Senior / Staff Materials Development Engineer (m/w/d)

Antora builds and deploys thermal energy storage to power always-on industrial operations and data centers with low-cost energy. Factory-built in California, Antora's thermal batteries deliver reliable and cost-effective heat and power for industrial loads of any size. Antora is electrifying global industry while supporting U.S. manufacturing jobs, lowering costs for energy consumers, and enhancing the competitiveness of American industry.

We are growing our company with people who put team and mission first, value connection through laughter and joy, and build with humility and openness. We are committed to continue building a diverse, passionate, and creative team dedicated to a future where every industrial facility, everywhere on earth, is powered by abundant, clean, low-cost energy.

About The Role

Antora is seeking a Senior/Staff Materials Development Engineer to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of high-temperature mechanical processes and components critical to our thermal energy storage systems. In this role you will be directly responsible for developing novel materials to meet Antora's need for significant thermal battery production in 2026.

Your contributions will directly impact Antora's ability to scale manufacturing, improve part quality, and reduce system costs.

What You'll Do

• Lead the design and validation of high-temperature (>1000??C) thermal process equipment and associated hardware.
• Develop and execute rigorous Design of Experiments (DOEs) to establish robust and scalable manufacturing processes.
• Define, design, procure, build, test, and analyze platforms (mechanical + instrumentation + controls) required to execute DOEs.
• Generate detailed part and assembly design files (CAD) for prototyping and production.
• Collaborate closely with furnace operators, machinists, and fabrication partners to bring designs to life, from concept through final processing and inspection.
• Analyze process performance and quality metrics to identify root causes of yield loss and implement cost-effective improvements.
• Support the transition of designs from R&D to scaled production.
• Continuously improve part quality, repeatability, and throughput while lowering costs.

What We're Looking For

• B.S. or higher in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience in mechanical process engineering, manufacturing engineering, or related roles.
• First principles approach, curiosity driven
• Demonstrated experience with high-temperature systems (>1000??C), including thermal process equipment or furnace design.
• Background in designing metal components and fixtures.
• Proficiency in CAD software (e.g., SolidWorks, Inventor, NX, or equivalent).
• Experience working directly with machinists and fabricators to develop functional prototypes and qualifying production parts.
• Hands-on experience executing DOEs and analyzing experimental data.
• Demonstrated experience in project leadership & direct executive communication.
• Direct experience with novel material development.
• Direct experience with zero-to-one hardware development

Bonus Qualifications

• Familiarity with high-temperature material properties, failure modes, and thermomechanical design principles.
• Definition, setup, and execution of thermal models & simulations
• Experience in startup or high-growth manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to thermal battery systems or other energy storage technologies.

Work Location: Onsite in San Jose, CA

Salary Range: $142,000 USD - $170,000 USD

Salary Basis: Annual

Please note that the salary range listed above reflects Antora Energy's estimated pay for this position. The actual salary offered will be within the posted range and determined based on several factors including but not limited to a candidate's experiences, credentials and expertise, as they pertain to the position's requirements.

In addition to a competitive base salary, Antora Energy's Total Rewards program includes equity compensation in the form of stock options, a premium health benefits package with life and disability insurance, a 401K plan with employer contributions, flexible spending accounts, and an industry leading paid-time-off policy that features flexible and inclusive holiday observance, as well as paid volunteer time off.

Benefits

Compensation & Paid Time Off

• Competitive salary
• Stock options
• 401k plan with company match
• Clean commute stipend
• 15 paid vacation days per year, increasing with tenure
• 12 paid holidays (10 fixed, 2 of your choosing)
• 16 hours of volunteer time off
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave
• 24 hours of wellbeing time off

Health & Wellness

• Comprehensive medical coverage for employees & dependents
• Health savings account option with employer contribution
• Vision, dental, and life coverage
• Flexible spending account & dependent care account options
• Subsidized backup childcare, senior care, and petcare
• 80 hours of sick leave
• Personalized access to mental health support

Facilities & Community

• Kitchen with a variety of healthy snacks & drinks
• On-site gym with fitness equipment
• On-site showers and bike parking
• Dedicated mothers' room
• Team volunteer events
• Monthly social gatherings
• Foosball table and lawn games for breaks and friendly competition