Senior Fluid Systems Engineer - Thermodynamic Cycle & System Design

Job Description

Job Description

Senior Fluid Systems Engineer - Architect Advanced Thermal & Power Conversion Systems

Hawthorne, CA | On-site

Opportunity Summary

Join a venture-backed energy technology company developing advanced power generation systems designed to address growing global energy demands. This role will own the thermodynamic cycle and fluid systems architecture that serve as the foundation of a next-generation power platform. Working directly with the founding engineering team, you will define system operating conditions, develop cycle models, design fluid infrastructure, and support hardware integration through commissioning and testing. This position sits at the intersection of systems engineering, thermodynamics, and hardware development, requiring both analytical depth and practical engineering execution.

About Us

We are an early-stage energy technology company developing advanced power generation and conversion systems for future energy infrastructure. The team combines deep expertise across turbomachinery, thermal systems, manufacturing, and testing to build scalable hardware capable of addressing growing power demands. With active hardware development underway and significant technical milestones ahead, this is an opportunity to play a foundational role in shaping a complex energy system from the ground up.

Job Duties

• Lead thermodynamic cycle modeling and fluid system analysis for a high-power energy platform
• Define system state points, mass flow requirements, operating conditions, and performance targets
• Develop steady-state and transient models to evaluate system behavior across the operating envelope
• Serve as the primary systems interface between turbomachinery, controls, structures, and test engineering teams
• Lead development of process flow diagrams, P&IDs, and fluid system architectures
• Specify and select valves, instrumentation, piping, fittings, tubing, and supporting balance-of-plant hardware
• Establish system requirements and manage critical subsystem interfaces
• Support commissioning, validation, troubleshooting, and test activities
• Compare model predictions against hardware performance and drive design improvements based on test data
• Contribute to long-term system architecture decisions and future product development efforts

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related field
• Strong foundation in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer
• Experience developing thermodynamic, process, or cycle models for complex engineering systems
• Experience using engineering analysis tools such as Python-based modeling environments, process simulation software, or equivalent platforms
• Working knowledge of fluid system hardware, including valves, instrumentation, piping, fittings, and related components
• Ability to translate analytical models into practical, buildable hardware systems
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, hands-on engineering environment

Preferred Experience

• Experience with advanced thermodynamic cycles, real-gas systems, or high-pressure fluid processes
• Development of industrial process systems, thermal plants, or power generation infrastructure
• P&ID creation, equipment specification, and fluid system design
• Pressure relief system design, overpressure protection analysis, and safety reviews
• Familiarity with process or power piping codes and industry standards
• Dynamic or transient system simulation experience
• Turbomachinery performance analysis and system integration
• Startup or early-stage hardware development experience

Why Join Us

• Join a venture-backed company tackling one of the most challenging problems in energy and power generation
• Own a foundational system that directly influences every major engineering discipline across the product
• Work alongside experienced founders and multidisciplinary engineering leaders
• Significant technical ownership and influence over system architecture
• Meaningful equity ownership
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Fully stocked kitchen with snacks, coffee, and lunch
• Opportunity to help shape a growing engineering organization and future product roadmap

Compensation Details

$180,000 - $230,000