Modern Electron has an immediate opening for a Systems Engineer. The Systems Engineer will function as the technical lead for the development of our thermionic power generation products. In this role, you will be responsible for defining, documenting, and communicating a product architecture that meets all requirement specifications in regards to performance, cost and schedule.

You will translate system level requirements into product architecture and component level design, take ownership of the product architecture and system requirements, ensure proper allocation and ownership of the requirements for the subsystem and component levels, coordinate project tasks among different engineering functions (thermal, mechanical, electrical), function as the product’s technical contact for the R&D, Engineering, and Business Development teams, and play a key role on core team meetings with cross-functional departments.

Modern Electron is a start-up company dedicated to generating cheap, modular, and reliable electricity for all. Expensive mechanical engines and turbines based on 19th-century technology still generate the majority of the power used worldwide. We seek to replace them with paper thin heat-to-electricity generators. >$20MM venture capital is committed to our vision. We have enormous potential for learning, impact, and growth in a small and collaborative team setting. We value our ability to move fast to outpace larger companies and achieve what they cannot.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Define and document system level design, operating principles, and sub-system interface specifications
• Manage the design, manufacturing, testing and deployment of products for thermionic power generation that meet all specifications
• Lead the engineering analysis of component and system performance and risks in operation and testing through fault diagnosis and failure analysis
• Lead the engineering analysis to optimize the cost-performance ratio of products
• Support the definition of test programs for laboratory and field pilot systems
• Partner with the R&D and Business Development teams to ensure technical specifications meet product and market requirements
• Partner with the R&D and Business Development teams to identify key knowledge gaps and system-level learning opportunities, and drive the technical investigations and testing in order to bridge them
• Partner with the R&D and Business Development teams to evaluate whether technologies are suitable, and set timelines for the integration of new technologies into product

ESSENTIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES:

• Familiarity with electro-mechanical, power producing, and thermal management components
• Ability to translate high level product requirements into system and subsystem level specifications and designs
• Demonstrated success as an engineering team member in the architecture, system level design, integration and verification of a product used in industrial and/or commercial applications
• Ability to independently analyze and evaluate product efficacy and manufacturing feasibility by drawing upon technical education and experience pertaining to electrical circuitry, thermal, and mechanical designs (using drawings, schematics, and/or simulations)
• Some knowledge of mechanical engineering issues and processes associated with electronics packaging
• Some understanding of product development and engineering project management
• Impeccable written and verbal communication
• Ability and enthusiasm to work as part of a highly collaborative, dynamic, and diverse team

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering 
• 5+ years of design and development experience of electro-mechanical hardware products for industrial and commercial applications
• 2+ years experience as a Systems Engineer, performing architectural design and systems engineering

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, or Systems Engineering
• 3+ years experience in a startup environment
• Experience with power systems such as fuel cells, thermoelectric generators, battery arrays, gas turbines, and/or reciprocating engines/gensets
• Automotive, oil/gas, energy, aerospace and/or defense industry experience

We are an equal opportunity employer