Senior Mechanical Engineer

Zero Carbon Systems; Brighton (CO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Zero Carbon Systems in Brighton, CO is seeking a Senior Engineer, Mechanical to support the design and development of Direct Air Capture (DAC) machinery. This full-time, on-site position will be responsible for managing the life cycle of mechanical equipment and performing prototype builds as well as engineering support.

The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering and significant experience in designing and upgrading industrial equipment, with strong CAD skills. This position includes opportunities for continuous improvement and project management.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in designing industrial equipment.
• Proficient in 2D/3D CAD software.
• Experience with steam, chemical process, or HVAC equipment.

Responsibilities

• Manage full life cycle development of mechanical equipment.
• Build and prototype DAC machinery.
• Prepare budgets and schedules for new equipment.

Skills

Technical communication

Finite Element Analysis

Computational Fluid Dynamics

Hand and power tools operation

Fluid dynamics

Materials science

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Industrial Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

AutoCAD

Job description

About Zero Carbon Systems

Zero Carbon Systems (ZCS) is a clean energy and direct air capture company on a mission to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon future. We are developing and deploying breakthrough technologies designed to reduce atmospheric CO2 at scale, addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Backed by mission aligned investors and led by a team of passionate innovators, ZCS sits at the intersection of cutting edge science and real world impact. We are building a diverse, collaborative, and driven team of individuals who share our commitment to excellence, creativity, and the belief that the work we do today will shape the world of tomorrow. If you are energized by meaningful work and want to be part of a company where your contributions directly advance the clean energy transition, we would love to hear from you.

Position Overview

Zero Carbon Systems seeks a Senior Engineer, Mechanical to support the design, build, validation, and upgrades of process equipment for Direct Air Capture (DAC) machinery and Pilot Plant at ZCS's Brighton, CO location. Additional responsibilities may include remote engineering and design support for the ZCS demonstration plant. This full‑time, on‑site position reports to the Director of Mechanical Engineering.

Responsibilities

• Manage and execute full life cycle development of process and mechanical equipment for DAC facilities and test rigs
• Build prototype equipment and design, develop, manufacture, and analyze prototypes and revisions of equipment
• Support installs of company equipment and facilities, including Factory and Site Acceptance Testing and Installation and Operational Qualification
• Prepare cost estimates, budgets, and schedules for the design, fabrication, and procurement of new equipment
• Develop experiments, design and procure test rigs, execute testing programs, and document results to validate designs
• In conjunction with a project management team, manage internal and external stakeholders to deliver projects on time and on budget
• Write technical documentation including Standard Operating Procedures for machine operators
• Support continuous improvement by facilitating post‑mortem analyses of projects and documenting areas for improvement
• Conduct and participate in design reviews and proactively raise concerns and develop solutions to problems
• Evaluate data from test rigs, pilot, and production equipment to determine overall performance, reliability, and safety
• Oversee and review the work of Junior Engineers and Designers
• Ability to travel less than 10% of the time to support offsite activities

Requirements

• At least 10 years of progressive responsibility designing, modifying, and upgrading custom industrial equipment
• Proficiency in 2D/3D CAD software with Autodesk Inventor and AutoCAD strongly preferred
• Experience designing equipment for steam use, chemical process equipment, or HVAC equipment
• Experience with engineering design and manufacturing tools including Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams, Bill of Materials Generation, and Engineering Change Orders
• Experience working with remote teams
• Effective verbal and written communication skills necessary to deliver detailed technical presentations in support of engineering reviews

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with or for Engineering, Procurement, and Construction companies
• Experience working in the carbon capture space
• Experience building first‑of‑a‑kind process equipment
• Startup experience and ability to work on cross‑functional teams

Skills

• Ability to communicate technical knowledge in a clear and understandable manner
• Ability to shift tasks and projects quickly depending on changing company goals and direction
• Ability and experience to run Finite Element Analysis and Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations and analyze test data
• Ability to write clear and comprehensive technical documentation including machine Standard Operating Procedures, Bill of Materials, and technical engineering drawings
• Solid understanding of core concepts including fluid dynamics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials science, with working knowledge designing equipment within these concepts
• Ability to operate hand and power tools in a safe manner
• Ability to work a full shift in a fabrication environment

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Chemical, or Industrial Engineering with 7 to 10 years of direct hands‑on experience in mechanical systems design, process equipment design, or a similar role

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to lift and carry equipment as necessary
• Comfortable working in an on‑site fabrication environment at ZCS's Brighton, CO location

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Your Right to Work

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

Artificial Intelligence

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.