Senior Mechanical Engineer — Reactor Design Leader

Stanford Climate Ventures; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Stanford Climate Ventures is seeking an experienced mechanical engineer to lead the design of novel chemical reactors, taking concepts through to Code-stamped hardware for field deployment. You will own reactor design end to end, manage ASME Code paths, and drive joining procedures, materials selection and safe operation under high-pressure flammable gas service.

This role requires hands-on lab and shop floor work in a startup environment, with focus on heat transfer, corrosion resistance, and

Qualifications

• BS in Mechanical Engineering, or related field; MS/ PhD valued.
• 8+ years designing and delivering pressure equipment, ideally reactors or compact heat exchangers.
• Hands-on experience with ASME Section VIII, Division 1 and Authorized Inspector interaction.
• Experience with brazing or welding procedures under Section IX.
• Metallurgy and materials selection for high-pressure gas service; joint failure modes.
• Thermal-structural FEA and heat transfer analysis experience (ANSYS, Abaqus or equivalent).
• Record of taking hardware from concept through fabrication, test and operation.
• Comfort working in a startup environment; hands-on in lab and shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Own reactor mechanical design end to end: pressure boundary, internals, headers and manifolds.
• Lead design selection: evaluate architectures on heat transfer, manufacturability, Code path and cost.
• Own the ASME Code path: Section VIII, Division 1; liaison with Authorized Inspector and fabricators.
• Develop and qualify joining procedures (brazing and welding) under Section IX with coupons and testing.
• Run thermal and structural analysis: thermal stress, cycling, fatigue and pressure loading.
• Own materials selection and compatibility for hydrogen, CO and other flammable gases.
• Design for safe operation with flammable gas at pressure: relief, containment, leak detection, HAZOP reviews.
• Build the supply chain: material suppliers, braze shops, pressure vessel fabricators; write specs.
• Take prototypes from drawing to test: coupons, prototype modules, pressure and leak testing.

Skills

Mechanical design

ASME Section VIII

Thermal-structural FEA

Heat transfer analysis

Pressure equipment design

Materials selection

Metallurgy knowledge

Prototype testing

Lab and shop floor hands-on

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering

MS or PhD valued

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

Stanford Climate Ventures is seeking an experienced mechanical engineer to lead the design of novel chemical reactors, taking concepts through to Code-stamped hardware for field deployment. You will own reactor design end to end, manage ASME Code paths, and drive joining procedures, materials selection and safe operation under high-pressure flammable gas service.

This role requires hands-on lab and shop floor work in a startup environment, with focus on heat transfer, corrosion resistance, and