Senior Mechanical Engineer

Want to impact one of the largest industries in the world? Fortera is a materials technology company headquartered in Silicon Valley that has created a new highly engineered zero CO₂ cement solution that can reduce CO₂ emissions by 100% when combined with green energy sources.The technology is inspired by nature and directly converts CO₂ into a replacement for ordinary cement, turning a problem into a product. With over ten years of testing and 100,000 hours of R&D backing the technology, Fortera is ready to grow the team and begin commercial production of this exciting new product. Be on the ground floor of a carbon-to-value movement that will impact millions for generations to come. We are looking for passionate thinkers, doers, and problem-solvers who share our vision that big challenges are big opportunities for change. Visit www.forteraglobal.com for more information.

POSITION OVERVIEW 

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Mechanical Engineer to lead the mechanical engineering and design efforts for our full-scale commercial plant. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the chemicals and/or mineral processing industry, although a candidate with experience in the Oil and Gas, Energy or heavy industrial sectors and relevant equipment design experience may be considered.

The ideal candidate will complement the existing engineering team by drawing on their experience with the engineering design and selection of rotating and static equipment, materials handling, piping systems, plant layout, value engineering, vendor management, construction and commissioning of mechanical systems, and reliability engineering.

The candidate should have experience with the following operations and equipment: materials handling, slurry transport, crushing, grinding, mineral dissolution, gas absorption, storage/loading operations, kilns/calciners, screens, mills, clarifiers, cyclones, filtration, solids dewatering, and drying.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide overall mechanical engineering leadership to the project team from conceptual design through detailed engineering, construction, commissioning, and start-up.
• Prepare conceptual designs and assist in preliminary investigations for process operations and equipment selection by providing expertise on mechanical equipment and materials selection.
• Lead the specification and selection of rotating and static equipment including pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, conveyors, blowers, pressure vessels, and tanks, piping, and valves in accordance with industry codes, standards and best practices.
• Investigate the solids handling properties of the solid feeds and cementitious products to make any necessary modifications to selected solids handling equipment and piping.
• Design systems for efficiently storing, packaging, and transporting cement product.
• Develop and review mechanical equipment datasheets, specifications, and design philosophies. Ensure compliance with relevant industry codes and standards.
• Lead the Mechanical / Piping input for plant 3D-model reviews including general arrangement, pipe routing, valve and instrument placement and supports.
• Lead the development of standardized company design specifications and philosophies for mechanical equipment, piping, and valves.
• Perform and review Technical Bid Evaluations for mechanical equipment and packages including tanks, vessels, pumps, heat exchangers, conveyors, reactors, crushing/grinding equipment, kilns, cyclones, scrubbers, and other wet and dry process equipment.
• Review design documents and drawings for vendor supplied equipment to ensure compliance with project specifications, and industry codes and standards.
• Develop and review Quality Management documents including procedures, guidelines, checklists, and templates for Mechanical Engineering activities and deliverables.
• Develop and review QA/QC requirements for the design, fabrication, construction, pre-commissioning, and turnover of mechanical equipment and piping.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Electrical, Process, Instrumentation and Controls, Civil/Structural and Safety to ensure integrated design solutions.
• Utilize engineering software and tools for design and analysis (e.g., AutoCAD, PV Elite, CodeCalc, Compress, FEA, CFD) as necessary.
• Develop and review project cost estimates related to mechanical equipment and piping.
• Lead and/or participate in value engineering, optimization, trade-off and RAM studies.
• Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance to the team.
• Stay updated on industry trends, technologies, and best practice.
• Perform other related duties that may be assigned to you.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering
• 10+ years’ experience in the chemical, minerals and metals, or other relevant heavy industrial sector in a lead mechanical engineer role.
• Experience designing, scaling, building, and commissioning a chemical or materials manufacturing plant or similar production plant.
• Strong experience in the design, sizing, and selection of mechanical equipment and piping for chemical production, mineral processing, and materials handling.
• Direct experience in cement is not necessary, but experience producing chemicals or materials at large scale (tonnes/hour) is a big plus.
• Experience managing engineering firms, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
• Strong mechanical skills associated with plant operations and equipment.
• Ability to design, analyze, and optimize a broad range of material handling systems, with a focus on safety, cost reduction, and quality.
• Strong understanding of industry codes and standards, including ANSI, ASME, API, NACE, and CEMA, and relevant safety regulations.
• Substantial experience working on complex greenfield projects.
• Strong understanding of mechanical equipment installation requirements in the field.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a team-focused attitude.
• Self-motivated with the ability to manage multiple high priority tasks simultaneously.

COMPENSATION:

The compensation package for this role includes a competitive base salary commensurate with experience of $140,000 - $170,000, well as an annual bonus and pre-IPO incentive stock options.

PERKS AND BENEFITS:

We know that happy employees are productive employees, which is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 100% company-funded Medical, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability coverages for employees
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options
• Tax deferred & Roth 401k
• Paid vacation days (increased with tenure), 12 paid holidays, and unlimited PTO for exempt employees

Fortera is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by applicable law. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.