
Founding Member of Technical Staff - Thermal / HVAC / Mechanical Engineer
Why this role stands out
As a Founding Engineer, you'll drive innovation in thermal and HVAC design automation for critical industrial projects, leveraging AI to build a parametric engine and deliver cutting-edge mechanical solutions. This remote role is ideal for experienced mechanical engineers with a deep understanding of physics and a passion for building, offering a unique opportunity to shape the future of design and engineering. Embrace this chance to make a significant impact and grow your skills in a groundbreaking field.
Quick overview
Job description
You own end-to-end thermal and HVAC design automation for data center and industrial projects — from air-cooled halls to liquid cooling.
You'll deliver real mechanical engineering on live projects while building the parametric engine that generates those designs for every future site.
You don't need prior software experience. Our engineers who've never shipped software products are writing code with AI every day. What matters is that you understand the physics, the constraints, and the trade-offs — and that you build.
What you’ll achieve
- Deliver complete mechanical/HVAC packages: cooling load calculations, airflow and CFD analysis, chilled-water and liquid-cooling architectures (direct-to-chip, immersion, rear-door, CDUs), equipment sizing, P&IDs, 3D models, and construction sets.
- Build a parametric thermal/HVAC engine that generates these deliverables from a single parameter template for any data center site.
- Automate system sizing, equipment selection, thermal calculations, and design optimization.
- Connect mechanical designs with electrical and structural systems so changes automatically propagate across disciplines.
- Use AI coding agents (Claude Code and similar) to build these workflows. You will ship code.
You must
- Understand the physics deeply — heat transfer, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, and cooling-system trade-offs.
- Have built real physical systems hands-on, ideally first-of-a-kind products at companies like Tesla, SpaceX, Joby, Anduril, Rivian, or similar environments.
- Be able to ship code with AI tools today, even without a traditional software background.
- Be capable of taking a difficult engineering problem from first principles to a working solution.
- Be someone your current employer would be upset to lose.
You do not need to
- Hold a PE license (helpful, not required).
- Have a CS degree or identify as a software engineer.
- Have direct experience in data centers, construction, or AEC.
- Believe that AI should replace engineering judgment. We don't.
Full-time | Remote (US or Canada, excluding Quebec) | US$150k–$250k or CA$215k–CA$355k base + founding-team equity
Fully compensated health plans with 100% dependent coverage.
We hire across the experience spectrum. Proof that you build beats years on a resume.
Similar jobs
- SG
Chief Estimator – HVAC & Plumbing Auto Apply
Sperton Global AS · United States · Hybrid 🇺🇸
EstimatingHVACPlumbingConstructionSalary not listed - WA
Senior Technician, HVAC/Refrigeration - Fredericksburg, VA - $7,500 SIGN ON BONUSRecently posted Auto Apply
Walmart · Fredericksburg, VA · On-site 🇺🇸
HVACConstructionSalary not listed - WA
Senior Technician, HVAC/Refrigeration - $7,500 SIGN ON BONUSRecently posted Auto Apply
Walmart · Hampstead, MD · On-site 🇺🇸
HVACConstructionSalary not listed - CH
Mobile HVAC/R and General Maintenance - Hybrid Tech.Recently posted Auto Apply
CBRE HV · Boston · On-site 🇺🇸
Microsoft ExcelMicrosoft OfficeConstructionSalary not listed - AP
Lead HVAC InstallerRecently posted Auto Apply
Apex Pros Plumbing, Electrical, Heating and Air · Dublin, Ohio · On-site 🇺🇸
HVACConstructionSalary not listed - AE
Systems Specialist III- HVAC ControlsRecently posted Auto Apply
Albireo Energy · Chelmsford, Massachusetts · On-site 🇺🇸
Applicant Tracking SystemsContinuous ImprovementCustomer Retention+3Construction$85k - $140k/yr - AE
Sr. Automation Engineer (HVAC Controls Design)Recently posted Auto Apply
Albireo Energy · United States · Remote 🇺🇸
Applicant Tracking SystemsRoboticsTCP/IP+4ConstructionSalary not listed - D&
Industrial HVAC Field SupervisorRecently posted Auto Apply
D&L LLC · West Columbia, South Carolina · On-site 🇺🇸
HVACConstruction$45/hr - GM
Senior HVAC Service TechnicianRecently posted Auto Apply
Gallo Mechanical · Houston, Texas · On-site 🇺🇸
ForecastingHVACManufacturingSalary not listed - GM
HVAC Service TechnicianRecently posted Auto Apply
Gallo Mechanical · Charlotte, North Carolina · On-site 🇺🇸
ForecastingHVACManufacturingSalary not listed - D&
Industrial HVAC Service TechnicianRecently posted Auto Apply
D&L LLC · Columbus, Mississippi · On-site 🇺🇸
HVACManufacturingSalary not listed - TA

Commercial HVAC Service TechnicianRecently posted Auto Apply
Texas AirSystems · Irving · Hybrid 🇺🇸
Microsoft OfficeConcreteFLSA+1ManufacturingSalary not listed