Senior Staff Thermo Mechanical Design Engineer

Role Summary 

 
Amperesand is looking for a Senior Staff Thermo-Mechanical Design Engineer to play a key technical leadership role in developing its next-generation medium-voltage solid-state power conversion platform. This is a highly hands-on, end-to-end role where you’ll own the architecture of our complete thermal system—from architecture and concept selection, system sizing and modeling, CAD and detailed design, thermal CFD simulation, coolant and airflow routing, design for manufacturing and assembly, thermal system validation, and troubleshooting.   

You’ll work closely with mechanical, electrical, manufacturing, quality, suppliers, and factory teams to design, develop, and build the best system for a novel application, solve problems that don’t have established answers, with the opportunity to own thermal design.  Thermal performance is key to the overall performance of our solid-state power converter and a key differentiator for Amperesand.  We are looking for someone with deep thermal system design expertise, system modeling, detailed design experience, and a track record of independently leading complex technical work and solving novel problems.  We are not looking for someone who simply executes to a defined specification. The role can be based in Reno, San Francisco, or the South Bay. 

What You’ll Do 

• Own the complete thermal system for Amperesand’s solid-state power conversion platform from architecture into mass-production. 

• Select the architecture of our next-generation thermal system to meet and exceed product-level requirements. 

• Concept selection for how to implement the selected architecture. 

• Model the thermal system performance across our operating conditions and mission profiles. 

• Detailed design of the thermal system components, including CAD, and thermal CFD. 

• Partner with the manufacturing and quality teams on DFM/DFA activities to ensure the thermal system design is manufacturable. 

• Prototyping and validation of the thermal system. 

• Problem solving anywhere and everywhere between architecture and start of production. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Years of experience: 8+ 

• Master’s or PhD in mechanical engineering or related field, BS with evidence of exceptional accomplishment 

• Thermal system design, mechanical design, CAE expertise 

• Demonstrated ability to deliver a thermal system and solve novel engineering problems 

• Hands-on testing and validation experience 

• Ability for technical leadership of 1-3 junior engineers working under you on the thermal system 

Nice to Have 

• Experience with Catia 3DX 

• Experience with Siemens Amesim or similar 

• Familiarity with high-voltage design 

How We Work  

Employment Type: 
• Full-time 
 
Location: 
[San Francisco/ Sunnyvale / Reno] 
 
Work Model: 
• Onsite 
 
Travel Requirements: 
Travel to the factory in Reno during builds will be required, ~20% for 1-2mo/yr 
 
Onsite Collaboration Rationale: 
Given the highly collaborative and cross-functional nature of hardware, embedded systems, and product development, in-person partnership across engineering and product teams is critical to enabling rapid execution, technical alignment, and successful development outcomes. 

Why Join Amperesand 

• Work on next-generation power infrastructure systems
  • High ownership and visibility
  • Cross-functional collaboration 
  • Opportunity to shape future products and infrastructure 
  • Fast-moving startup environment 
   

Pay Disclosure & Benefits 

Compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.   

The benefits outlined below apply exclusively to employees located in the United States. 

• Competitive Salary + Incentive Stock Options   

• Medical, vision, and dental benefits for employees and their dependents, effective from the start of hire  

• Company paid Basic Life, AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance  

• 401k retirement savings plan through Empower  

• Employees receive paid time off (PTO), paid sick days, and paid company holidays   

• Commuter Benefits   

• 100% paid maternal leave (12 weeks) and paternal leave (6 weeks)  

Candidate Confidentiality & Information Protection 

As part of our commitment to protecting confidential and proprietary information, candidates should not disclose or provide Amperesand with any confidential, proprietary, or trade secret information belonging to a current or former employer or any other third party during the application or interview process. 

Please do not submit or present employer-owned source code, schematics, designs, technical documentation, internal presentations, customer information, prototypes, or other confidential materials. Candidates should discuss their experience and accomplishments at an appropriate level and use only information and materials they are authorized to share. 

Equal Employment Opportunity  

Amperesand is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information or characteristics, physical or mental disability, marital/domestic partner status, age, military/veteran status, medical condition, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

Amperesand is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Please let your recruiter know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process.