Senior / Staff Systems Engineer

Antora; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 129,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Health benefits

401K plan

Flexible PTO

Job summary

Antora Energy in San Jose, CA is seeking a Senior/Staff Systems Engineer to drive architecture and operating philosophies for zero-carbon thermal storage systems. You will apply first-principles modeling and data insights to accelerate design decisions and validate performance across projects and in-house facilities.

The role offers deep cross-functional collaboration with commercial, engineering, and field teams, enabling tangible impact on product development and customer value.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus 6+ years of experience, or Master's degree plus 2+ years, or PhD in a technical field such as mechanical/materials/chemical engineering, chemistry, or physics.
• Experience in first-principles system analysis, thermodynamics, energy balances, heat transfer, or gas systems.
• Strong modeling and communication of methodology and results to leadership.
• Ability to learn complex, interdisciplinary concepts quickly.

Responsibilities

• System analysis and first-principles modeling of Antora's thermal storage systems.
• Propose, evaluate, and model next-generation system architectures and operating strategies.
• Lead the development and implementation of new system architectures and operational philosophies.
• Analyze data from projects and test facilities to refine models and predict future performance.
• Collaborate with commercial, engineering, and field teams to translate value to customers.

Skills

First-principles analysis

Thermal systems

Python

Model-based design

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Tools

Simulink

Modelica

Ansys/COMSOL

Job description

Antora builds and deploys thermal batteries to power always-on industrial operations with low-cost energy. Factory-built in the United States, Antora's modular thermal batteries deliver reliable heat and power, enabling industrial facilities of any size to decarbonize predictably and profitably. Antora is electrifying global industry while supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs, lowering costs for energy consumers, and enhancing the competitiveness of American industry. We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and build with humility and openness. We are committed to continue building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future where every industrial facility, everywhere on earth, is powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior / Staff Systems Engineer - in San Jose - who is a self-driven, curious, and passionate engineer to join our Technology Development team and help deliver zero-carbon industrial heat and power through our novel solid-state thermal battery.

This is a deeply collaborative role at the heart of system innovation. You will work across disciplines to shape the architecture and operating philosophy of Antora's future products and projects. Using first-principles modeling, data analysis, and real-world performance insights, you will help accelerate Antora's mission to decarbonize industry at scale.

Roles & Responsibilities

System analysis and modeling Develop first-principles-based models to analyze the architecture and operating behavior of Antora's thermal storage systems. Use these models to deepen system understanding, uncover tradeoffs, and identify opportunities for performance improvement.

New concept evaluation Propose, evaluate, and model next-generation system architectures and operating strategies for Antora's thermal battery.

System architecture design Lead the development and implementation of new system architectures and operational philosophies, from early concept through validation.

Performance validation Analyze data from commercial project sites and Antora's in-house test facilities to refine and validate models, enabling accurate prediction of future system performance.

Cross-functional collaboration Work closely with commercial, engineering, and field teams to understand how the thermal battery operates in practice and how it creates value for customers and other stakeholders.

Key Qualifications

Senior Engineer

• Bachelor's degree plus 6+ years of experience, or
• Master's degree plus 2+ years of experience, or
• PhD in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, materials engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, or physics

Staff Engineer

• Bachelor's degree plus 10+ years of experience, or
• Master's degree plus 8+ years of experience, or
• PhD plus 4+ years of experience in a technical field such as mechanical engineering, materials engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry, or physics

Technical Skills and Experience

• Strong fundamentals in first-principles systems analysis, thermodynamic cycles, energy balances, heat transfer, and gas systems
• Strong analytical modeling skills using Python or similar tools
• Experience owning or leading the architecture design of industrial-scale energy systems
• Ability to clearly communicate assumptions, methodology, and results to technical and non-technical leadership
• Ability to learn complex, interdisciplinary concepts quickly
• Enjoys tackling difficult, cross-functional problems in a collaborative environment

Additional Qualifications (Desired but Not Required)

• Experience working with high-temperature systems
• Experience with model-based systems engineering (MBSE) or dynamic simulation tools (e.g., Simulink, HYSYS, Python/Modelica)
• Experience with FEA and/or CFD using commercial software such as Ansys or COMSOL
• Experience with techno-economic analysis

Work Location: San Jose, CA

Salary Range: $129,000 USD - $170,000 USD

Salary Basis: Annual

Please note that the salary range listed above reflects Antora Energy's estimated pay for this position. The actual salary offered will be within the posted range and determined based on several factors including but not limited to a candidate's experiences, credentials and expertise, as they pertain to the position's requirements.

In addition to a competitive base salary, Antora Energy’s Total Rewards program includes equity compensation in the form of stock options, a premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance, a 401K plan with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and an industry leading paid-time-off policy that features flexible and inclusive holiday observance, as well as paid volunteer time off.

When it comes to stopping climate change, we need everyone. We believe that having a diversity of backgrounds and experiences strengthens all of us, and we strive to create an environment where every one of us is empowered to create meaningful change.