Equipment Design Engineer

Limelight Steel • Oakland, CA

106d • $160,000 - $220,000

About The Position

Limelight Steel is on a mission to eliminate emissions from iron and steelmaking and build a brighter future. 8% of global CO2 emissions come from current fossil-based steelmaking processes - the largest source of industrial emissions today. Limelight Steel's electrified ironmaking technology has the potential to eliminate those emissions, significantly reduce energy use, and produce iron for cheaper than fossil-based methods. We are a startup in Oakland, CA, backed by industry-leading climate tech investors, looking to grow our team. We are committed to building a diverse and courageous team of people motivated to make a positive impact on the world. We want to hire kind and supportive teammates who have the perseverance to achieve our audacious goal of decarbonizing steel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field
• 5+ years of industry experience
• Hands-on experience designing, building, and troubleshooting prototypes and industrial equipment
• Expertise with thermal modeling tools (e.g., COMSOL) and finite element analysis.
• Experience designing and working with vacuum sealing systems (O-rings, metal seals, feedthroughs).
• Experience designing high-temperature industrial processing equipment (e.g., furnaces, kilns, reactors, or vacuum systems), and knowledge of industrial safety standards.
• Strong fundamentals in heat transfer, stress analysis, and materials selection for high-temperature operation.
• Ability to work across disciplines in a fast-moving, startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Own the design of molten-metal ladles, ensuring mechanical integrity and safety at high temperatures.
• Lead the integration of optics, sensors, vacuum sealing surfaces, and high-temperature mechanical structures into the laser furnace.
• Design and develop a vacuum vessel, ensuring robustness under thermal and pressure gradients as well as mechanical loads.
• Collaborate with pyrometallurgical engineers and subject matter experts to incorporate metals industry best practices into equipment design and implement process improvements.
• Balance speed and rigor in designing, building, and testing new equipment for piloting and scale-up.

Benefits

• Competitive stock option package
• Comprehensive health benefits that include: Full premium coverage for PPO Gold for employees with 80% coverage for dependents
• Full premium coverage for Vision and Dental for employees
• Generous time-off schedule
• 20 days paid time off
• 10 holidays (personalized to the holidays you observe)
• Sustainable 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match
• 2x weekly catered team lunches
• A team of curious, passionate, kind, and courageous people committed to eliminating industrial emissions that contribute to climate change
• Unparalleled opportunities for growth, leadership, and project ownership in a dynamic and rapidly-growing startup company

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees