Lead 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 Overview

Zero Carbon Systems seeks a Lead Engineer, Mechanical to design and build novel test rigs and machinery for direct air capture at our Brighton, CO site, while leading a team of up to five mechanical engineers, designers, and technicians. The ideal candidate will bring more than 10 years of experience designing and upgrading custom industrial equipment, a proven track record leading technical teams, and the hands-on, fail fast mindset that thrives in a startup environment. This full-time position, based in Brighton, CO, is onsite with less than 10% travel and reports to the Director of Mechanical Engineering.

Responsibilities Include

• Lead and supervise a team of up to five mechanical engineers, designers, and technicians, overseeing their work and reviewing the quality and timeliness of their output
• Own the mechanical design of new test rigs and the upgrade of older test rigs, in addition to individual technical contributions
• Mentor and develop team members, providing technical guidance and coaching on design practices
• Conduct performance reviews and lead hiring for the mechanical engineering team
• Partner with the project management team to scope projects and allocate engineering, design, and technician resources across the team's workload
• Manage and execute full life-cycle development of process and mechanical equipment for test rigs
• Oversee the design, assembly, commissioning, and operation of test rigs and DAC equipment at our test facility
• Provide design support for the ZCS DAC facilities on the Brighton site as needed
• Support installs of vendor equipment in our Brighton facility, including Factory/Site Acceptance Testing and Installation/Operational Qualification
• Prepare cost estimates, budgets, and schedules for the design, fabrication, and procurement of new equipment
• Develop and execute experimental procedures to evaluate new mechanical systems and validate them for use in ZCS DAC facilities
• Evaluate data from test rigs, pilot, and production equipment to determine overall performance, reliability, and safety
• Document existing equipment, design retrofits and upgrades, and manage the fabrication and installation of those upgrades
• Write technical documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures for machine operators
• Train operations staff on new equipment and support their ongoing use and modification of that equipment
• Conduct and participate in safety and design reviews, proactively raising concerns and developing solutions
• Collaborate with onsite Process, Maintenance, and Facilities engineers to ensure smooth equipment operation and project execution
• Provide onsite support to design projects and data analyses led by offsite team members

Requirements Include

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical, chemical, or industrial engineering
• More than 10 years of progressive responsibility designing, modifying, and upgrading custom industrial equipment
• 4+ years of experience leading or supervising technical personnel, including mentoring, performance reviews, and hiring
• Demonstrated experience performing hand calculations, stress analysis, and finite element analysis (FEA) to design and validate mechanical equipment
• Proficiency with 2D/3D CAD software; Autodesk Inventor/AutoCAD strongly preferred
• Experience designing and working with steam equipment, chemical process equipment, conveyors, or HVAC equipment
• Familiarity with engineering design and manufacturing tools, including P&IDs, Process Flow Diagrams, Bill of Materials generation, and Engineering Change Orders
• Solid understanding of fluid dynamics, mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials science, with working knowledge of designing equipment using these concepts
• Ability to write clear, comprehensive technical documentation, including SOPs, Bills of Materials, and engineering drawings
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including delivering detailed technical presentations in support of engineering reviews
• Startup experience and the ability to shift tasks and priorities quickly as company goals evolve, while working effectively on cross-functional teams
• Ability to lift and carry equipment as necessary

Preferred qualifications

• Experience working in the carbon capture space
• Experience working on small mechanical engineering teams
• Experience with prototyping and fail fast, learn fast projects

$150,000 - $170,000 a year

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.