---
title: 'Mechanical Engineer II at Quaise Energy, Inc'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/mechanical-engineer-ii-quaise-energy-inc-houston-xf3x2jgm510f'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-01'
---

# Mechanical Engineer II at Quaise Energy, Inc

- **Company:** Quaise Energy, Inc
- **Location:** Houston, TX
- **Posted:** 2026-10-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-01
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/quaise/jobs/4450883009

## Job description

Quaise Energy is unlocking Earth’s deep heat to deliver clean, reliable, baseload energy at scale – almost anywhere in the world. As both a technology innovator and project developer, Quaise builds and operates solutions that harness superhot geothermal energy far below the surface, enabling power generation that can rival the output of today’s most efficient fossil fuel and nuclear plants. Leveraging millimeter wave drilling, developed after more than a decade of research at MIT, Quaise’s mission is to make superhot geothermal a backbone of the modern energy system, offering affordable, zero-carbon power and true energy independence for communities and nations everywhere.

Quaise is seeking a Mechanical Engineer II to lead component-level design and development for lab-scale and field-ready mmW drilling systems. This role is intended for engineers capable of independently executing moderately complex mechanical design and testing activities while contributing across a broad range of experimental and product development efforts.

The Mechanical Engineer II will own the design and analysis of components and subsystems from concept through manufacturing and testing. Working closely with cross-functional engineering, manufacturing, and testing teams, this role contributes to the rapid development and deployment of directed energy drilling systems through hands-on engineering, analysis, prototyping, and experimentation.

This is a generalized engineering role with strong growth potential into specialized technical areas depending on business needs, technical aptitude, and individual interests.

Essential functions (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.)

- Lead component-level mechanical design from requirements definition through detailed drawings, release, manufacturing, and testing.
- Perform tolerance stack-up analysis and apply GD&T principles to ensure fit, function, and manufacturability.
- Support the design and development of testing and drilling systems for the Quaise mmW Drilling System.
- Perform engineering analysis including structural analysis, thermal analysis, and fluid system evaluation to support design validation and optimization.
- Utilize FEA tools to evaluate components and assemblies against expected operating conditions and loads.
- Apply ASME standards and engineering best practices in component selection and mechanical system design.
- Assist with CFD evaluations and flow analysis to support fluid and thermal system development.
- Design, execute, and document experiments and testing activities, including Design of Experiments methodologies where appropriate.
- Identify, specify, and integrate sensors, actuators, and instrumentation used in experimental and operational systems.
- Develop and integrate hardware for laboratory experiments, test fixtures, and field-ready drilling systems.
- Select materials and components based on thermal, structural, fatigue, and operational requirements.
- Maintain organized engineering documentation including drawings, calculations, analyses, BOMs, and test records.
- Collaborate with vendors and manufacturers to source custom and commercially available components.
- Troubleshoot mechanical and experimental systems and support recovery efforts during testing and field operations.
- Participate in technical reviews and cross-functional engineering discussions.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.

Competencies

- Proficiency with CAD software; Creo experience preferred.
- Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design principles.
- Experience with structural analysis tools such as ANSYS Mechanical or similar FEA platforms.
- Working knowledge of fluid systems, thermal systems, and mechanical testing methodologies.
- Familiarity with ASME standards related to tubing, fittings, flanges, and pressure-containing systems.
- Ability to independently execute engineering tasks and manage multiple technical priorities simultaneously.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in experimental or fast-paced development environments.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including maintaining review-ready engineering documentation.
- Comfortable operating within a startup or high-growth environment with evolving priorities.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with project planning tools.
- Ability to interact effectively with coworkers, vendors, contractors, and cross-functional teams in both office and field environments.

Supervisory responsibilities

- May supervise the work of contractors to ensure work is completed in accordance with project requirements.
- This role does not include formal people-management responsibilities.

Education and Experience

- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline required (Mechanical, Aerospace, Mechatronics, Robotics, or similar).
- 2–5 years of related engineering experience in a design-focused or product development environment.
- Demonstrated ability to independently execute component-level design, analysis, testing, and troubleshooting activities.
- Experience working in laboratory, R&D, manufacturing, energy, aerospace, industrial, or other highly technical engineering environments preferred.

Physical requirements

- This role requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- The employee is regularly required to stand, sit, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, as well as use hands to feel, reach, grasp, handle, or operate objects, tools, and/or controls.
- The employee must be able to lift, push, pull, transfer, or move items up to 50 pounds at times for departmental needs.
- Ability to move between worksites or travel to various job sites and locations to complete tasks.
- The vision requirement includes reviewing written and electronic materials in digital and physical format.
- Ability to work safely around high voltage and high-power systems while adhering to established safety protocols and procedures.
- The employee must be able to adjust to changing work hours and locations as needed in support of operational and testing activities.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Management reserves the right to change, rescind, add, or delete the duties and responsibilities of positions within this job classification at any time.

