Plant Design Intern
THE ROLE
We are seeking an Engineering Intern to join Heirloom’s Plant Design Team for the upcoming Summer for a 10 week internship. In this role, you will play a hands-on part in the design and optimization of critical Balance of Plant (BoP) systems and material handling circuits. This is an opportunity to move beyond the classroom and help build the systems that enable our carbon removal technology to operate at a global scale.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
System Design Support: Assist in the design and integration of BoP utility systems, including instrument air, process water, and cooling loops.
Documentation: Support the development and maintenance of PFDs, P&IDs, and heat and mass balances (H&MB) for auxiliary systems.
Solids Handling: Collaborate on the engineering of material handling systems, focusing on the movement and processing of lime and limestone.
Technical Procurement: Assist senior engineers in drafting technical specifications and Request for Quotations (RFQs) for pumps, compressors, and heat exchangers.
Data Integration: Work with the R&D team to ensure bench-scale data is correctly translated into design parameters for full-scale water and solids loops.
Field & Vendor Exposure: Participate in equipment inspections and, where possible, provide on-site support during the commissioning of utility subsystems.
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
Education: Currently pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical, Chemical, or Process Engineering (entering 3rd or 4th year).
Fundamentals: A strong grasp of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer.
Analytical Mindset: Ability to organize complex data sets and assist in technical auditing of engineering details.
Communication: Clear, proactive communication skills and a desire to work across multi-disciplinary teams (R&D, Project Engineering, etc.).
"Get it done" Attitude: A self-starter mentality—you aren't afraid to dive into a manual or a spreadsheet to solve a bottleneck.
Availability: Ability to work Full-time for the duration of the internship, at our HQ in Brisbane, CA.
NICE TO HAVE
Software Skills: Familiarity with AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or process simulation tools (e.g., Aspen HYSYS, PRO/II, or DWSIM).
Relevant Coursework: Completion of courses in separations, mass transfer, or solids processing.
COMPENSATION & LOGISTICS
Internship Duration ~ 10 weeks
Comp will be: $5,000 relocation/housing allowance paid upfront plus hourly pay.
Undergrads (starting Sr. year or less in the fall) $30 /hour
Seniors/grads $34/hour
You don’t have to have every listed requirement and skill to be a great fit. If you are passionate about this opportunity and think you have the skills to succeed, please apply!
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
We encourage you to apply if you identify as Black, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Hispanic or Latino, LGBTQ+ – or with any other underrepresented group – even if you don’t tick all the boxes in the description below.
Perks and Benefits
Excellent health, dental and vision insurance covered up to 100% by Heirloom. FSA option.
16 weeks paid parental leave for all Heirloom employees.
Generous stock options.
Unlimited PTO for exempt (salaried) employees & 120 hours for full time non-exempt (hourly) employees.
401(k).
Monthly health and wellness reimbursement.
Annual education and conference budget.
Our Principles
Radical Honesty. We strive to foster an inclusive environment premised on transparency and respect. We push for excellence, yet always remain thoughtful when challenging each other.
Persistent Optimism. We show up to work with optimism and don’t shy away from a challenge. We recognize that the ambitious nature of our mission requires hopefulness, dedication, and persistence.
Maximize Learning. Compounding knowledge is our key to victory - we continuously hone our crafts, seek the fastest paths to improve, and are quick to absorb and apply new insights.
Why you should join Heirloom
We are solving the challenge of our generation. Climate change is an existential threat, and we need as many of the world’s motivated minds as possible to help. There is no greater challenge or opportunity than fighting climate change.
We are a world-class team. We are engineers, scientists, and concerned humans from a variety of backgrounds and experiences who are pooling our knowledge and skills to collectively build a more equitable, prosperous future for all.
We remain united, resilient, and optimistic. We recognize the magnitude of the challenge ahead of us, yet believe that we can contribute to mitigating the worst effects of climate change. It won’t be easy, but we won’t quit.
We are backed by credible climate partners. We’re well funded by investors from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Ahren Innovation Capital, Carbon Direct, Microsoft, Lowercarbon Capital, ARPA-e and the National Science Foundation. Our early customers include Stripe, Shopify, and Klarna, and we’re building durable partnerships that enable us to tackle this decades-long problem.