What are the responsibilities and job description for the Principal Turbomachinery Engineer - sCO2 position at Approach Venture?
Principal Turbomachinery Engineer – Lead the development of next-generation power systems from first principles
Hawthorne, CA | On-site
Opportunity Summary
We are a venture-backed, early-stage energy startup building advanced turbine systems designed to meet the growing demand for efficient and scalable power. The team is rethinking how rotating machinery is designed, developed, and deployed, with a focus on modern engineering approaches and rapid iteration. This role is a core technical leadership position working directly alongside the founding team. You will take ownership of turbomachinery architecture, drive design decisions, and lead development from initial concept through testing and validation. This is a hands-on opportunity to shape both the product and the engineering foundation of the company.
About Us
We are a small, highly technical team backed by early-stage investors and led by engineers with deep experience in rotating machinery design and development. Our focus is on building high-performance energy systems that address current infrastructure challenges while enabling future power solutions. The team operates with a strong emphasis on speed, ownership, and real-world validation.
Job Duties
$175,000 - $250,000
Hawthorne, CA | On-site
Opportunity Summary
We are a venture-backed, early-stage energy startup building advanced turbine systems designed to meet the growing demand for efficient and scalable power. The team is rethinking how rotating machinery is designed, developed, and deployed, with a focus on modern engineering approaches and rapid iteration. This role is a core technical leadership position working directly alongside the founding team. You will take ownership of turbomachinery architecture, drive design decisions, and lead development from initial concept through testing and validation. This is a hands-on opportunity to shape both the product and the engineering foundation of the company.
About Us
We are a small, highly technical team backed by early-stage investors and led by engineers with deep experience in rotating machinery design and development. Our focus is on building high-performance energy systems that address current infrastructure challenges while enabling future power solutions. The team operates with a strong emphasis on speed, ownership, and real-world validation.
Job Duties
- Lead the design and development of high-speed rotating machinery from concept through validated hardware
- Perform and guide analysis across aerodynamics, thermal systems, structural integrity, and rotordynamics
- Own detailed mechanical design including CAD modeling, material selection, and design for manufacturing and assembly
- Develop and iterate on prototypes, including building and supporting test infrastructure
- Analyze test data to inform design improvements and accelerate development cycles
- Work closely with founders and cross-functional partners to define system architecture and engineering strategy
- Collaborate with external vendors and manufacturing partners to deliver reliable hardware under aggressive timelines
- Establish engineering processes that support rapid iteration and scalable product development
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field
- 5 years of experience working with turbomachinery or similar rotating systems such as turbines, compressors, or turbopumps
- Strong foundation in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and mechanical system design
- Experience with CAD tools such as NX, SolidWorks, Creo, CATIA, or similar platforms
- Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced startup environment with high ownership
- Clear communication skills and ability to work across technical and non-technical teams
- Experience with supercritical CO2 or other advanced thermodynamic cycles
- Proven track record of taking rotating machinery from early design through testing and validation
- Background in developing custom test rigs or experimental hardware setups
- Familiarity with high-temperature materials and manufacturing processes
- Prior experience at an early-stage or venture-backed company
- Experience integrating simulation and analysis tools into iterative hardware development workflows
- Meaningful equity ownership in an early-stage company
- Opportunity to work directly with technical founders on core product decisions
- High level of ownership and impact across both engineering and company direction
- Exposure to full lifecycle hardware development from concept through deployment
$175,000 - $250,000
Salary : $175,000 - $250,000