Senior Application Engineer

Based in San Diego, California, Tempo develops thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems designed for energy-intensive industries. The platform enables industrial operators to shift energy use over time by sourcing power when it is most cost-effective and enables the electrification of high-temperature industrial heat at a cost advantage to using fossil fuels. By storing electricity thermochemically, the system delivers a continuous stream of combustion-free, high-temperature air at up to 1,200°C.

Tempo is backed by leading climate and energy investors, including Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, and Prelude Ventures.

For more information, visit www.tempoenergy.com.

Position Overview

We are seeking a hands-on, detail-oriented Project Engineer with 3 to 5 years of engineering experience to join our multidisciplinary Applications Engineering team, supporting project execution. This role serves as a primary technical bridge between front-end detailed design and field execution, taking engineered and modular process systems from concept through construction and field startup. The role will be responsible for the development of project documents, and ensuring successful field deployment of projects.

The ideal candidate blends strong technical documentation capabilities (PFDs, P&IDs, and SolidWorks) with a rigorous understanding of instrumentation and project execution. This individual should possess direct, field-based commissioning and startup experience.

Core Responsibilities

1. Detailed Design & amp; Engineering Deliverables

• Develop, update, and manage engineering process drawings, including Process Flow Diagrams (PFDs), mass/heat balance tables, and Piping & Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs).
• Utilize SolidWorks to modify and review 3D project layouts, equipment arrangements, structural frames, and pipe routings.

1.  Instrumentation & amp; Equipment Specification

• Author, review, and finalize instrumentation and equipment datasheets for process systems (e.g., control valves, pressure relief valves, flowmeters, level transmitters, temperature elements, and process equipment).

• Coordinate directly with instrument and equipment vendors to review technical quotes, evaluate bids against project specifications, and review vendors calculations.

• Generate Instrument lists, I/O lists, and junction box wiring drawings.
• Support development of control narrative for heat offtake applications.

1. Project Coordination & Vendor Management

• Support the Lead Project Manager in tracking engineering schedules, procurement lead times, equipment expediting, and budget adherence.

• Interface closely with multi-discipline teams (mechanical, structural, electrical, and automation) to resolve technical and scope gaps.
• Witness and sign off on Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) at vendor facilities, verifying dimensional accuracy, wiring continuity, and mechanical assembly against engineering drawings.

1. Onsite Commissioning & Startup Execution (Critical)

• Lead and support field pre-commissioning checkout, commissioning, and handover activities at customer operating facilities and job sites for our demonstration projects.
• Execute point-to-point wiring checks, cold and hot loop checks, valve stroking, instrument calibration verifications, and interlock/safety shutdown testing.
• Lead onsite mechanical completions: pressure testing, punch-list creation and closeout, and leak-check verifications.
• Provide direct engineering support during startup, tuning, and operational performance testing.
• Actively enforce field safety procedures

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience: 3 to 5 years of post-graduate engineering experience working in design, fabrication, or field execution roles within process industries.
• Ability work onsite in San Diego 5 days a week.

Compensation Range

The US base salary range for this full-time position is [$] to [$] + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, location, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity or benefits.

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Tempo reserves the right to modify, add, or remove responsibilities as business needs evolve. Employees may be asked to perform duties outside of those listed above from time to time.

Tempo is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.  Tempo participates in E-Verify. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check including employment and education check.

Tempo does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles from external recruiters, staffing agencies, or third-party search firms. Submission of unsolicited resumes by any external agency — whether to a Tempo employee, hiring manager, or any other representative — does not constitute or imply an agreement for placement fees, and Tempo will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited submissions under any circumstances. Any candidate submitted without a prior, fully executed, written fee agreement between the agency and Tempo's Human Resources department will be deemed the sole property of Tempo. Tempo reserves the right to pursue and hire such candidates without obligation to the submitting agency.

• Sitting and standing: Extended periods at a desk performing computer-based design, simulation, and documentation work.
• Lifting and carrying : Lift and carry equipment up to 50 lbs.; heavier items handled with mechanical assistance or team lift
• Travel: Occasional travel (estimated <5%) 

Tempo is a lean organization working on exciting challenges, and the people who thrive here share a few things in common beyond their technical skills.

• Clear, direct communication: You professionally say what you mean, lead with empathy, use tact, ask when you're unsure, and keep the people around you informed without being asked. At a company our size, communication gaps are expensive, and good communicators add to success and efficiency!
• Low-ego helpfulness: You're willing to jump in on work that isn't strictly yours, whether that's helping a teammate debug something, lending a hand in the shop, or flagging an issue you noticed outside your lane. No one here succeeds in a silo.
• Intellectual curiosity: You're genuinely interested in how things work, not just your piece of it, but the broader system. Tempo sits at the intersection of chemistry, mechanical engineering, power electronics, and software; the more you understand about the whole, the more valuable you become.
• Business awareness: You understand that your work exists in a business context. You think about cost, timeline, and tradeoffs—not just technical elegance—and you make decisions accordingly.
• Comfort with ambiguity: Processes here are still being built. You can make progress without a perfect playbook, and you know when to ask for direction versus when to use your judgment and move forward.
• Accountability: You own your outcomes, including the misses. When something goes sideways, the instinct here is to fix it and learn from it, not to explain why it wasn't your fault. 

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Tempo reserves the right to modify, add, or remove responsibilities as business needs evolve. Employees may be asked to perform duties outside of those listed above from time to time.

Tempo is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.  Tempo participates in E-Verify. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check including employment and education check. 

California Privacy Notice (CCPA) - In connection with your application, Tempo collects personal information that you voluntarily provide, such as your name, contact information, employment history, and other information relevant to your candidacy. This information is collected and used solely for the purpose of evaluating your application and administering the hiring process. Tempo does not sell applicants' personal information. For more information about your rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), please contact HR.

Tempo does not accept unsolicited resumes or candidate profiles from external recruiters, staffing agencies, or third-party search firms. Submission of unsolicited resumes by any external agency — whether to a Tempo employee, hiring manager, or any other representative — does not constitute or imply an agreement for placement fees, and Tempo will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited submissions under any circumstances. Any candidate submitted without a prior, fully executed, written fee agreement between the agency and Tempo's Human Resources department will be deemed the sole property of Tempo. Tempo reserves the right to pursue and hire such candidates without obligation to the submitting agency.