Staff Product Development Engineer

About the role

As our Staff Product Development Engineer, you'll play a critical part in designing, testing, and scaling the electrochemical hardware, assemblies, and supporting systems that power our cutting-edge salt splitting electrolyzer technology. You'll own critical products, assemblies, and components end-to-end through the full product development lifecycle, from requirements definition and architecture through detailed design, verification, supplier qualification, pilot builds, and production release.

Responsibilities

• Own critical products, assemblies, and components end-to-end through the full product development lifecycle, from requirements definition and architecture through detailed design, verification, supplier qualification, pilot builds, and production release
• Serve as the technical design owner for electrochemical cell, stack, balance-of-plant, structural, and test hardware, making sound tradeoffs across performance, cost, manufacturability, reliability, and schedule
• Translate system- and product-level requirements into robust mechanical designs, interfaces, specifications, drawings, and validation plans
• Lead concept generation, down-selection, and engineering analysis using first-principles calculations, CAD, tolerance analysis, FEA, CFD, and rapid prototyping as appropriate
• Design, build, and commission fixtures, tooling, and test equipment to accelerate characterization, design verification, and design validation
• Plan and execute structured development programs including prototype builds, DOE, failure analysis, root cause investigations, and data-driven design iteration
• Drive DFM, DFA, serviceability, and cost-down efforts in close partnership with internal stakeholders and external manufacturing partners
• Develop and manage suppliers for machined, molded, formed, welded, coated, and assembled components, including capability assessment, process selection, qualification planning, and technical problem solving at supplier sites
• Own engineering documentation required for release and scale-up, including BOMs, drawings with GD&T, specifications, test protocols, ECNs/ECOs, design reviews, risk registers, and manufacturing work instructions
• Partner cross-functionally with electrochemistry, systems, electrical, controls, test, and operations teams to integrate hardware into reliable product architectures and development roadmaps
• Identify technical and program risks early, define mitigation plans, and drive closure with urgency in a fast-paced startup environment
• Mentor junior engineers and raise the bar on design rigor, documentation quality, and execution discipline across the product development organization

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent industry experience)
• Industry Experience: 10+ years developing complex hardware products, capital equipment, electrochemical systems, industrial equipment, energy storage systems, or similarly demanding electromechanical products
• Direct experience selecting and developing polymer-based components for fluid and gas distribution products, including understanding of polymer grades, raw material form factors, and manufacturing processes such as cutting, forming, welding, extrusion, and injection molding
• Demonstrated success owning hardware from early requirements through production implementation, including supplier development and design transfer into manufacturing
• Deep mechanical design and fluid mechanics fundamentals with strong proficiency in CAD and PDM/PLM systems; Onshape experience strongly preferred
• Experience producing high-quality engineering documentation including specifications, test plans, design reviews, fabrication drawings, and GD&T for critical components and assemblies
• Hands-on experience with prototyping and fabrication methods such as machining, sheet metal, forming, welding, adhesives/sealants, and assembly of mechanical systems
• Strong background in verification and validation, including test method development, fixturing, instrumentation, statistical interpretation of results, and root-cause-based design iteration
• Experience working directly with suppliers and contract manufacturers on process development, DFM, qualification, first article review, non-conformance resolution, and corrective actions
• Demonstrated ability to design for reliability and safety in harsh environments, including chemically aggressive, pressurized, electrically active, or thermally challenging operating conditions
• Excellent project management and communication skills, with the ability to drive cross-functional decisions and keep technical workstreams on schedule
• Startup or other fast-paced hardware development experience is strongly preferred

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent industry experience)
• Industry Experience: 10+ years developing complex hardware products, capital equipment, electrochemical systems, industrial equipment, energy storage systems, or similarly demanding electromechanical products
• Direct experience selecting and developing polymer-based components for fluid and gas distribution products, including understanding of polymer grades, raw material form factors, and manufacturing processes such as cutting, forming, welding, extrusion, and injection molding
• Demonstrated success owning hardware from early requirements through production implementation, including supplier development and design transfer into manufacturing
• Deep mechanical design and fluid mechanics fundamentals with strong proficiency in CAD and PDM/PLM systems; Onshape experience strongly preferred
• Experience producing high-quality engineering documentation including specifications, test plans, design reviews, fabrication drawings, and GD&T for critical components and assemblies
• Hands-on experience with prototyping and fabrication methods such as machining, sheet metal, forming, welding, adhesives/sealants, and assembly of mechanical systems
• Strong background in verification and validation, including test method development, fixturing, instrumentation, statistical interpretation of results, and root-cause-based design iteration
• Experience working directly with suppliers and contract manufacturers on process development, DFM, qualification, first article review, non-conformance resolution, and corrective actions
• Demonstrated ability to design for reliability and safety in harsh environments, including chemically aggressive, pressurized, electrically active, or thermally challenging operating conditions
• Excellent project management and communication skills, with the ability to drive cross-functional decisions and keep technical workstreams on schedule
• Startup or other fast-paced hardware development experience is strongly preferred

Skills

• Deep mechanical design and fluid mechanics fundamentals
• Strong proficiency in CAD and PDM/PLM systems; Onshape experience strongly preferred
• Experience producing high-quality engineering documentation including specifications, test plans, design reviews, fabrication drawings, and GD&T for critical components and assemblies
• Hands-on experience with prototyping and fabrication methods such as machining, sheet metal, forming, welding, adhesives/sealants, and assembly of mechanical systems
• Strong background in verification and validation, including test method development, fixturing, instrumentation, statistical interpretation of results, and root-cause-based design iteration
• Experience working directly with suppliers and contract manufacturers on process development, DFM, qualification, first article review, non-conformance resolution, and corrective actions
• Demonstrated ability to design for reliability and safety in harsh environments, including chemically aggressive, pressurized, electrically active, or thermally challenging operating conditions
• Excellent project management and communication skills

Benefits

• $175,000 - $195,000 salary range, plus equity, commensurate with experience
• Aepnus pays 100% of medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, 50% for dependents
• 401(k) plan and additional retirement benefits
• Flexible paid time off for wellness, vacation, and rest, plus 10 paid holidays per year
• Two weeks off in late December for an annual Winter Break
• 80 / 20 in office work environment, with up to one full remote day weekly
• Monthly team builds and an annual offsite retreat

Pay

• $175,000 - $195,000 salary range, plus equity, commensurate with experience

Schedule

• 80 / 20 in office work environment, with up to one full remote day weekly