Director, Mechanical Engineering

Twelve is a new kind of chemical company built for the climate era. Our breakthrough technology eliminates emissions by turning CO2 into essential products. We are a team of scientists, engineers and problem solvers on a mission to fundamentally shift the way the world addresses climate change and lead the transition to a fossil free future with our carbon transformation technology.

Committed to sustainability and innovation, we are expanding our team and seeking an experienced Director of Mechanical Engineering to lead the development of Twelve’s CO2 Electrolyzer.

This is a full-time position based in Berkeley, CA.

Job Brief

As the Director of Mechanical Engineering - CO2 Electrolyzers, you will be at the forefront of driving advancements in CO2 electrolyzer systems. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Engineering, you will lead a dynamic team of engineers, playing a crucial role in the design, development, and implementation of mechanical systems that contribute to our mission of creating a greener and cleaner future.  

What You Will Do

• Recruit, mentor, and develop a world-class mechanical engineering team that has industry-leading expertise in CO2 electrolyzer technologies.

• Provide strategic direction and technical leadership for the mechanical engineering team, focusing on CO2 electrolyzer and supporting technologies.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align engineering efforts with the company's mission and objectives, staffing Twelve’s development projects appropriately. 

• Support ambitious schedules while being responsible to and accountable for design integrity.

• Develop and execute against the technology roadmap, ensuring it aligns with the evolving landscape of CO2 electrolyzer technology.

• Manage and develop Mechanical Engineering for CO2 Electrolyzers as a Center of Excellence within Twelve, which means:

  • Mature Twelve’s best practices in Mechanical Engineering, including appropriate levels of process (e.g. Product Development Process), proper usage of tools such as PDM and PLM, best practices around mechanical analysis, simulations, design reviews, etc., best practices around CAD techniques (Solidworks)

  • Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and trends, developing them into best practices and integrating them into our internal products to improve performance and efficiency.

  • Cultivate a culture of innovation within the team: fostering creative problem-solving, a willingness to take risks, continuous improvement, and working with appropriate levels of process and rigor.

  • Oversee the function’s successful execution of multiple engineering projects in parallel, ensuring timely completion at high levels of quality and within budget constraints.

  • Ensure the engineering team is engaging collaboratively with project managers to define project scopes, milestones, and deliverables.

  • Monitor project progress, identifying and addressing potential risks while implementing effective mitigation strategies.

• Foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment that encourages professional growth and creativity.

• Provide guidance and support for career development, training, and performance management.

• Ensure that all products and solutions comply with safety and environmental standards, reflecting our commitment to safety and sustainability.

Who You Are 

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

• Proven track record of at least 15 years in Mechanical Engineering, with a minimum of 10 years in a leadership and management role demonstrating capability of managing an organization of similar size and complexity.

• Extensive experience in designing and implementing mechanical systems of similar complexity and bringing them to a production environment. 

• Mastery of at least 4 of the following areas:

  • Design of chemical electrochemical reactors (e.g. electrolyzers, batteries)

  • Design of high pressure sealed assemblies

  • Product design with fluid handling

  • Structural mechanical analyses and Finite Element Analyses

  • Fluid mechanics and Computational Fluid Dynamics

  • Product design from prototyping through production

  • Design for high-volume manufacturing

  • Leadership of multidisciplinary projects

  • Materials compatibility with chemical compounds

• Deep understanding of mechanical design best practices as it relates to mechanical part and system design.

• Strong project management and general organizational skill