# Lead Thermal Design Engineer (Austin, TX) at Exowatt

- Company: Exowatt
- What the company does: Exowatt is redefining energy for the AI era. Delivering clean, modular, and scalable power that meets the rising demand of AI infrastructure. Backed by a16z and Felicis.
- Company website: https://www.exowatt.com
- Type: Startups
- Level: Senior
- Location: Austin, TX
- Work setup: On-site
- Posted: 2026-01-20
- Apply by: 2026-10-08
- Apply: https://jobs.lever.co/exowatt/d16f6d5a-cab8-4363-a60f-1bed9df73bf8
- Page: https://www.1752.vc/careers/jobs/exowatt-lead-thermal-design-engineer-austin-tx/

## About the role

We are seeking a Lead Thermal Design Engineer to lead the design, development, and optimization of solar thermal receivers for our energy systems. In this role, you will own the engineering of components that absorb and transfer high-flux solar radiation into our thermal storage systems. You will work at the intersection of heat transfer, materials science, and optical engineering to push the boundaries of receiver efficiency, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

## What they're looking for

- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated engineering depth
- 7+ years designing high-temperature thermal hardware — solar receivers, heat exchangers, combustors, furnaces, propulsion components, or comparable systems operating at extreme heat flux
- Deep command of heat transfer (conduction, convection, radiation), thermodynamics, and fluid mechanics, and the judgment to know when a hand calc beats a week of simulation
- Proficiency with thermal and structural simulation tools (ANSYS, COMSOL, SolarPILOT, or equivalent), grounded in physical intuition rather than dependent on it
- Hands-on experience with high-temperature materials like ceramics, refractory metals, advanced alloys up to and including selection, qualification, and failure analysis
- A track record of taking hardware from concept through prototype testing into production, and the scars to prove it

Tags: Engineering