---
title: 'Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Turbomachinery at Critical Energy'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-design-engineer-turbomachinery-critical-energy-hawthorne-pmmxv3ed1gjt'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-09'
---

# Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, Turbomachinery at Critical Energy

- **Company:** Critical Energy
- **Location:** Hawthorne, CA
- **Compensation:** $140k–$200k
- **Employment:** full-time
- **Work type:** onsite
- **Posted:** 2026-04-21
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-09
- **Apply:** https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/critical-energy/74b55856-366c-43e1-bab6-67364f515b01

## Job description

Company Description: Critical Energy is an innovative, early-stage, venture-backed cleantech company on a mission to accelerate the global energy transition through abundant, low-cost clean energy. Founded by an ex-SpaceX engineer, Critical Energy designs and manufactures factory-built, modular power plants. These rapidly deployable systems convert heat into electricity using a closed-loop thermodynamic cycle and can be installed in just weeks. Critical Energy’s technology delivers high-efficiency, 24/7 power for geothermal applications and waste heat recovery (including from data center gas turbines), making clean energy practical and cost-effective for demanding sectors like AI hyperscalers and data centers. Backed by top climate and technology investors, Critical Energy is scaling rapidly.

Our Mission: To build an abundant, low-cost, 100% clean energy future through groundbreaking geothermal innovation. We are a team of passionate engineers, designers, and visionaries building cutting-edge solutions to meet the world’s energy needs with 100% clean energy. We are in the initial stages of development and building our team. This is your chance to join on the ground floor of something big! If you are ready to work at a fun, fast-paced, groundbreaking organization that is positioned to revolutionize geothermal energy, apply today!

About the Role: Critical Energy is hiring a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to design our next generation of power-generating turbines. You’ll own your designs from concept through production and into the field, working from individual parts up to full system integration. You’ll work closely with the Turbomachinery team and partner with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Systems, and Field Ops, often serving as the link between them. This role suits someone who wants broad ownership, likes stretching beyond their comfort zone, and wants to see their designs built and running. Direct turbomachinery experience is a significant plus but not required. Title will be based on experience.

Responsibilities:

- Own detailed CAD models, layouts, and drawings (ASME Y14.5) for turbomachinery hardware, and review designs with other engineers
- Validate designs with hand calculations and FEA
- Partner with experts in aero, fluid systems, electrical, materials, and test to balance performance, reliability, and manufacturability
- Carry your hardware through fabrication, assembly, and test, and work directly with machinists and technicians to solve production issues
- Support Field Ops after delivery and bring what you learn back into the design
- Maintain design documentation, including design reviews, specifications, and BOMs
- Develop concepts for new machines and fluid systems

Required Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s in mechanical engineering or a related field, or equivalent experience
- 5+ years in mechanical design on complex machinery, including parts you designed that were built and assembled into a working machine
- Strong first-principles fundamentals in statics, dynamics, fluids, thermodynamics, and materials, including stress and thermal hand calcs
- Experience with FEA and/or CFD tools (e.g., ANSYS)
- Production-quality drawings with GD&T, and a habit of working with machinists to make them better
- Working knowledge of DFM across 5-axis machining, additive, casting, forging, precision grinding, and gear/spline hobbing
- Working knowledge of machine elements and secondary systems: fastener preloads, sealing interfaces and seal selection, high-performance polymers for bushings and seals, and piping, valves, pumps, sensors, and actuators
- Proficiency in a modern CAD package, including building robust assemblies, and a willingness to ramp up on Siemens NX right away
- Clear, direct communication, including giving and taking feedback on technical issues and mistakes

Bonus Experience:

- Turbomachinery design experience (gas turbines, steam turbines, pumps), including rotors, bearings, seals, casings, and shafts
- Rotordynamics, vibration, and fatigue analysis; leakage flow and thrust management
- Hands-on experience making and assembling parts yourself
- Siemens NX / Teamcenter
- Mechanical routing or surface modeling

Compensation:

- Base salary ranges from $140-200k per annum
- Equity options
- 100% company-covered Platinum or HD/HSA (with company contribution) medical
- 100% company-covered dental and vision
- Daily catered lunch
- Several annual social and team building outings

Actual base salary offered will be determined by: experience, skills, and work location. This range is for base salary, our total compensation includes equity and benefits. We welcome you to apply even if your expectations are outside our listed range.

## Equal Opportunity

Critical Energy is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Critical Energy is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in our job application procedures and throughout employment. If you need assistance or any accommodation, please let us know.

