Senior / Staff Mechanical Engineer, Fluid Systems
Antora builds and deploys thermal energy storage to power always-on industrial operations and data centers with low-cost energy. Factory-built in California, Antora’s thermal batteries deliver reliable and cost-effective heat and power for industrial loads of any size. Antora is electrifying global industry while supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs, lowering costs for energy consumers, and enhancing the competitiveness of American industry.
We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and build with humility and openness. We are committed to continue building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future where every industrial facility, everywhere on earth, is powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.
The Role
Antora is seeking a self-driven and passionate Senior or Staff Mechanical Engineer, Fluid Systems to join our Product Development Team. In this role, you will own the design, analysis, and validation of critical subsystems that make Antora’s thermal battery possible. Your work will directly accelerate the demonstration and deployment of a first-of-a-kind long-duration energy storage technology.
This is a highly collaborative, hands-on role where you’ll work across disciplines to scope, design, and refine mechanical systems from concept through prototyping, testing, and production. You’ll also help build the processes, standards, and culture that enable our team to deliver at scale.
You should be excited to pair strong first-principles engineering with modern tools, including AI-enabled workflows where they meaningfully improve speed, insight, or iteration quality. Just as important, you’ll bring the judgment to validate outputs, challenge assumptions, and keep engineering rigor at the center of every decision.
What You'll Do
- Own subsystem design: Lead the architecture, analysis, detailed design, and testing of structural, thermal, and fluid components within Antora’s thermal battery.
- Perform rigorous analysis: Apply hand calculations, finite element analysis (FEA), and trade studies to guide design decisions, while thoughtfully leveraging AI and other modern tools to accelerate learning and engineering execution.
- Drive validation & reliability: Lead prototyping, testing, failure analysis, and root cause investigation to ensure robust, reliable hardware.
- Pursue cost-down: Identify and implement design and manufacturing approaches that reduce cost without sacrificing performance or reliability.
- Collaborate cross-functionally: Define system requirements, lead design reviews, and integrate feedback across adjacent engineering and operations teams.
- Establish best practices: Develop and maintain CAD standards, documentation, and engineering infrastructure that support high-quality execution and scale.
- Mentor & lead: Guide junior engineers and serve as a technical leader within the team.
- Shape our processes: Balance fast execution with long-term improvements in team workflows, risk management, and product development culture.
Key Qualifications
- Education & Experience: B.S. in Engineering (Electrical, Software, Mechanical, Automation, or related) and/or 5+ years of experience in demanding industrial environments (e.g., Oil & Gas, Chemicals, Power Plants).
- Controls Expertise: Proven track record programming "greenfield" and "brownfield" PLC and SCADA software, with specific proficiency in Allen Bradley (Studio 5000) and/or Ignition (Inductive Automation).
- Communication Protocols: Familiarity with industrial protocols including Modbus, CAN bus, Ethernet/IP, and Profinet.
Hardware Fluency: Ability to read and interpret electrical schematics and P&IDs, providing accurate red-lines for field modifications.
What We're Looking For
- Senior Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 6+ years of relevant industry experience, or Master’s degree with 4+ years, or PhD
- Staff Engineer: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with 10+ years of relevant industry experience, or Master’s degree with 8+ years, or PhD with 4+ years
- Examples of relevant industry experience include power generation, aerospace, propulsion, or other industrial hardware products
Required Skills and Experience
- Proven track record of taking complex mechanical systems from concept to deployed hardware
- Strong proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks or similar), PDM systems, and creation of detailed drawings using GD&T and ASME Y14.5
- Deep experience designing machined components for low- to mid-volume production; experience with sheet metal, castings, or composites is a plus
- Proficiency in structural and/or thermal analysis, including FEA and hand calculations
- Experience applying sound engineering judgment in ambiguous, first-of-a-kind environments where requirements evolve and rapid iteration matters
- Curiosity about integrating evolving AI tools into engineering workflows, paired with the critical thinking to recognize limitations, sanity-check outputs, and maintain high technical standards
- Familiarity with systems analysis and risk management tools such as FMEA
- Experience developing engineering processes, standards, and best practices
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a collaborative, humble, and mission-first mindset
Required Skills and Experience
- Experience designing components for very high-temperature environments (500–2500°C)
- Experience with composite and/or brittle materials
- Experience with fluid system design in demanding thermal or industrial environments
- FOAK (first-of-a-kind) product development from concept through sustaining
Work Location: Onsite in San Jose, CA
Salary Range: $154,000 USD - $193,000 USD
Salary Basis: Annual
Please note that the salary range listed above reflects Antora Energy's estimated pay for this position. The actual salary offered will be within the posted range and determined based on several factors including but not limited to a candidate's experiences, credentials and expertise, as they pertain to the position's requirements.
In addition to a competitive base salary, Antora Energy’s Total Rewards program includes equity compensation in the form of stock options, a premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance, a 401K plan with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and an industry leading paid-time-off policy that features flexible and inclusive holiday observance, as well as paid volunteer time off.
When it comes to stopping climate change, we need everyone. We believe that having a diversity of backgrounds and experiences strengthens all of us, and we strive to create an environment where every one of us is empowered to create meaningful change.