Staff Mechanical Engineer

Solcoa Industries; Alameda, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary.

Generous stock options.

Medical, dental and vision insurance.

Company-provided lunch daily.

Visa sponsorship available if needed.

Job summary

Solcoa is seeking a Staff Mechanical Engineer to own the mechanical and thermal design of modular high-temperature reactors, translating process requirements into robust equipment. You will lead validation, design for manufacturing, prototype development, and commissioning at Solcoa One, collaborating with fabrication, operations, and process teams to improve throughput and reliability.

The role requires hands-on fabrication experience, strong CAD skills, and the ability to drive design

Qualifications

• Proficiency in CAD (Fusion).
• Hands-on experience with metal machining and shop tools.
• Experience with high-temperature systems and/or vacuum hardware.
• Detail-orientation and precise technical execution.
• Comfort working independently in a fast-paced, build-measure-learn environment.
• Availability to start soon.

Responsibilities

• Own the mechanical and thermal design of Solcoa’s modular high-temperature reactors, from concept through operating hardware.
• Validate heat transfer, thermal expansion, structural loads, and component life under repeated thermal cycling using first-principles calculations, simulation, and testing.
• Radically simplify reactor assemblies, reduce part count, and standardize components for repeatable manufacturing; manage CAD models, drawings, tolerances, BOM, and specs.
• Drive hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and commissioning of pilot and next-generation reactors; define acceptance criteria and lead factory acceptance testing.
• Lead a team of mechanical engineers and coordinate design reviews with fabrication, operations, and process teams.

Skills

CAD Fusion

Metal machining

High-temperature systems

Vacuum hardware

Detail-oriented

Independent work

Tools

Fusion CAD

Job description

Making the Metals Powering the World

Solcoa is building the next generation of American metalmaking, starting with rare earths — the metals of power and motion. We've developed a new chemistry that converts rare earth oxides into high-purity metals — the materials inside every EV, fighter jet, wind turbine, and data center — cleaner, cheaper, and faster than any conventional process. Now we're scaling it to thousands of tonnes of annual production.

The Role

Staff Mechanical Engineer will own Solcoa's mechanical and thermal design of the high-temperature reactors. You radically simplify the mechanical and thermal designs, optimize the design for ease of manufacturability, assembly, and maintenance. The manufactured and modular reactors will be deployed to Solcoa One, the largest rare earth metallization plant in the US, and will be capable of producing any rare earth metal in a standardized process.

What You’ll Do

• Reactor Design. Own the mechanical and thermal design of Solcoa’s modular high-temperature reactors, from concept through operating hardware. Translate process requirements into integrated designs for reactor vessels, crucibles, seals, and metal-handling mechanisms.

• Thermal and Mechanical Validation. Use first-principles calculations, simulation, and instrumented testing to validate heat transfer, thermal expansion, structural loads, and component life under repeated thermal cycling. Resolve heating, cooling, vacuum-integrity, and material-compatibility problems with the thermal and research teams to improve throughput and reliability.

• Design for Manufacturing and Maintenance. Radically simplify reactor assemblies, reduce part count, and standardize components for repeatable manufacturing. Own CAD models, fabrication drawings, tolerances, BOM, and equipment specifications. Work directly with fabricators and suppliers to reducelead time and make reactors easier to assemble, service, and repair.

• Prototype Development and Commissioning. Drive hands-on assembly, troubleshooting, and cold and hot testing of pilot and next-generation reactors. Define acceptance criteria, lead mechanical factory acceptance testing, and support installation and commissioning at Solcoa One.

• Technical Leadership. Lead a team of mechanical engineers, organize the mechanical design process, conduct design reviews. Interface with fabrication, operations, and process teams to create mechanical design requirements and make key systematic design decisions.

Required

• Proficiency in CAD (Fusion).

• Hands-on experience with metal machining and shop tools.

• Experience with high-temperature systems and/or vacuum hardware.

• Detail-orientation and precise technical execution.

• Comfort working independently in a fast-paced, build-measure-learn environment.

• Availability to start soon.

Preferred

• Coursework or experience in chemistry or physics (thermo, materials, reaction engineering, or similar).

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary.

• Generous stock options.

• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance.

• Company-provided lunch daily.

• Visa sponsorship available if needed.