R&D Engineer, Combustion and Thermal Systems

Salary range $110K to $140K, commensurate with experience

Join Nano-C as an Experimental Reactor Development Engineer, reporting to the Director of Upstream Manufacturing and Development, primarily responsible for combustion reactor systems from concept through validation. This is a hands‑on role for an engineer equally comfortable at a CAD workstation, on the shop floor coordinating with fabricators, and standing next to equipment running live experiments. You will work at the intersection of mechanical design, thermal engineering, and experimental science, contributing directly to Nano-C's development of advanced nanocarbon materials.

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering
• 3+ years of mechanical, chemical, aerospace, or related engineering experience, with significant hands‑on involvement in the design, build, commissioning, and operation of laboratory or pilot-scale high‑temperature, combustion, or thermal process systems
• Strong background in thermal system design, heat transfer, fluid flow, combustion, and reaction engineering
• Experience designing and analyzing high‑temperature reactors, furnaces, burners, gas delivery systems, process piping, exhaust systems, and related experimental hardware
• Ability to translate conceptual ideas and experimental objectives into practical, buildable test systems and hardware
• Ability to develop experimental reactor concepts and convert them into complete laboratory‑scale test systems
• Proven ability to solve complex experimental and hardware development problems
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, define technical scope, identify unknowns, develop test plans, and execute projects from concept through experimental validation
• Strong proficiency in 3D CAD (Solid Works, Inventor, or equivalent); ability to generate 3D assemblies, fabrication drawings, piping layouts, equipment arrangements, and mechanical details
• Ability to perform engineering calculations related to heat transfer, pressure drop, gas flow, residence time, thermal expansion, material selection, and structural loading in high-temperature operation
• Hands‑on experience with Swagelok tubing, NPT piping, flanged systems, regulators, valves, gas systems, and process instrumentation
• Experience with reactor modeling, chemical kinetics, combustion modeling, CFD, process flow diagrams, P&IDs, equipment lists, and component specifications is highly desirable

• Competitive compensation package and great benefits!
• Fun, challenging, equitable, flexible, and safe work environment

• Design and develop laboratory‑scale combustion reactors, burners, furnaces/fireboxes, gas delivery systems, precursor feed systems, collection systems, and vacuum/exhaust systems
• Perform engineering calculations related to heat transfer, gas flow, pressure drop, residence time, thermal expansion, material selection, and high‑temperature operation
• Create and update 3D CAD models, fabrication drawings, piping layouts, equipment arrangements, and mechanical details
• Identify and specify required components including valves, regulators, MFCs, thermocouples, pressure sensors, fittings, tubing, flanges, insulation, refractory materials, and structural hardware
• Work directly with machine shops, fabricators, welders, and equipment vendors to obtain quotes, review designs, answer fabrication questions, and ensure parts are built to specification
• Review vendor drawings, select commercially available components, and modify designs as needed based on parts availability, cost, lead time, or fabrication constraints
• Receive and inspect fabricated…