K1 Industries converts jet engines into stationary gas turbine power plants. Our customers need reliable, fast-to-deploy power at scale now, not in 3 years. We are backed by a globally recognized VC and currently building and testing our first engine system at our test facility outside of Reno, Nevada.
This is a small, early-stage team. You will be one of the first ten hires. That means you will have influence on every major technical decision, and see your work running on real hardware within months, not years.
The Role
We are hiring for a number of Mechanical Engineers to design/build/commission key components of our power plants. As well as getting micro on subsystem detail, our Mechanical Engineers will be required to get macro on subsystem integration and system design. Our product is inherently highly mechanical: high-speed rotating machinery; dynamic load design; and high-power temperature management will all be table stakes for this role. The expectation is complete ownership: running design to ground using first principles followed by working creatively to build and test fast.
What You’ll Own
Map Functional Requirements and Rapid Concept Engineering
- Parse the design challenge quickly into a set of functional requirements
- Build out concept designs based on order-of-mag design. Order-of-mag is critical to set system bounding boxes early! Leaning on:
- Industry solutions where applicable; early conversations with vendors
- First principles design: free body diagrams; shorthand energy balances; pressure/flow maps
- Quick, frictionless feedback-seeking from the team to advance from concept
Clear System/Subsystem Design Spec and Modeling
- Subsystem specs and connecting interfaces (mechanical/electrical/flow) defined with high clarity
- 3D CAD modeling of components to inform interconnects, layouts, clashes
Driving Detailed Design
- Hi-Fi 3D CAD modeling to ‘as-built’ level
- Paranoid-level analysis: we are working with high power machinery where failure is often catastrophic. We expect paranoia around:
- Mechanical stresses in all axes/planes
- Vibrational instability/fatigue
- Tolerance stack-ups and induced loads
- Thermal growth/stress/derating
- Fluids under pressure/temperature
- Temperature management
- When working with vendors, developing a deep understanding of how the design solves for the operating conditions
- Succinct documentation of analysis, design decisions and rationale
Rapid Build and Test
- Bias To Action: work innovatively and proactively to build designs quickly. Speed To Power is our edge!
- Provide detailed designs and drawings to fabricator partners
- Developing test plans and hardware: structures; sensors; schedules
- Testing fast and as early as possible: we win by running into problems fast. Accelerate the troubleshooting cycle
- Design iterations are expected. Swift cycles between versions/test runs are critical. Anticipate where possible
- You have owned some tough design/builds on high-stakes mechanical equipment packages
- You have experience in the field of turbomachinery, beyond just the textbooks
- You have creatively built equipment under high temperature/pressure/speed conditions
- You have worked in a startup or small-team environment with high degrees of ownership
- You have worked with:
- High-speed couplings
- Environmental packages; exhaust abatement systems
- You are able to demonstrate examples of order-of-magnitude concept engineering through detailed design and execution
Compensation
Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity. As one of the first hires at a venture-backed company, your equity participation will reflect the impact and ownership this role carries. Standard benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance.
Location
This role is based in the Reno / Carson City, NV area with regular time at K1’s test facility outside Reno, NV. We need someone who is local or willing to relocate. If you are not local, significant and regular travel to the site will be required.
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