Systems Engineer, Thermal and Airflow

Mill • San Bruno, CA

3d • $116,500 - $195,000

About The Position

Mill is a waste prevention technology company that develops systems and infrastructure to keep food scraps out of landfills and turn them into valuable resources. The Systems Engineer will help characterize, understand, and improve the performance of Mill’s next-generation commercial food recycler. This hands-on individual contributor role is part of a small team and works closely with test engineers to interpret experimental data, update the Engineering Requirements Document (ERD), and own specific subsystems from characterization through design improvement. The role collaborates with Mechanical, Electrical, Algorithms, and Product teams.

Requirements

• At least 3 years of hands-on engineering experience focused on thermal, airflow/fluids, or mechanical systems.
• Ability to analyze time-series test data and communicate findings clearly.
• Experience writing or reviewing engineering requirements, test plans, or similar technical documentation.
• Familiarity with electromechanical components such as fans, blowers, heaters, valves, and sensors.
• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical, Thermal, Process, Chemical, or a related engineering field.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present results to engineers across disciplines.
• Ability to work independently on an owned area while collaborating closely with a small, fast-moving team.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with thermal testing and airflow characterization.
• Mechanical design background with strong testing and analysis skills.
• Python experience; other acceptable tools include R, MATLAB, spreadsheets, or AI-assisted analysis.
• Prior experience taking a product or process from prototype toward production.
• Exposure to CFD or thermal simulation results and validating them against test data.
• Startup or small-team experience in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Partner with test engineering to plan experiments and analyze data on temperatures, airflow, humidity, and heat transfer; derive conclusions, quantify tradeoffs, and recommend improvements to drying performance, energy efficiency, and throughput.
• Own targeted subsystems such as the airflow path, condenser, heater, or drying chamber, including defining requirements, characterizing performance, identifying failure modes, and driving design improvements.
• Review proposed changes to the Engineering Requirements Document and draft requirement updates based on test results, field data, and cross-functional input.
• Work with algorithms and firmware teams to provide data and system understanding for refining control schemes related to energy use, drying time, and reliable operation.
• Support mechanical engineers in evaluating and iterating on custom hardware such as mixing paddles, air deflectors, and cutting or shredding components, using test data.
• Help define component requirements for fans, blowers, heaters, sensors, and flow meters, and support part selection and evaluation.
• Build reusable analysis tools and clear reports, including plots, summaries, and test writeups.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level