Senior Mechanical Engineer

About Zero Carbon Systems Zero Carbon Systems (ZCS) is a clean energy and direct air capture company on a mission to accelerate the transition to a zero carbon future. We are developing and deploying breakthrough technologies designed to reduce atmospheric CO2 at scale, addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time. Backed by mission aligned investors and led by a team of passionate innovators, ZCS sits at the intersection of cutting edge science and real world impact. We are building a diverse, collaborative, and driven team of individuals who share our commitment to excellence, creativity, and the belief that the work we do today will shape the world of tomorrow. If you are energized by meaningful work and want to be part of a company where your contributions directly advance the clean energy transition, we would love to hear from you. Position Summary: This position will be responsible for supporting the design, build, validation, and upgrades of process equipment for Direct Air Capture (DAC) machinery and the Pilot Plant at ZCS’s Brighton Location. Additional responsibilities may include engineering and design support for the ZCS demonstration plant. Responsibilities: Lead engineering teams from initial ideation through commissioning of new test rigs and sub-systems in Direct Air Capture facilities. Run and analyze CFD and FEA simulations of plant subsystems and components. Design, develop, and analyze digital and physical prototypes and revisions of equipment. Support installation of third-party or custom-built equipment and system components (Factory / Site Acceptance Testing and Installation / Operational Qualification). Lead projects that work through cost estimates, budgets, and schedules for the design, fabrication, and procurement of new equipment. Develop experiments, design and procure test rigs, execute testing programs, and document results to validate designs. Write technical documentation (e.g. Standard Operating Procedures) for machine operators. Support relentless, continuous improvement by facilitating post-mortem analyses of projects and documenting areas for improvement. Conduct and participate in design reviews and proactively raise concerns and develop solutions to problems. Evaluate data from test rigs, pilot, and production equipment to determine overall performance, reliability, and safety. Participate in safety reviews for equipment and systems during the conceptual, design, startup, and operating phases. Collaborate effectively with internal engineers, scientists and operators, and vendors and contractors. Oversee and review the work of Junior Engineers and Designers. Requirements Include: Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering. 7-10 years of direct hands-on experience in mechanical systems design, process equipment design, or a similar role, including at least 7 years of progressive responsibility designing, modifying, and upgrading custom industrial equipment. Experience using 3D CAD software; Autodesk Inventor/AutoCAD preferred. Experience designing steam, chemical process, or HVAC equipment. Experience with engineering design and manufacturing tools (Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams, Process Flow Diagrams, Bill of Materials Generation, Engineering Change Orders, etc.). Experience with CFD software (SimScale preferred) and analysis, and ability to run Finite Element Analysis simulations and analyze test data. Effective verbal and written communication skills necessary to deliver detailed technical presentations in support of engineering reviews. Experience managing complex, multidisciplinary engineering projects. Ability to safely operate hand and power tools and work a full shift in a fabrication environment. Ability to travel less than 15% of the time to support onsite activities. Preferred Qualifications: Experience working with or for Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies. Experience developing first-of-a-kind systems, including requirements definition, safety reviews, and development of design deliverables; experience in the carbon capture space. Experience building first-of-a-kind process equipment. Startup experience and ability to work on cross-functional teams. Professional engineering license in the state of Colorado. Experience working with and on remote teams Zero Carbon Systems is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Your Right to Work In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.