Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer

About Fervo Energy
Fervo Energy (NASDAQ: FRVO) is a modern power company developing next-generation geothermal resources to meet the growing demand for affordable, reliable, 24/7 carbon-free energy. Our mission is to transform geothermal into America’s most dependable and affordable source of clean, around-the-clock power. By combining innovations in horizontal drilling, fiber-optic sensing, and advanced reservoir engineering, Fervo has developed a repeatable approach to building utility-scale enhanced geothermal systems. Our flagship Cape Station development in Utah is planned to deliver 500 MW of firm, carbon-free power, and we are advancing a development pipeline of more than 50 GW. Join us and work alongside world-class engineers, geoscientists, operators, project builders, and business leaders working to make geothermal a cornerstone of a more reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future.
Position Description
The Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer will be a technical leader in the design and optimization of mechanical systems for Fervo’s power plants. This role applies advanced engineering judgment and first-principles analysis to develop high-performance, cost-effective plant designs, while mentoring junior engineers and influencing cross-disciplinary decision-making. As Fervo transitions from first-of-a-kind projects to scaling deployment, the role will play a key part in driving standardization and efficiency improvements across projects. This position will report to the Mechanical Engineering Manager.
Fervo deploys an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) power plant to convert heat to electricity. At the heart of the plant is heat transfer and fluid handling equipment, including the air-cooled condenser, shell-and-tube heat exchangers, feed pumps, pressure vessels, and the piping and cabling that connect them. This equipment is the biggest driver of power plant construction cost, footprint, and thermal performance, which makes it the place where designing a product instead of a project pays off the most.
Responsibilities
Specification and Design: Own specification generation, design, and analysis of mechanical systems, components, and equipment for power generation and surface facilities.
Tradeoff Analysis: Drive first-principles tradeoff analysis across mechanical and thermal systems to optimize plant performance and system requirements against cost and speed of construction and deployment.
Plant Layout: Support the internally owned design and direction of the power plant layout, including high-level trade studies of each individual commodity (piping, electrical, steel, etc.) to inform layout.
CAD Design and BOM Ownership: Lead large-scale CAD design and ownership of the surface facilities to ensure the BOM structure reflects the ground reality of what is being built.
Standardization: Identify opportunities to simplify, accelerate, and standardize mechanical designs while maintaining technical excellence and reliability.
Procurement Support: Inform and support procurement efforts for mechanical equipment, systems, and vendor specifications for equipment designs.
Extreme Ownership: Take responsibility for cost, safety, and constructability in addition to design and requirements. Work with urgency and resilience, embracing rapid iteration and maintaining high performance under pressure.
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate closely across disciplines (process, electrical, reservoir, drilling) as well as with external partners to drive integrated solutions.
Culture and Mentorship: Contribute to a culture of technical excellence and accountability, modeling the values that define a world-class engineering team. Act as a mentor to junior engineers and help in their development.
Qualifications
Required
B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline
6+ years of experience in mechanical engineering in large capital projects
Proven track record leading projects and design through fabrication and testing
Expertise in design of piping and structural systems covering CAD design, analysis, drawings, and fabrication/construction support
Strong communication and leadership skills; ability to translate technical complexity into clear decisions
Preferred
R&D mechanical engineering design experience is a strong plus
Location
Fervo Energy has offices in Houston, TX; Golden, CO; Reno, NV; Oakland, CA; and Salt Lake City, UT. This position is eligible for some hybrid work flexibility, but regular in-office presence at the Oakland, California office will be required.
Compensation
Fer