Principal Turbomachinery Engineer
Principal Turbomachinery Engineer
Endurance Energy | Seattle, WA
About Endurance
Endurance is developing modular seafloor geothermal power plants that harness the vast thermal energy beneath the ocean floor, providing gigawatts of clean, reliable energy. We're addressing the critical power bottleneck facing AI infrastructure development while creating a path toward energy independence and decarbonization across the globe. Backed by premier venture capital firms including Founders Fund, First Round Capital, and Point72 Ventures, our exceptional founding team includes veterans from SpaceX, Neuralink, and Helion, with specialized expertise in complex thermal and fluid systems.
The Role
As Principal Turbomachinery Engineer at Endurance, you will be the critical technical member of the team responsible for the core of our seafloor power plants. You will lead the design, analysis, and optimization of high-performance turbines and pumps specialized for compact power cycles.
This role requires a combination of strong first principles understanding of turbomachinery and a first principles hands-on approach to hardware. You will take turbomachinery designs from initial 1D sizing all the way to testing production designs in subsea deployments.
Key Responsibilities
Lead Aero-Thermal Design: Own the design and optimization of turbines and pumps for power generation cycles.
Rapid Iteration: Use 1D/2D modeling tools for rapid sizing, trade studies, and system-level integration.
Numerical Simulation: Conduct high-fidelity 3D CFD analysis and structural FEA to ensure component performance and reliability.
Testing & Validation: Lead test campaigns to validate turbomachinery performance, correlate analytical models with experimental data, and identify failure modes.
Mechanical Integration: Integrate rotors, housings, bearings, and seals into robust, field-ready assemblies.
Tool Development: Establish internal modeling processes, design standards, and documentation to enable the team to scale.
Qualifications
Required:
Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering (Master’s or PhD preferred).
3+ years of experience in the design, analysis, and testing of high speed rotating machinery (pumps, compressors, or turbines).
Strong fundamentals in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer.
Experience with CAD software (e.g., Siemens NX) and rapid prototyping.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, "scrappy" startup environment.
Preferred:
Experience with turbomachinery design tools such as AxStream, CFTurbo etc.
Proficiency in CFD and numerical simulation tools (e.g., ANSYS CFX/Fluent, OpenFOAM, or Numeca).
Experience with supercritical CO2 or organic Rankine cycle (ORC) turbomachinery.
Knowledge of high-pressure seal design and rotor dynamics.
Hands-on experience setting up and operating high-speed rotating equipment test rigs.
Programming skills (Python, MATLAB, or C++) for automated design optimization and data analysis.
Benefits & Perks
Global Fieldwork: Travel to deployment sites along oceanic ridges in locations like Hawaii, Iceland, and the Azores.
Hands-on Experience: Participate in sea trials and deployment operations with leading oceanographic institutions.
Impact-Driven Work: Solve one of the world's most pressing challenges—clean, reliable power generation.
Competitive Compensation: Comprehensive salary and equity packages.
Dive Certification: Company-sponsored recreational dive certification.
PTO: Unlimited with advanced notice.