Senior Mechanical Engineer

Karman Industries•Los Angeles, CA

10d•$125,000 - $175,000

About The Position

Karman Industries is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the design and development of next-generation electric heat pumps for industrial process heat electrification. The engineer will own the design, analysis, and qualification of mechanical and thermal systems for the Thermal01 heat pump and future product lines. The role spans structural, thermal, and turbomachinery hardware and covers product development from conceptual design and analysis through prototyping, testing, and production. It emphasizes first-principles thinking, hands-on problem solving, ownership of hardware from concept through manufacturing and assembly, and close cross-functional collaboration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, aerospace, physics, or a related discipline.
At least 3 years of experience designing mechanical hardware, components, or systems.
Strong proficiency in computer-aided design (CAD), preferably Siemens NX or similar.
Deep understanding of mechanical fundamentals, including materials, manufacturing methods, structural analysis, and testing.
Hands-on experience developing hardware in a professional role, project team, or personal project.
Self-motivated and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and excellent communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or higher degree in mechanical or aerospace engineering.
Familiarity with turbomachinery design, analysis, and testing.
Experience with finite element analysis using Ansys, Abaqus, NASTRAN, or equivalent tools.
Proficiency in Python or other programming languages.
Experience with permanent magnet motors and high-speed motor control, including instrumentation and control systems.
Knowledge of steam or other high-temperature, high-pressure fluid systems, with the ability to analyze and design from first principles.
Demonstrated ability to take products or projects from conception through manufacturing and final operation.
Familiarity with manufacturing environments, including hands-on assembly, process development, and design for manufacturability.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to design and develop all aspects of Karman’s heat pump systems.
Own critical hardware and components, including responsibility for all aspects of design and manufacturing and assembly of early prototypes.
Drive mechanical system development across the full product lifecycle, including system architecture, requirements definition, prototyping, testing, and manufacturing support.
Develop analytical, physics-based, first-principles models to determine hardware performance and limitations.
Create and manage complex CAD assemblies and detailed designs for prototype and production hardware.
Analyze and implement compliance and certification requirements for industrial deployment.
Partner with internal manufacturing teams and external partners to iterate rapidly and support efficient system and component builds.
Ensure designs meet performance targets, cost objectives, and program schedules.
Apply creativity and critical thinking to develop novel solutions and challenge conventional approaches.