Troubleshoot startup and operation issues and document data for traceability.
• Collect process data and prepare plots and conclusions to guide design iterations.

Skills

Thermal design

Heat transfer

3D CAD

Experimental design

Lab equipment handling

Education

MS/PhD in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Inventor

Swagelok

Job description

R&D Engineer, Combustion and Thermal Systems

Nano-C

Salary range $110K to $140K, commensurate with experience

Join Nano-C as an Experimental Reactor Development Engineer, reporting to the Director of Upstream Manufacturing and Development, primarily responsible for combustion reactor systems from concept through validation. This is a hands‑on role for an engineer equally comfortable at a CAD workstation, on the shop floor coordinating with fabricators, and standing next to equipment running live experiments. You will work at the intersection of mechanical design, thermal engineering, and experimental science, contributing directly to Nano-C's development of advanced nanocarbon materials.

R&D Engineer, Combustion and Thermal Systems Qualifications

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering
• 3+ years of mechanical, chemical, aerospace, or related engineering experience, with significant hands‑on involvement in the design, build, commissioning, and operation of laboratory or pilot-scale high‑temperature, combustion, or thermal process systems
• Strong background in thermal system design, heat transfer, fluid flow, combustion, and reaction engineering
• Experience designing and analyzing high‑temperature reactors, furnaces, burners, gas delivery systems, process piping, exhaust systems, and related experimental hardware
• Ability to translate conceptual ideas and experimental objectives into practical, buildable test systems and hardware
• Ability to develop experimental reactor concepts and convert them into complete laboratory‑scale test systems
• Proven ability to solve complex experimental and hardware development problems
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, define technical scope, identify unknowns, develop test plans, and execute projects from concept through experimental validation
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD (SolidWorks, Inventor, or equivalent); ability to generate 3D assemblies, fabrication drawings, piping layouts, equipment arrangements, and mechanical details
• Ability to perform engineering calculations related to heat transfer, pressure drop, gas flow, residence time, thermal expansion, material selection, and structural loading in high-temperature operation
• Hands‑on experience with Swagelok tubing, NPT piping, flanged systems, regulators, valves, gas systems, and process instrumentation
• Experience with reactor modeling, chemical kinetics, combustion modeling, CFD, process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment lists, and component specifications is highly desirable

Why You Should Apply

• Competitive compensation package and great benefits!
• Fun, challenging, equitable, flexible, and safe work environment

R&D Engineer, Combustion and Thermal Systems Job Responsibilities

• Design and develop laboratory‑scale combustion reactors, burners, furnaces/fireboxes, gas delivery systems, precursor feed systems, collection systems, and vacuum/exhaust systems
• Perform engineering calculations related to heat transfer, gas flow, pressure drop, residence time, thermal expansion, material selection, and high‑temperature operation
• Create and update 3D CAD models, fabrication drawings, piping layouts, equipment arrangements, and mechanical details
• Identify and specify required components including valves, regulators, MFCs, thermocouples, pressure sensors, fittings, tubing, flanges, insulation, refractory materials, and structural hardware
• Work directly with machine shops, fabricators, welders, and equipment vendors to obtain quotes, review designs, answer fabrication questions, and ensure parts are built to specification
• Review vendor drawings, select commercially available components, and modify designs as needed based on parts availability, cost, lead time, or fabrication constraints
• Receive and inspect fabricated parts and purchased equipment; support or perform mechanical assembly and installation of experimental systems
• Develop experimental procedures and define test matrices, operating variables, data requirements, and acceptance criteria
• Operate experimental reactor systems during test campaigns, monitoring parameters including temperature, pressure, gas flow, vacuum, burner performance, and system stability
• Troubleshoot issues during startup and operation including flow instability, pressure fluctuations, thermal problems, leaks, burner behavior, instrumentation issues, and material buildup
• Collect process data and experimental samples in a consistent and traceable manner
• Prepare plots, summaries, and technical conclusions from experimental data; use results to guide the next design iteration including changes to geometry, burner configuration, tube sizing, flow distribution, materials, or operating conditions

About Nano-C ( www.nano-c.com )

Materials That Power Our World

Nano-C Inc is a global leader in development and industrial scale manufacture of advanced materials and specialty chemicals. Spun out of MIT, Nano-C produces nanocarbon materials including fullerenes and single-walled carbon nanotubes, as well as value added inks and dispersions. Now, with over 250 global patents, Nano-C technologies span three major industries: Solar, Semiconductors, and Batteries. A core part Nano-C’s vision is to use its products to enable better living and a sustainable world. Nano-C’s R&D teams have active collaborations with leading companies and academic institutions around the world.

Through its family of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and their chemical derivatives, Nano-C has managed to harness the power, flexibility and cost-advantages of carbon – the strongest, environmentally safe and most abundant element on earth. These materials enable devices that are more durable and lighter weight, use materials and energy with greater efficiency, and are inherently more versatile—all at a lower total cost to the consumer. As a result, Nano-C materials are now being used by electronics and energy leaders throughout the world to deliver a new era in sleek new products and green solutions to power our world well into the future.

Nano-C is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce.