Senior Mechanical Engineer -- Electrochemical and Thermal Systems

Mechanical Engineer (Berkeley,CA)About Calion TechnologiesCalion is an early-stage, venture backed, and ARPA-E/CEC funded U.S. technology and manufacturing startup that is developing and commercializing pioneering ionocaloric refrigeration and heat pumping technologies to enable non-hazardous and zero-global-warming potential cooling and heating. We are building full-system prototypes and pilots that combine electrochemistry, heat transfer, fluid handling, controls, and rapid hardware iteration.About the RoleWe are looking for a highly hands-on mechanical engineering generalist who can take a system from concept to CAD to fabrication to test. This role will focus on end-to-end prototype and pilot design, assembly, and testing for Calion’s electrochemical cooling and dehumidification systems.The ideal candidate is excellent at CAD, comfortable in the lab/shop, fast at rapid prototyping, and strong enough in engineering fundamentals to analyze pressure drops, flow rates, pump sizing, stresses, heat transfer, tolerances, and failure modes. You should also be comfortable enough with electronics, circuits, sensors, microcontrollers, and basic software to build test beds with controls and data logging.You will also work closely with chemists, chemical engineers, and other scientists to design electrochemical stack components, heat exchangers, fluid loops, test fixtures, and bespoke lab equipment.What You’ll DoDesign, build, and test prototype and pilot-scale hardware for electrochemical cooling and dehumidification systems.Own mechanical design from early concept through CAD, drawings, fabrication, assembly, debugging, and iteration.Design and assemble fluid loops involving pumps, tubing, fittings, valves, manifolds, reservoirs, sensors, pressure control, and leak-tight plumbing.Select appropriate P&ID hardware, including pumps, valves, flow meters, pressure transducers, seals, fittings, and chemically compatible materials.Build experimental test beds with basic controls, sensors, data logging, and microcontroller-based automation.Contribute to electrochemical stack manufacturing processesPrototype heat exchangers and thermal-fluid hardware.Design custom equipment for chemists and chemical engineers to support materials characterization, electrochemical testing, corrosion testing, and process development.Debug prototypes quickly and practically: find leaks, fix failures, improve assembly processes, and iterate hardware rapidly.What We’re Looking ForBachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experienceStrong CAD skills and experience designing real hardware that has been fabricated, assembled, and tested.Excellent rapid prototyping instincts: you know when to machine, mold, 3D print, laser cut, buy off-the-shelf, glue, clamp, weld, or redesign.Comfortable in a machine shop and able to fabricate or modify parts in a pinch.Experience designing and assembling fluid systemsWorking knowledge of pumps, tubing, fittings, valves, manifolds, seals, pressure ratings, chemical compatibility, and fluid system safety.Enough electronics and controls experience to wire sensors, read signals, control pumps/valves/motors, and build basic automated test rigs.Ability to write simple scripts or programs to analyze engineering problems, process data, or automate tests.Strong first-principles engineering judgment across fluids, mechanics, heat transfer, materials, and manufacturing.Nice to HaveExperience with electrochemical systems, batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, flow batteries, electrodialysis, desalination, HVAC, heat exchangers, dehumidification, or thermal systems.Experience with pressure-rated systems, vacuum systems, corrosive fluids, salt solutions, DAQs, LabVIEW, Python, MATLAB, Mathematica, CNC machining, manual mill/lathe work, welding, brazing, laser cutting, or 3D printing.Masters/PhD in a related fieldWho You AreYou are a builder. You like making real hardware work. You are comfortable with ambiguity and can turn a rough sketch or scientific requirement into a functioning prototype. You can move between CAD, the shop, the lab bench, the plumbing aisle, the electronics bench, and a simple analysis script without getting stuck.This is a chance to join an early-stage hard-tech company building a fundamentally new HVAC platform and to have a major impact on the physical architecture of the product.Email drew.lilley@calion.tech and attach resume to apply.