Principal Mechanical Engineer

Principal Mechanical Engineer

Full-Time 45000 - 55000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Rivan

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the design and manufacture of innovative sub-systems for synthetic fuel technology.
  • Company: Rivan Industries, a pioneering synthetic fuel company focused on decarbonising heavy industry.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, significant share options, and relocation support.
  • Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Join a mission-driven team to revolutionise energy and combat climate change.
  • Qualifications: 7+ years experience in mechanical engineering and strong CAD skills required.

The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.

Rivan Industries is a synthetic fuel company decarbonising heavy industry. We’re making synthetic fuel cheaper than fossil fuels, sustaining life on earth by keeping the CO2 locked underground. Engineering at Rivan is about taking technologies that are conventionally treated as low volume, bespoke, and expensive, and rethinking them completely to be mass manufactured, standardised, and ultra low cost. Every design aspect must be re-reasoned from first principles, every part’s existence questioned, and every manufacturing step scrutinised.

We’re looking for a talented Principal Mechanical Engineer to own one of our sub-systems to drive that forward, tasked with uncovering new ways of thinking about our system integration, performance, longevity, and manufacturability. If you thrive on a lot of responsibility and tight deadlines, come and build!

The role

  • Own the design and manufacture of an entire Rivan sub-system.
  • This role can be across any of our modules, be it reactor, electrolyser and DAC. You could be designing our next electrolyser stack, creating welding drawings for our next in-house built reactor, or designing sheet metal parts for our carbonation bed.
  • Own the concept generation, architecting and technical requirements capture.
  • Design test-rigs to validate underlying hypothesis quickly and cheaply.
  • Own and iterate the design drawings with our fabrication workshop.
  • Own the assembly, integration, commissioning and test plans of that sub-system.
  • Liaise with external vendors to support our production line.

Core skills

  • 7+ years professional experience.
  • Bachelor’s or Masters in mechanical/aero or related field.
  • System design experience including CAD (SolidWorks), design for manufacture/assembly, and part specification and procurement.
  • Hands on workshop fabrication and build experience.
  • Fundamental thermofluids understanding, including pressure loss, heat and mass transfer.
  • Simulation/analytical modelling competency (e.g. python, FEA, CFD).
  • Test setup design, running of experiments, and data analysis.

Specifics

  • £100-120k Salary depending on experience.
  • Significant share options as part of the early team.
  • In-person work at our HQ in Bermondsey, South-East London – flexibility considered based on personal circumstances.
  • Extensive relocation support, including £6000 per year extra to live close to our HQ.

Principal Mechanical Engineer employer: Rivan

Rivan Industries is an exceptional employer for those passionate about engineering and sustainability, offering a unique opportunity to work on groundbreaking synthetic fuel technologies in the vibrant area of Bermondsey, South-East London. With a strong emphasis on innovation, our collaborative work culture encourages creativity and critical thinking, while providing significant employee growth opportunities through hands-on projects and leadership roles. Additionally, we offer competitive salaries, substantial share options, and extensive relocation support, making Rivan a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.

Rivan

Contact Details:

Rivan Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Principal Mechanical Engineer

Get Your Hands Dirty at Engineering Events

Join local engineering meetups or industry conferences related to mechanical engineering. Whether it's a workshop or a career fair, these events are goldmines for networking and getting a foot in the door. Plus, you can showcase your passion and enthusiasm directly to potential employers like Rivan.

Connect with Professors & Peers

Tap into your university’s resources—professors often have connections in the industry. Don’t be shy to ask about potential openings or recommendations. Your classmates might also know of companies hiring. Often, it’s who you know that gets you in front of the right people!

Highlight Your Projects and Practical Experience

When you land those interviews, make sure to talk about your hands-on projects or internships. Whether it's a design project or hands-on experience with CAD software, specific examples will make you stand out. Companies like Rivan love to hear about practical applications of your skills.

Apply Directly on Company Websites

Check out the careers page of Rivan and apply directly through there. It shows initiative and interest in their specific values. Plus, you'll often find openings that aren't advertised on job boards, giving you a better chance to land that full-time gig!

We think you need these skills to ace Principal Mechanical Engineer

System Design
CAD (SolidWorks)
Design for Manufacture/Assembly
Part Specification and Procurement
Hands-on Workshop Fabrication
Thermofluids Understanding
Pressure Loss Analysis

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Technical Expertise:In mechanical engineering, it’s vital to highlight your technical skills and projects. Make sure to include relevant software proficiency (like CAD tools) in your CV. If you've worked on specific engineering projects, detail your key contributions — we want to see how you’ve applied your skills in a practical setting!

Focus on Problem-Solving Examples:Employers in mechanical engineering love to see how you handle challenges. Use your cover letter to share specific instances where you’ve solved a complex problem or improved a design. This will show us you're not just knowledgeable but also capable of applying that knowledge effectively.

Highlight Relevant Certifications:Include any relevant certifications or training that can set you apart from the competition. Whether it's coursework from your degree, a recognised certification, or extra training in new technologies, we love to see candidates who continuously improve their skill set. This tells us you're serious about your career in engineering!

Tailor Your CV for the Role:Don’t forget to customise your CV for Rivan and the Principal Mechanical Engineer role specifically. Pull examples from your experience that align with the job description — it shows us you've done your research and are genuinely interested in becoming part of the team. We recommend applying through our website to ensure your application gets to the right people!

How to prepare for a job interview at Rivan

Brush Up on Your CAD Skills

Since mechanical engineering often involves design processes, be ready to showcase your proficiency in CAD software like SolidWorks or AutoCAD. Bring along a digital portfolio or even some sketches that demonstrate your design capabilities — it’s a great way to show what you can bring to the table at Rivan.

Prepare for Technical Questions

Expect technical questions that test your understanding of engineering principles and problem-solving skills. You might get hypothetical scenarios where you need to design a component or troubleshoot a mechanical system. Practising these types of questions will give you the confidence to tackle whatever comes your way!

Show Your Team Spirit

As a full-time mechanical engineer, collaboration is key! Be ready to share examples of past team projects or any experiences where you contributed to solving a complex problem with others. Demonstrating your ability to work in a team will resonate well with the interviewers at Rivan.

Discuss Your Future Goals

Since this is a full-time position, your long-term vision is important. Be open about your career aspirations, whether it’s mastering a specific tool or leading projects. This shows that you're committed not just to learning but also to growing with Rivan, making you a more appealing candidate.