Affirmative Action/EEO statement

Quaise Energy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, genetic information, disability, military status or age.

## About Quaise Energy, Inc

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Quaise Energy is developing utility-scale superhot geothermal power plants using a proprietary millimeter wave drilling system to access clean, always-on energy at unprecedented depths and temperatures.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Series A)
- **Headquarters**: Houston, Texas, USA
- **Founded**: 2018
- **Founders**: Carlos Araque (President & CEO) and Matt Houde (Co-founder & Chief of Staff)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry**: Geothermal electric power generation, clean energy
- **Target customers**: Utilities, industrial power users, grid operators (B2B/Enterprise)
- **Mission / Purpose**: “To make superhot geothermal a backbone of the modern energy system by offering affordable, zero-carbon power and true energy independence for communities everywhere.” [quaise-energy.files.svdcdn.com](https://quaise-energy.files.svdcdn.com/production/pdfs/Quaise-Fact-Sheet-WEB.pdf?dm=1756499279)

## Products & Services
- **Superhot Geothermal Power Plants**: Full‑scale power generation and heat distribution plants that tap into rock at 300–500 °C (up to 752 °F) at depths of 3–20 km. Deliver 5–10× more energy than conventional geothermal with 24/7 baseload output.
- **Millimeter Wave Drilling System**: A gyrotron‑powered platform that vaporizes rock without downhole hardware, enabling drilling to depths and temperatures far beyond conventional methods. Proven in the lab and achieved a 100‑meter field test in July 2025.
- **Project Obsidian**: The company’s first commercial‑scale power plant, under development in Central Oregon, targeting 50 MW initially (expandable to 250 MW) with a planned commercial operation date by 2030.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly disclosed
- **Key Metric**: Total funding $104 M (multiple rounds including Series A led by Safar Partners and Prelude Ventures); annual revenue $5 M (estimated)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Safar Partners, Prelude Ventures, TechEnergy Ventures, Nabors (led early venture round), Vinod Khosla (first backer), The Engine (MIT’s venture fund)
- **Growth Signals**:
  - 55 employees (+24.6 % YoY, +14 people) [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quaise-energy)
  - 7 open job postings; monthly job postings +600 % [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quaise-energy)
  - Drilled 100 m using the proprietary millimeter wave system in Central Texas (July 2025)
  - Active in 6 countries (US, UK, UAE, Bulgaria, Australia, Argentina)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Proprietary millimeter wave technology** – no downhole hardware, enabling access to superhot rock virtually anywhere on Earth.
- **Leverages existing fossil fuel supply chains and workforce** – can reuse oil‑and‑gas equipment, rigs, and talent, accelerating deployment.
- **Land‑use efficiency** – deep geothermal uses less than 1 % of the land required by other renewables.
- **Always‑on, zero‑carbon baseload power** – competitive with fossil plants for capacity factor without fuel costs.
- **Founded on a decade of MIT research** (Paul Woskov at MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center).

## Strategic Focus
- Complete Project Obsidian (Central Oregon) as the catalyst for global scale – commercial operation by 2030.
- Continue developing and field‑testing the hybrid drilling rig (conventional + millimeter wave) to reach 20 km depths and 500 °C temperatures.
- Expand to multiterawatt‑level deployments by working with the established workforce and regulatory frameworks of the oil and gas industry.
- Achieve 250 MW capacity at Project Obsidian with potential for additional wells.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission‑driven culture** – employees are passionate about solving the world’s energy challenge with a game‑changing clean technology.
- **Strong leadership** – executive team hails from Schlumberger, Morgan Stanley, Lazard, AltaRock Energy, and MIT; deep industry and technical expertise.
- **Growth trajectory** – rapid headcount expansion (+24.6 % YoY) and a significant increase in hiring signals a scale‑up phase.
- **Hybrid/remote flexibility** – some roles (e.g., Lead Geothermal Exploration Geologist) are listed as Hybrid/Remote.
- **Hands‑on engineering** – staff works on cutting‑edge gyrotron drilling, high‑temperature materials, and geothermal resource development.
- **Perks & environment** – small team (55 people) with direct impact; located in Houston energy corridor; ties to MIT and the broader clean‑energy ecosystem.

## Sources
1. [quaise.com](https://www.quaise.com/)
2. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/quaise](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/quaise)
3. [quaise.com/company](https://www.quaise.com/company)
4. [linkedin.com/company/quaise-energy](https://www.linkedin.com/company/quaise-energy)
5. [quaise-energy.files.svdcdn.com – Fact Sheet](https://quaise-energy.files.svdcdn.com/production/pdfs/Quaise-Fact-Sheet-WEB.pdf?dm=1756499279)

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