Staff Structural Engineer

Karman Industries is a Torrance-based thermal technology company building the backbone for giga-scale AI infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and GE, Karman is moving beyond legacy cooling with the launch of the HPU (Heat Processing Unit)—a new category of thermal architecture designed for the 100kW+ rack era. The HPU shrinks the exterior mechanical yard by up to 80% while reducing peak energy consumption by 10%+. Unlike traditional systems, the Karman HPU provides zero-water (WUE 0) cooling that ensures high-TDP GPUs and HBM4 memory stay at optimal thermal setpoints without throttling. Founded in 2024, we’re a fast-growing team of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of humanity. We design, build, and test real hardware, and we lead with ownership: you’ll own your work from concept to hardware and help shape how we scale. Our values are Ownership, Performance Excellence, Radical Transparency, and Customer-Centricity. Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world. Karman Industries is a Torrance-based thermal technology company building the backbone for giga-scale AI infrastructure. Founded by a team from SpaceX, Rocket Lab, and GE, Karman is moving beyond legacy cooling with the launch of the HPU (Heat Processing Unit)—a new category of thermal architecture designed for the 100kW+ rack era. The HPU shrinks the exterior mechanical yard by up to 80% while reducing peak energy consumption by 10%+. Unlike traditional systems, the Karman HPU provides zero-water (WUE 0) cooling that ensures high-TDP GPUs and HBM4 memory stay at optimal thermal setpoints without throttling. Founded in 2024, we’re a fast-growing team of passionate professionals dedicated to making a tangible impact on the future of humanity. We design, build, and test real hardware, and we lead with ownership: you’ll own your work from concept to hardware and help shape how we scale. Our values are Ownership, Performance Excellence, Radical Transparency, and Customer-Centricity. Join us in our mission to transform the industry and contribute to a more sustainable world. Staff Structural Engineer Karman Industries is seeking a highly motivated Staff Structural Engineer to join our team designing the next generation of heat processing systems. The candidate will be responsible for structural engineering of all structural designs in the Karman Heat Processing Unit (HPU) program, and for managing the vendors and processes that turn those designs into fabricated, certified structural hardware. The role spans concept design, detailed design, project management, vendor coordination, engineering certification and build supervision across a range of challenging applications. We are a team that relies on a strong first principles approach and working together to deliver a cohesively developed system. Responsibilities Perform design and analysis for new structural steel design projects, including new products and facility structures. Lead detailed structural design and analysis for the utilization of existing structural steel designs to new sites across the USA. Provide structural engineering support for machinery design, including support in analysis of mechanical loads and environments. Manage project schedules, budgets, and deliverables for structural engineering projects Coordinate vendors across design, procurement, and fabrication for structural engineering projects. Perform structural analysis and calculations to support design decisions and code compliance Certify (PE stamp) own designs and review and certify designs produced by others. Interface with mechanical and analysis teams to integrate structural design with equipment and process requirements. Support permitting submittals and respond to plan-check comments from authorities having jurisdiction. Hands-on support of structural integration and construction of own design and designs produced by others. Implement novel solutions to challenging problems, thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo. Required Qualifications B.Sc./B.Eng. in structural engineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, or equivalent 5+ years of experience in structural steel design and fabrication, including skid-mounted, process, or industrial equipment. Experience managing structural engineering projects, including schedule, budget, and scope and coordination design, procurement, and fabrication vendors. Self-motivated / high performer, ability to self-manage, multi-task, and communicate excellently Desired Skills And Experience Solid understanding of geotechnical engineering and seismic engineering inputs and constraints to structural fabrications. Active California Professional Engineer (PE) license. Experience in designing structural elements for rotating equipment machinery, pipe loads, thermal loads. Proficiency with Siemens NX CAD and Siemens NX drafting software. Familiarity with ANSYS and NASTRAN structural and vibration analysis. Familiarity with relevant structural codes and standards (AISC, ASCE 7, IBC) and process and piping codes (ASME BPVC, B31.1/B31.3). Experience with modular, crane-liftable, or containerized and transportable structural systems. Experience with multi-jurisdiction PE stamping and permitting across US states. Manufacturing experience with structural steel weldments produced at scale. Direct applicants only — we are not working with outside recruiters or agencies for this role. #J-18808-Ljbffr Karman Industries