Sr. Mechanical Engineer

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer based out of our Fort Lupton facility, you’ll be responsible for designing the next generation of pyrolysis technology, implementing and troubleshooting mechanical systems in production, and collaborating with the broader engineering team, including electrical, automation, and manufacturing engineers, as well as fabricators and technicians. This group collaborates to overcome design/build/test challenges and successfully execute commissioning and production handover campaigns.

This role involves designing new mechanical systems, selecting electromechanical actuators, sensors, pumps, etc. and continually improving on our pyrolysis and biomass processing equipment. You’ll turn wrenches to help bring your designs to life and develop test plans to ensure your systems meet overall design intent. Often, you will be tasked with updating the configuration of legacy systems in order to validate novel design pathways or new subsystems, informing the architecture of our next generation of pyrolysis equipment. In order to meet Charm’s overall production and throughput goals, the role will leverage mechanical and system expertise to provide troubleshooting support for production machines based on issues observed by our Operations partners. This role will report to the Lead Pyrolysis Engineer based out of Fort Lupton, Colorado.

Someone successful in this role will enjoy bringing new designs to life and helping to test and commission their new equipment. This person takes pride in delivering robust mechanical solutions that work in the real world, and loves stepping through the root cause analysis process when systems are not performing as intended. This person also takes an analytical approach to problem solving and is not afraid to step out of their comfort zone when tackling new problems.  A great attitude in the face of difficult and fast-paced environments is a must!

• Design unique solutions for our next generation operations pyrolyzer: Develop mechanical and electromechanical solutions for production use while considering interfacing systems, operating requirements, operator burden, and regular service and maintenance.

• Design solutions for our next generation R&D pyrolyzer: Scale our existing tech to higher machine throughputs while addressing new problems and plant requirements to push our tonnage down the cost curve. Learn from previous successes and failures to develop a first of its kind test article.

• Troubleshoot and resolve issues: Identify and troubleshoot mechanical system malfunctions and performance gaps. Determine why a failure mode is observed and implement a corrective action to return the system to optimal performance.

• Develop and execute test plans and commissioning campaigns: Take direct ownership of your designs beyond pressing print on your drawings. Validate performance before and after machine installation. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams: Work closely with electrical engineers, software developers, and other mechanical engineers to implement mechanical systems into the larger pyrolysis package

• Support on-call production support as needed, if our frontline Engineering Technician group needs help solving critical Operations problems

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, or a related field (a MS degree is a plus!)

• Seasoned mechanical engineering experience (5-8 years)

• CAD knowledge is a must, we use OnShape

• Skilled in modes of heat transfer, sensor and actuator selection for robust operations, and building project requirements from ambiguity

• Experience with DFMA and FMEA 

• Experience with GD&T, Skilled with basic fabrication techniques and the design principles around them

• Skilled with electromechanical systems and design for material handling 

• Hands-on mechanical troubleshooting and assembly experience

• A strong willingness to get your hands dirty and intimately interact with all pyrolysis system components

• Documentation skills that demonstrate your thought process and design process when making improvements

• Ability to communicate priorities, system progress, and work cross functionally

• A desire to work alongside Electrical & Controls Engineers and fabricators to turn solutions into physical, installed hardware as quickly as possible. Use quick implementation skills to make quick and long-term fixes to the pyrolysis system in service of system improvement.

• An excitement for scaling up hardware that has the potential to positively impact climate change!