Mechanical Design Engineer

Mechanical Design Engineer

Location: Ithaca, NY

Job Type: Full-Time & In-Person

Ecolectro develops specialty polymers and electrolytic cells for green hydrogen production, fuel cell technology, and electrolyzers. Our breakthrough alkaline exchange materials exhibit high ionic conductivity and exceptionally high chemical stability. These desirable characteristics reduce device costs and enable scalable green hydrogen, promoting access to clean energy and economically sustainable fuels.

We have an opening for a motivated mechanical engineer or scientist to join our expanding team. The primary focus of this role is designing balance of plant prototypes and supporting scale-ups of electrolyzer systems. This position supports the commercialization of custom monomer and polymer electrolytes that are incorporated into electrochemical devices.

Responsibilities:

• Design and optimize balance of plant components including piping, valves, heat exchangers, safety switches, and pressure vessels for AEM electrolyzers.
• Manage prototyping and testing of balance of plant components.
• Conduct thermal, stress and fluid flow analysis to ensure designs meet functional and safety requirements.
• Evaluate manufactured components to ensure specification and quality standards.
• Support the scale-up of electrolyzer systems from pilot to commercial scale, addressing engineering challenges related to system integration and operation.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, technological developments, and regulatory standards to inform design decisions.
• Effectively collaborate in interdisciplinary teams working towards common goals.
• Ability to act as the subject matter expert and mentor junior researchers.
• Design and execute experiments while carefully documenting all testing procedures in accordance with company guidelines including safety protocols and SOPs.
• Prepare and evaluate technical plans, reports, presentations, and proposals to support project success.
• Written and verbal communication of ideas and results to internal science and business teams.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field; Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in mechanical design and development, preferably in electrolyzer technology, fuel cells, or related renewable energy systems.
• Knowledge of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and material properties relevant to electrolysis systems.
• Experience with design for manufacturing (DFM), design for assembly (DFA), and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA).
• Strong proficiency in CAD software (e.g. SolidWorks or AutoCAD) and simulation tools (e.g. ANSYS or COMSOL).
• Excellent problem-solving abilities with a focus on innovative and efficient solutions.
• Proven strong communication and teamwork skills to work effectively in a fast-paced interdisciplinary environment.
• Ability to work independently, plan optimization tests, interpret results, and identify next steps and potential pitfalls.
• Good organizational skills, record keeping, and follow through will be integral to success

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Ecolectro is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status. We strongly encourage applications from all equity groups, even those where not all job requirements are met.

To apply, please send resumes and cover letters to recruiting@ecolectro.com.