Senior Mechanical Engineer - Vacuum

Location: On-site in Milpitas, California, United States.

Salary: $146,000–$210,000 per year, plus equity and benefits.

Company

hirify.global develops commercially viable fusion power plants and technologies for the future energy industry.

What you will do

• Lead the end-to-end design, integration, validation, assembly, testing, and implementation of advanced thermal vacuum equipment and R&D machinery.
• Define system-level requirements and develop design concepts connecting mechanical precision with product quality.
• Establish engineering workflows and best practices guided by semiconductor standards.
• Conduct mechanical system and subsystem design reviews with emphasis on manufacturability and design-for-X practices.
• Collaborate with scientists, vacuum specialists, electrical engineers, and other cross-functional stakeholders while maintaining critical interfaces.
• Track project milestones and drive timely, in-spec delivery while mentoring others.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, or equivalent industrial experience.
• 7+ years of experience designing and implementing complex R&D systems or semiconductor manufacturing equipment.
• Practical experience with vacuum architecture, including pumps, gauges, leak detection, material outgassing, seal integrity, and pump-down optimization.
• Experience with thermal management systems, including chillers and heat exchangers.
• Expertise in 3D modeling using SolidWorks and/or NX and in FEA or thermal simulation tools such as COMSOL or ANSYS.
• Hands-on experience with manual or CNC machining, prototyping, hardware troubleshooting, and transferring designs to the shop floor.
• Experience selecting and qualifying global vendors for specialized components or custom subsystems.
• Ability to lead effectively in direct and matrixed organizational structures.
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs, perform stooping, climbing, standing, and extended sitting, and work occasional nights, weekends, on-call periods, or travel as required.
• Dedication to safety when working around industrial hazards including heat, cold, noise, fumes, strong magnets, lead, high voltage, high current, pressure systems, and cryogenics.

Nice to have

• Experience building first-of-kind or experimental tools for semiconductor R&D or thin-film deposition.
• Familiarity with SEMI, ASME, ASTM, and other industry-standard mechanical codes.
• Experience designing precision motion and motor-controlled systems in challenging environments.

Culture & Benefits

• Fast-paced environment centered on integrity, execution, impact, self-critique, and diverse perspectives.
• Equity and competitive compensation.
• 13 company-wide holidays, flexible vacation days, and 10 sick days.
• Generous parental leave and health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) with employer matching, professional growth opportunities, and team-building activities.

Hiring process

• Employment is contingent on compliance with US laws concerning the export of controlled or protected technologies or information.