About Us:

Climate Robotics is harnessing the power of the biosphere to beat climate change. Working at the intersection of soil health and carbon removal, we’re building the world’s first in-field mobile biochar production system to unlock a new scalable market in sustainable agriculture. Biochar is a real climate and soil health solution today and one of the most promising to address global climate change at scale. We’re excited to do our part in building transformational tools to drive the future of sustainable agriculture.

We've partnered with leading buyers of carbon removal credits, including as the largest biochar carbon removal supplier to Microsoft, to build a new type of business that helps farmers succeed while fighting climate change. Climate Robotics is a Series A stage company well-capitalized by top VC investors in climate tech, including Congruent Ventures, Grantham Foundation, and Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund.

We're currently expanding our world-class team that’s helping to build an entirely new industry in the nation's energy capital, Houston, Texas.

The Role:

As a Principal Engineer, you'll be pivotal in developing first of a kind in-field pyrolysis systems from design through development. This role has the unique opportunity to create equipment that can make a real positive impact on soil health and climate change.

This is a full-time onsite position in our Houston, Texas office. Relocation assistance is available.

Responsibilities :

• Provide technical expertise in product design, planning, simulation, testing, and manufacturing
• Oversee and lead advanced concept generation. Evaluate concept design, functionality, and performance.
• Champion and execute the company’s technology objectives to realize the planned and stated key results for product and customer success
• Translate innovative ideas into detailed engineering designs, utilizing advanced CAD/CAE software and engineering principles
• Provide input and direction on Product and Technology Roadmaps, advise on resource gaps and needs to execute against roadmaps
• Collaborate closely with both executive and cross-functional teams, including fabrication, operations, and sales, to problem-solve critical technical issues and ensure seamless product launch and market readiness
• Ensure successful implementation and resolution of any post-launch issues
• Answer difficult technical questions and solve complex problems that have a broad impact on the business
• Finalize Design for Manufacturability (DFM): Conduct rigorous DFM assessments to identify and address any production bottlenecks or cost overruns, ensuring a smooth transition from prototype to mass production.
• Research advanced technologies in the market, follow industry-specific technology trends, and lead new product/technology project development, as well as identify and execute research projects supporting product development projects and the Product Roadmap
• Ensure that all products have adequate written product specifications and meet specification requirements. Ensure prints, documentation, and testing verification methods are in place to properly source and approve the product.
• Review and document technical feasibility evaluations, qualification, field, and competitive testing to verify compliance with design
• Develop and implement best practices, processes, and process improvements for the engineering team relevant to product design, documentation, and testing
• Introduce new tools and techniques to improve and streamline new product development. Organize, facilitate, and/or conduct training on new software packages and development methods.
• Mentor and guide other engineers, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Chemical, Mechanical Engineering, or other Engineering discipline
• 10 years of relevant experience
• Significant pyrolysis or high-temp biomass energy conversion expertise
• Experience with designing and building large, complex, mobile industrial equipment, with a keen focus on dynamic chemical reactions at high temperatures
• Experience designing and manufacturing commercial equipment primarily using structural materials of steel, steel alloys, and nonmetallic and nonconductive insulations
• Experience with delivering technical solutions in modeling and testing combustion reactions of controlled and metered atmospheres and using integrated predictive control algorithms
• CAD and CAM, a medium to heavy user of either or all these tools: SolidWorks, AutoCAD, NX CAD/CAM Siemens, or other similar high performance integrated software applications
• Prior success scaling pilot projects up to commercial scale
• Experience in making critical, foundational decisions, providing sound technical direction with the ability to communicate effectively
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and evidence of personal commitment to making a positive impact on soil health and climate change
• Experience leading and managing teams
• A familiarity with standard safety best practices
• Prior startup experience or ability to work in a fast-paced environment with challenging deadlines
• Preferred experience in modeling and dynamic simulations experience in either or all: Ansys, Aspen Plus, and MATLAB, with special interest in stoichiometric combustion modeling and algorithm development using Python-based predictive modeling solutions

Benefits

• Competitive salary and stock options
• Health benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible vacation & time-off policy
• Relocation assistance
• 401(k) with match