Recruiting Agenices Critical Energy does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies without a fully executed recruitment agreement in place. In the absence of such agreement, Critical Energy reserves the right to pursue and hire any candidates without an obligation to pay fees. Agencies are requested not to contact Critical Energy hiring managers or employees regarding recruiting services.

## About Critical Energy

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: Critical Energy builds factory-made, modular power plants that convert heat into electricity, starting with geothermal and waste heat recovery from data center gas turbines.
- **Entity Type**: Private (Seed VC – II)
- **Headquarters**: Hawthorne, California, USA
- **Founded**: 2024
- **Founders**: Spencer Jackson

## Core Business
- Primary industry: Clean energy, modular power generation, geothermal, waste heat recovery
- Target customers: B2B – energy developers, data center operators, utilities, industrial facilities seeking 24/7 dispatchable clean power
- Mission: “Building an abundant low‑cost clean energy future”

## Products & Services
- **Modular Power Plants**: Shipping‑container‑sized, factory‑built units that convert heat into electricity using a closed‑loop working fluid cycle. Initially deployed for geothermal and waste heat recovery from gas turbines. Custom turbomachinery enables adaptability to varying temperature and resource conditions.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Not publicly available
- **Key Metric**: Total funding raised – $22M (Seed VC – II closed in June 2026, including $3M venture debt from Silicon Valley Bank)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Susa Ventures (lead), Upfront Ventures, Susquehanna, Silicon Valley Bank, MaC Venture Capital, Sustainable Investments, Humba Ventures, Scribble Ventures. Advisors include Mike Matson (BCG global geothermal lead), Greg Leveille (former CTO ConocoPhillips), Dave Welch (CEO AttoTude), John Kremer (former exec at Adobe and Chase)
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount of 20 employees (per Built In); team brings 50+ years combined SpaceX experience; recent $22M funding enables scaling from prototype to factory production; targeting weeks‑long installation vs. years for conventional plants

## Competitive Advantages
- **Modular & Factory‑Built**: Standardized hardware lowers construction costs and enables installation in as little as two weeks.
- **Adaptable Turbomachinery**: Custom design works across diverse heat sources and temperature ranges.
- **SpaceX‑Bred Engineering**: Founder Spencer Jackson spent seven years at SpaceX (Falcon Heavy, Starship, Raptor engine); team has deep aerospace and turbomachinery expertise.
- **Low‑Cost Dispatchable Power**: Provides 24/7 clean electricity without emissions or consumables, competing with natural gas peaker plants.

## Strategic Focus
- Current priorities: Deploying first geothermal projects, scaling manufacturing capacity for containerized plants, expanding waste heat recovery partnerships with data centers, and raising additional capital for commercial‑scale installations.

## Why Work Here
- **Culture & Team**: Engineering‑first environment with backgrounds from SpaceX, aerospace, and energy. Flat, fast‑moving startup tackling a hard technical challenge.
- **Location**: Hawthorne, CA (office near SpaceX HQ). Built In lists the workspace as in‑office with some remote options; the careers page supports on‑site collaboration.
- **Notable Perks**: Opportunity to work on physical hardware from concept to field deployment; exposure to cutting‑edge turbomachinery; early‑stage equity potential; direct mentorship from industry veterans.
- **Engineering Culture**: “We’re a group of engineers and innovators … having designed complex systems like rocket engines, turbomachinery, and large‑scale hardware.”

## Sources
1. [criticalenergy.com](https://criticalenergy.com)
2. [criticalenergy.com/who-we-are](https://criticalenergy.com/who-we-are)
3. [builtin.com](https://builtin.com/company/critical-energy)
4. [cbinsights.com](https://www.cbinsights.com/company/critical-energy)
5. [linkedin.com](https://www.linkedin.com/company/critical-energy-systems)

## Other roles at Critical Energy

- [Supply Chain Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/supply-chain-manager-critical-energy-hawthorne-nn5nra6e07gm) — Hawthorne, CA
- [Senior Controls Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-controls-engineer-critical-energy-hawthorne-8pd5cjajs0mr) — Hawthorne, CA
- [Head of Manufacturing](https://feeny.ai/job/head-of-manufacturing-critical-energy-hawthorne-mmr5njqamna8) — Hawthorne, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-critical-energy-hawthorne-8wqgndw3mda7) — Hawthorne, CA
- [Senior Mechanical Engineer - Thermal & Fluids Systems](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-mechanical-engineer-thermal-fluids-systems-critical-energy-hawthorne-4192wgz9ham7) — Hawthorne, CA