Factory Design Engineer

About Us
All across the world, from the azure pools of Turkey and Oman to the travertine terraces of Yellowstone, our planet quietly pulls carbon dioxide from the air and turns it to stone. For eons, Earth has relied on this process to balance its carbon cycle. What if it could be harnessed? What if we could do it faster, in larger quantities, and at a low enough cost to make it an effective tool in the fight against climate change?
At Heirloom, we are turning that into reality. We use the natural carbon capture properties of abundant minerals to pull CO2 from the air, and store it permanently underground. We come to work every day to slow climate change, and are united behind a single, common goal - to remove 1 billion tons of CO2 from the sky by 2035, and to not stop before we get there. 
We bring together the precise recipe of science, technology, know-how, and strategy necessary to make low cost, high quality carbon removal a reality. If we’re successful, we will directly mitigate climate change, build a world we can proudly hand over to our children and grandchildren, and catalyze an industry that will rival the largest the world has ever seen. If you want to change the planet, come join us.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Heirloom is committed to diversity and building an equitable and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and experiences.  We believe wholeheartedly that building a diverse company is critical to Heirloom’s success.  We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, veterans, and people with disabilities.
The Role
You will design and build the mechanical systems to capture and measure the CO2 we capture from the air we breathe.  While our laboratory results demonstrate the general concept, we must scale from lab bench to industrial scales.  You will help shape and drive exploratory research and development phases to evaluate and test new ideas and setups.  You revel in both complexity and uncertainty and delight in breaking down and translating huge problems into actionable and testable systems requirements.  As we scale, you will help us design and build the infrastructure necessary to operate at the industrial levels necessary to effect global change on our CO2 footprint.  Your work has the potential to directly shape our fight against climate change. 

What you will do

• Define and design plant layout and equipment integration. Focus on material flow, material conveyance, material storage
• Drive system level analysis evaluating trade-offs between function, deployment time, operational costs, and capital investment
• Work closely with the mechanical design team and research team to define and communicate system needs. We are looking for interdisciplinary individuals with good organization and communication skills
• Work with external suppliers and partners to collaborate on design and facilitate component validation and procurement
• Use 3D CAD, Excel/Sheets, and process simulation software (AnyLogic) to design, build, and test our novel system to capture CO2 at the billions of tons scale
• Get hands-on to design, build, and test rapid proof of concept prototypes
• Independently execute on and troubleshoot designs
• Approach work with open mind and flexibility. You will work in an environment of rapid learning and adjustment

What you will bring

• We are looking for candidates with different experience levels ranging from entry level to 10+ years of experience.
• BS / MS in Mechanical or Manufacture Engineering (or equivalent)
• Experience in process design and material handling, with an emphasis on modularity and scalability
• You have experience with reactors and other chemical plant equipment
• In depth knowledge of solids and/or fluid handling and associated equipment
• A self-starter who is comfortable driving multiple parts of the product design process simultaneously
• Basic understanding of control systems and electronics
• Ability to track hardware issues, drive root cause investigations, and take corrective actions 
• Ability to take an analytical approach to problem definition

Our Principles

• Radical Honesty means we are open, transparent, and inclusive in everything we do. We aren't scared to challenge each other, but bring clear motives and our best intentions when we do.
• Persistent Optimism means we carry an infinite amount of optimistic energy with us on our journey, constantly chipping away at what may seem insurmountable.
• Continual Discovery means we maximize our learning rate.  Compounding knowledge is our key to victory - we continuously hone our crafts, seek the fastest paths to new learning, and are quick to absorb new knowledge.

Why you should join Heirloom

• We are solving the engineering problem of our generation. Climate change is an existential threat, and we need as many of the world’s motivated minds as possible to help. There is no greater challenge or opportunity than fighting climate change. 
• We have done this before. We have done this before.  We’re engineers, scientists, and concerned humans from a variety of backgrounds and experiences who are pooling our knowledge and skills to collectively build a more equitable, prosperous future for all.
• We are a united, resilient, and optimistic bunch. We are all here for the same reason - to slow climate change. We recognize the magnitude of the challenge ahead of us, and believe we can solve it. We can see a hopeful future where we eventually reverse climate change. It won’t be easy, but we won’t quit.
• We are backed by the best climate partners in the world. We’re well funded by investors from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Ahren Innovation Capital, Carbon Direct, Microsoft, Lowercarbon Capital, ARPA-e and the National Science Foundation. Our early customers include Stripe, Shopify, and Klarna, and we’re building durable partnerships that enable us to tackle this decades-long problem.  

Perks and Benefits

• Covered health, dental and vision. Health, dental and vision insurance covered by Heirloom
• Generous parental leave. 16 weeks paid leave for all Heirloom employees, regardless of primary/secondary caregiver status.
• Generous stock options
• Flexible time off. Unlimited PTO for exempt (salaried) employees & 80 hours for full time non-exempt (hourly)  employees.
• Stay healthy. Monthly health and wellness reimbursement.
• Learn on the job. Robust annual education and conference budget, including airfare and hotel costs

You don’t have to have every listed requirement and skill to be a great fit - you may even teach us something about what we should be looking for! If you are passionate about this opportunity and think you have the skills to succeed, please apply! If not, but you know someone who might be interested, please share this post.