Mechanical Engineering Director - Hydrogen

Company Description

Our client is an international technology company operating in the renewable energy and energy transition sector. In a constantly evolving environment, the company invests in research and development to design innovative solutions aimed at reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainability.

Position

We are seeking a Mechanical Engineering Director who will report directly to the Chief Technical Officer and collaborate with the R&D team to design, develop, and build scale models, a pilot plant, and subsequently commercial units to validate and deploy methane pyrolysis technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the mechanical team in the design and assembly of a pilot thermal reactor system based on plasma physics.
• Develop general layouts and fabrication drawings using CAD software such as SolidWorks or similar.
• Define component and system technical requirements, prepare technical documentation, and create bills of materials (BOMs).
• Interact directly with suppliers for equipment selection, purchasing, and tracking.
• Perform detailed static and dynamic analyses (mechanical and thermal stresses), as well as mass and energy balance calculations.
• Ensure compliance of design activities with relevant regulations, codes, and industry standards.
• Actively contribute to the assembly, testing, and commissioning of the prototype reactor and the pilot plant.
• Manage a small team of junior design engineers.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent) with at least 12 years of experience in the design of thermal, reactive, and fluid systems.
• Advanced experience with CAD and FEA software (e.g., CATIA, SolidWorks, AutoCAD 3D, CREO, ANSYS) and knowledge of GD&T standards.
• Direct experience in the design and construction of thermal/combustion/reactive and pressurized systems, including turquoise hydrogen systems.
• Solid understanding of methane pyrolysis, turquoise hydrogen production, and plasma physics.
• Experience in designing carbon black management systems (bag filters, membrane separators, PSA, pelletizers, compressors, etc.).
• Ability to read and produce P&IDs, PFDs, and electrical single-line diagrams.
• Hands-on approach, operational autonomy, and strong initiative.
• Excellent knowledge of thermodynamics and both reactive and non-reactive fluid dynamics, including plasma-related flows.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, also in technical contexts.
• Willingness to support the R&D team in product development activities.

Nice to Have:

• Experience with dynamic and static instrumentation (pressure/temperature sensors, flow meters, regulators, heat flux sensors).
• Familiarity with process control hardware and DAQ software (DCS, HMI, PLC, National Instruments).
• Experience working with high-pressure flammable gases.
• Familiarity with high-temperature, high-pressure, and unsteady systems.
• Knowledge of combustion systems and hydrogen technologies.

Additional Information

This job posting is open to all genders (Legislative Decree no. 198/2006) and in compliance with art. 10 of Legislative Decree no. 276/2003. Candidates are invited to read the privacy policy at pursuant to Articles 13 and 14 of EU Regulation 2016/679 on data protection. Ministry of Labor Authorization Prot. No. R. dated 31/12/2021.