Senior Mechanical Engineer - Pyrolysis

Job Description

Our mission is to return the atmosphere to 280 ppm CO???. We convert excess inedible biomass into carbon-rich bio-oil and inject it into underground storage for permanent carbon removal. At scale, we can use bio-oil to make fossil-free iron.

Our carbon removal efforts began in 2020 with initial purchases from customers like Stripe, Shopify, and Microsoft. Since then, we've scaled to thousands of tons of carbon removal, grown to over a hundred employees, and established three locations in San Francisco, Colorado, and Louisiana.

We're expanding our team of ambitious, creative, and hands-on problem solvers. We value psychological safety, collaboration, and continuous learning. We take calculated risks and treat mistakes as opportunities to improve. If you're excited about tackling big challenges, we encourage you to explore our company values.

Come help us reverse climate change. Gigatons or bust!

About the Role

As a Senior Mechanical Engineer based in Fort Lupton, Colorado, you'll help design and develop the next generation of Charm's pyrolysis technology while improving systems already operating in production. Reporting to the Lead Pyrolysis Engineer, you'll collaborate across engineering, fabrication, and operations teams to bring new equipment from concept to commissioning.

This is a hands-on role focused on mechanical design, testing, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. You'll help validate new technologies, solve real-world engineering challenges, and develop reliable systems that support Charm's production and carbon removal goals.

Responsibilities

• Design mechanical and electromechanical solutions for our next-generation production pyrolyzer, considering interfacing systems, operating requirements, operator experience, and ongoing service and maintenance needs.
• Scale our existing pyrolysis technology to higher machine throughputs while addressing new technical and plant requirements. Apply lessons learned from previous systems to develop first-of-their-kind test articles for our next-generation R&D pyrolyzer.
• Identify and troubleshoot mechanical system malfunctions and performance gaps, determine root causes, and implement corrective actions to restore system performance.
• Develop and execute test plans and commissioning campaigns, validating system performance before and after machine installation.
• Work closely with electrical, software, and mechanical engineers to integrate mechanical systems into the broader pyrolysis platform.
• Provide occasional on-call support for production operations, partnering with Engineering Technicians and Operations teams to resolve critical equipment issues.

You bring

• A bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field. An M.S. degree is a plus.
• 5-8 years of experience designing, building, and supporting complex mechanical systems.
• Experience with CAD software. We use Onshape.
• Experience creating, reviewing, and releasing detailed fabrication and assembly drawings with attention to detail and sound configuration control practices.
• Understanding of heat transfer, sensor and actuator selection, and translating ambiguous requirements into practical engineering solutions.
• Familiarity with fabrication processes and the design principles that support manufacturable solutions.
• Familiarity with piping standards, flange interfaces, gasket selection, and the mechanical integration of process systems.
• Experience with process piping and vessel design in high-temperature or industrial environments is a plus.
• Hands-on experience with mechanical assembly, testing, and troubleshooting.
• Experience working with electromechanical systems and material handling equipment.
• Documentation skills that clearly communicate design decisions, testing results, and system improvements.
• The ability to collaborate with Electrical, Controls, Manufacturing, and Fabrication teams to bring designs from concept to installed hardware.
• The ability to manage priorities, communicate progress, and work effectively across teams.
• Excitement for scaling hardware that can have a meaningful impact on climate change.

$94,000 - $140,000 a year

What We Offer

• Equity ownership through stock options
• 100% employee healthcare premiums covered
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with multiple plan options
• Employer-funded HSA contributions for eligible HDHP plans
• Traditional and Roth 401(k) with a 50% match on contributions up to 6%
• Paid leave, including parental and medical leave
• PPE and workwear allowances
• Annual professional development stipend
• Employee recognition programs that celebrate impactful work and team contributions
• Opportunities for internal growth, career development, and transition into climate from a range of industries and backgrounds

Visa Sponsorship Policy

Since we are a small startup, certain accommodations for visa sponsorship may not be within our capability. At this time, Charm Industrial is only sponsoring E3 and TN visas.

Our Commitment

Charm Industrial is an equal opportunity employer. We hire based on skills, experience, and passion for our mission. Climate challenges require a wide range of perspectives and expertise, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. We're excited to grow our team with people who bring unique strengths and help us improve as a company.

At Charm, we may use AI-enabled tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as organizing applications, reviewing resumes, or helping identify relevant experience. In a world where AI-assisted resumes, synthetic content, and deepfakes are increasingly common, these tools help our team navigate the process thoughtfully and efficiently. That said, hiring decisions at Charm are made by people, not algorithms. Our recruiting process is designed to ensure candidates are evaluated fairly, consistently, and in alignment with our equal employment opportunity commitments. AI tools support our team's work, but they do not replace human judgment or determine hiring outcomes.