Mechanical Technician

Found Energy is building clean energy delivery platforms capable of replacing fossil fuels for heavy industries ranging from aluminum production (4% of global CO2 emissions) to fertilizer production (2% of global CO2 emissions) to maritime shipping (3% of global CO2 emissions). Building off technology developed at MIT that enables metallic aluminum to split water, our energy delivery systems safely generate hydrogen and industrial heat on-site at >5x the volumetric energy density of liquid hydrogen and >3x that of methanol and ammonia. By integrating storage, transport, and generation into a single package, our technology solves some of the biggest pain points in renewable energy transportation and storage.

At Found Energy, we believe in securing a livable and equitable future for our planet, and we are looking for partners who are motivated by this goal to join us. For more information, visit https://found.energy.

Benefits Overview

Health, dental, 20 days PTO, 11 holidays, unlimited sick days, 12 weeks parental leave, stock options, professional development budget, and more.

Job Overview

Found Energy has demonstrated its core hydrogen generation technologies, including a system capable of powering a full-sized electric vehicle. We are now working to scale up the reactor system for both our minimum viable product (MVP) and commercial pilot demonstrations. The completion of the MVP and commercial pilots requires designing and testing numerous sub-systems at the targeted industrial scale, as well as at various intermediate scales along the way.

We are seeking a mechanical lab technician to work on-site in our Boston research and development center on assembling, testing, maintaining, and modifying components for our aluminum-water reactors and related systems. In this role, you would work under our engineering team's guidance building and testing prototypes and customer pilot systems, working with and modifying off-the-shelf equipment and machinery and fabricating/modifying custom-designed parts. Your work will help contribute to the scale-up of our reactor technology and delivering high-quality systems to customers.

Applicants should have prior experience working in mechanical R&D and machine shop environments, and understand the needs and requirements for efficient operation and function. The applicant should thrive in an exciting dynamic start-up environment, and be highly driven to improve the productivity and efficiency of their colleagues.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Assist in the assembling, testing, maintaining, and modifying subsystems for reactor prototypes and other systems under the guidance of engineers.
• Assemble, test, qualify, and maintain hardware components.
• Perform tests on subsystems and reactor prototypes under the guidance of engineers including mechanical, fluid handling, and electrical systems.
• Follow SOPs to make changes to subsystems of reactors.
• Manage shop inventory, ensuring all equipment and materials are well-stocked and properly maintained.
• Record detailed experimental data and observations
• Take note of areas for improvement on design and processes, and report findings to the engineering team.
• Adhere to strict safety protocols while handling potentially hazardous materials and operating pressurized systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support the scale-up of reactor technology from lab prototypes to production-ready units.

Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of related experience in a R&D environment.
• Proven experience as a mechanical technician, preferably in an environment with fluid-handling or energy-related environment.
• Proficiency with machine shop tools including manual/cnc milling and lathe
• Experience with piping and fittings including NPT, Swagelok, flanged pipe, etc.
• Experience installing or using sensors and electrical tools such as power supplies, multimeters, and oscilloscopes.
• Experience handling compressed gas cylinders and operating pressure equipment.
• Experience with hydrogen gas or steam systems is a plus.
• Proficient in the use of standard office software (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.).
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Keen attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Effective communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information clearly.
• Deeply motivated to combat climate change.
• Flexibility to deal with the rapidly changing needs of a startup.

Research suggests that qualified people from historically marginalized groups may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who might not meet the exact requirements, but who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Found Energy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, subcontractors, vendors, and clients.