Senior/Lead Mechanical Engineer - Renewables Scale-Up in London

We are conducting a search on behalf of a pioneering synthetic fuel company dedicated to decarbonising heavy industry who have recently raised over £10 million in funding. This company's mission is to make synthetic fuels cheaper than fossil fuels and contribute to a sustainable future by keeping CO2 locked underground. The company designs and manufactures modular synthetic fuel plants that integrate a Direct Air Capture (DAC) system, an Alkaline Electrolyzer, and a Sabatier Reactor. These systems are vertically integrated with off‑grid DC solar and the European gas grid. Having recently deployed the UK's largest synthetic fuel plant, the company is now focused on scaling its operations by a factor of 1,000 within the next two years.

We are looking for a Senior Mechanical Engineer to help bring these designs to life by integrating the complex and various systems that they have created. This role involves significant work with condensing, cooling, plumbing, and system integration. We need someone with immense curiosity and urgency to tackle the thermodynamic challenges of converting H2 and CO2 into synthetic fuels. The ultimate goal is to reduce the cost of methane to the point where drilling for fossil fuels is no longer viable and companies can “mine the sky for carbon.” If you are driven to make a tangible, real‑world impact and want to work alongside a team of highly dedicated and talented individuals, this is the role for you.

The Role

• Design the Balance of Plant (BoP) for large‑scale Alkaline electrolyzer deployments, including condensing gas streams to meet reactor specifications.
• Maintaining optimal stack temperature for the electrolyte, electrodes, and gasketing.
• Designing gaskets and cells, including over‑moulding and metal profiling.
• Develop control programs to pair production effectively and safely with off‑grid DC solar.
• Oversee the design, manufacturing, build, and deployment of the entire system.

Core Skills & Experience

• 5+ years of professional experience.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical/Aeronautical Engineering or a related field.
• A strong, fundamental understanding of thermofluids, heat and mass transfer, and chemical kinetics.
• Experience in system design, including component sourcing, CAD (SolidWorks), and design for manufacture/assembly.
• Proficiency in simulation and analytical modeling.
• Experience with test setup design, running experiments, and data analysis.

Specifics

• Salary: £70-90k, depending on experience.
• Share Options: Significant share options as part of the early team.
• Location: In‑person work at the company’s headquarters in Bermondsey, South‑East London.
• Time Off: Unlimited time off.

Please be advised that, owing to the expected volume of applications, we may only be able to contact candidates selected for further consideration.

Job Details

• Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level.
• Employment type: Full‑time.
• Industries: Services for Renewable Energy, Fuel Cell Manufacturing, and Chemical Manufacturing.