Mechanical Engineer

We are looking for a hands-on Mechanical Engineer to industrialize the field assembly of Rondo's modular thermal battery systems. Working across product design, project delivery, supply chain, and factory operations, you will develop the products, tooling, documentation, and installation processes that bridge the gap between CAD models and successfully built systems in the field, enabling third-party contractors to construct Rondo systems safely, efficiently, and predictably around the world. The ideal candidate thinks like a manufacturing engineer in a construction environment—creating robust, scalable processes that deliver consistent quality, cost, and schedule performance despite variability in labor, equipment, and site conditions. 

What You’ll Do (responsibilities include but are not limited to): 

• Create and standardize field assembly processes, turning complex construction activities into repeatable, scalable operations that can be executed consistently by third-party contractors. 

• Partner with product engineering to incorporate Design for Installation (DFI) requirements into product architecture, ensuring modules can be assembled safely, repeatedly, and efficiently by third-party contractors in varying site conditions. 

• Participate in design and construction readiness reviews, establishing release criteria and ensuring field integration deliverables are complete before project execution. 

• Help define site assembly approaches, identify assembly datums, tolerance strategies, interface requirements, and module tolerances required to ensure fitment. 

• Partner with product engineering early in development to eliminate unnecessary site work, tooling, lifting operations, and installation complexity. 

• Develop fixturing, packaging, and transport solutions that are integrated into factory-built modules and remain effective through shipping, storage, and installation. 

• Develop packaging and logistics strategies spanning factory release through final installation, including shipping configuration, storage, material flow, and point-of-use delivery. 

• Develop lifting, handling, transport, alignment, positioning, and installation tooling for modular assemblies. 

• Develop methods of locating modules relative to a central datum system while minimizing cumulative tolerance stack-up. 

• Develop joining processes and tooling for interfaces between modules. 

• Develop leveling and alignment strategies that prevent vertical and horizontal tolerance accumulation. 

• Develop inspection plans, acceptance criteria, and recovery methods for out-of-spec conditions. 

• Apply lean manufacturing and lean construction principles to reduce labor hours, crane time, material handling, installation variability, and overall project cost. 

• Develop mistake-proofing (poka-yoke) features in tooling, interfaces, and work processes to minimize dependence on installer judgment. 

• Create scalable installation standards, work instructions, training materials, and quality plans suitable for deployment across multiple global contractors. 

• Create MBOMs for modules including tooling, packaging, and installation consumables. 

• Perform offline assembly, shipping, handling, and installation validation testing. 

• Develop labor models, equipment requirements, installation sequencing, and productivity assumptions used to establish project schedules and cost estimates. 

What You’ll Bring: 

• Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline. 

• 3-8 years of experience developing manufacturing, assembly, construction, or industrial installation processes for large-scale hardware systems. 

• Strong CAD skills (SolidWorks) with the ability to visualize and communicate complex assembly and construction sequences. 

• Strong understanding of geometric tolerancing, datum structures, tolerance stack-up analysis, and field fit-up strategies. 

• Ability to identify and eliminate unnecessary complexity through product, process, and tooling design. 

• Experience developing products, tooling, or assembly processes through the full engineering lifecycle, including concept development, design reviews, prototyping, procurement, testing, validation, and release. 

• Experience working cross-functionally with engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, or operations teams. 

• Strong structured problem-solving skills and data-driven decision making. 

• Knowledge of lean manufacturing and lean construction methodologies. 

• Practical, solutions-oriented mindset focused on achieving the simplest effective solution – the best solution is not needing a solution. 

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate engineering designs into clear installation and construction documentation. 

• Ability to anticipate field variability and design robust processes that succeed despite imperfect site conditions. 

• Demonstrated ability to independently drive projects from concept through implementation. 

Bonus Points: 

• Experience with ASME B30.20, BTH-1, lifting device design, rigging analysis, or crane operations. 

• Experience with modular construction, heavy equipment, industrial systems, shipbuilding, aerospace assembly, or similar large-scale installations preferred. 

• Experience developing packaging solutions for large industrial equipment, including transportation, storage, and handling requirements. 

• Experience with transportation analysis, packaging validation, vibration testing, shock testing, or shipping qualification of large assemblies. 

• Experience with thermal systems, industrial process equipment, furnaces, kilns, boilers, heat exchangers, or related technologies. 

• Experience designing systems requiring airflow management, thermal insulation, weather sealing, or environmental containment. 

• Experience integrating industrial electrical equipment, busbars, cable routing, or high-current power systems. 

• Experience designing or installing equipment subject to seismic requirements. 

• Experience with modular products assembled from factory-built components in the field. 

• Experience developing labor estimates, installation schedules, or construction methodologies for large industrial systems. 

• Experience with field measurement, surveying, alignment, or dimensional control of large assemblies. 

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive Medical Benefits
• Dental & Vision Benefits
• Life Insurance and ADD
• Up to 13 paid holidays per year, in addition to a company week-long holiday in December
• Flexible time off policy
• Catered lunches on-site
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Rondo HQ is close to Oakland airport - one block from the Bay - and has stunning Bay views!

This role necessitates being on-site at our Alameda HQ several times per week. The estimated annual salary range for this role is $115,000 to $125,000 and it would be eligible for Rondo's excellent benefits listed above plus additional compensation in the form of equity. Please note that some pay bands may have wide ranges of compensation to accommodate candidates' diverse sets of skill levels and experience. 

About the Company  

We are transforming industrial decarbonization with our innovative Rondo Heat Battery technology. Rondo is deploying low-cost, zero-carbon Rondo Heat Batteries to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy and to significantly decarbonize industrial processes that are commonly thought of as "difficult-to-decarbonize". Our heat batteries charge from intermittent renewables to provide high temperature, continuous heat for customers safely, reliably, at an unprecedented 98% efficiency - and at a cost point that is lower than any other method.  

Our technology is designed to replace fossil-fired boilers. By enabling industries to adopt renewable energy without costly factory changes, we are accelerating the transition to a sustainable future. With over $160 million in funding and partnerships across critical industrial sectors, Rondo is scaling rapidly to meet global demand.

Rondo Energy is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive workplace where contributions are valued and celebrated, and our employees thrive by being themselves and are inspired to do their best work. We seek applicants of all backgrounds and identities, across race, color, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy or parental status, or disability. Applicants will not be discriminated against based on these or other protected categories or social identities.

Rondo is committed to the full inclusion of all applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please let our recruiting team know.

We proactively work to design hiring processes that promote equity and inclusion while mitigating bias.

Note to Recruitment Agencies: Rondo does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Furthermore, Rondo Energy does not pay placement fees for candidates submitted by any agency other than its approved partners.