Product Development Engineer – Air Systems

THE ROLE At Ore Energy, we are on a mission to fundamentally expand the amount of energy society can reliably harness and use, helping move civilization toward a more abundant energy future. We are doing this by developing long-duration, utility-scale iron-air batteries that provide safe, low-cost, multi-day energy storage for electricity grids and data centers. We are expanding our product development team and are looking for a hands-on, highly skilled Balance of Plant (BoP) Systems Lead to join us in Amsterdam. In this role, you will take ownership of the architecture, design, and integration of the critical supporting subsystems required to operate our iron-air batteries safely, efficiently, and reliably. Operating at the intersection of mechanical engineering, fluid mechanics, thermal management, and process control, you will bridge our core electrochemical cells with the physical support systems that surround them. We are looking for a pragmatic, systems-thinking engineer who thrives in a lab/workshop environment, designing functional physical setups and scaling concepts into robust, product-level assemblies. This role reports directly to the Chief Product Officer (CPO). KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * BoP Architecture & Sizing: Define the technical architecture, specifications, and component sizing for all BoP subsystems, including air management, gas conditioning, fluid handling, thermal management, and pressure control. * Component Selection & Integration: Evaluate, specify, and integrate active hardware components, including pumps, blowers, valves, manifolds, sensors, heat exchangers, filters, and piping networks. * Interface & Trade-Off Analysis: Translate electrochemical operating requirements into clear subsystem specifications. Perform system-level trade-off studies balancing thermal performance, pressure drop, parasitic energy consumption, cost, and complexity. * Prototyping & Hands-on Testing: Maintain a strong physical presence in the lab/workshop—building, plumbing, commissioning, and troubleshooting proof-of-concept rigs, full-scale prototypes, and early product builds. * Mass & Energy Balances: Develop and maintain detailed system-level mass, fluid flow, energy, and thermal balance models to guide engineering decisions. * Root-Cause Analysis & Validation: Collaborate closely with testing and quality teams to define validation plans, execute root-cause failure analysis, and drive iterative hardware improvements based on empirical data. * Risk Management & Standards: Participate in DFMEA sessions, hazard analyses, and technical design reviews, establishing clean documentation and standardized operating procedures for BoP subsystems. YOUR PROFILE * Experience: 5+ years of hands-on engineering experience designing and integrating complex fluid, thermal, gas-handling, or chemical-process hardware systems. * Systems Engineering Thinking: Proven ability to define functional requirements, manage interface controls, and bring a multi-component electromechanical system from initial concept through physical prototyping and validation. * Multi-Disciplinary Hardware Expertise: Deep technical foundation in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, pneumatics, sensor integration, and active component selection (pumps, blowers, valves, heat exchangers). * Hands-on & Resourceful: Practical, resource-efficient problem solver who loves building physical test rigs, wiring/plumbing setups, and troubleshooting issues directly on the lab floor. * Analytical & Data-Driven: Strong capability in system sizing calculations, engineering modeling (MATLAB, Python, or process simulation tools), and interpreting empirical test data to guide mechanical redesigns. * Industry Background: Direct experience in batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, Direct Air Capture (DAC), HVAC, or industrial chemical-process equipment is highly valuable. * Communication & Autonomy: Flawless professional English. Highly autonomous, structured, and capable of translating complex subsystem dynamics into clear, actionable recommendations for cross-functional engineering teams.

THE ROLE At Ore Energy, we are on a mission to fundamentally expand the amount of energy society can reliably harness and use, helping move civilization toward a more abundant energy future. We are doing this by developing long-duration, utility-scale iron-air batteries that provide safe, low-cost, multi-day energy storage for electricity grids and data centers. We are expanding our technical development capabilities and are looking for two Junior Mechanical Engineers to join our team in Amsterdam. In this role, you will support the mechanical design, prototyping, and testing of our breakthrough iron-air battery cells, modules, and supporting hardware systems. Operating at the intersection of electrochemistry, materials science, and physical systems engineering, you will translate theoretical product requirements into practical, physical, and testable mechanical designs. This is a highly collaborative, hands-on, and iterative role for a curious, creative, and detail-oriented engineer who loves building, testing, and troubleshooting hardware in a fast-paced laboratory and workshop environment. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES * CAD & Design Ownership: Create, update, and manage high-quality 3D CAD models, complex assemblies, and detailed engineering drawings for battery housings, seals, supports, and internal components. * Hands-on Prototyping: Build, modify, and inspect physical prototypes for development, structural analysis, and validation testing. * Testing & Troubleshooting: Actively participate in mechanical testing, experimental setup, and troubleshooting of prototype designs to assess tolerance, sealing, fit, and durability. * Root-Cause Analysis: Identify design weaknesses, contribute to root-cause failure analysis, and propose creative engineering improvements to simplify assembly, safety, and reliability. * Basic Engineering Calculations: Perform fundamental mechanical calculations, tolerance stack-up analyses, and basic structural design assessments. * Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with electrochemical, materials, and testing teams to ensure mechanical designs seamlessly support chemistry and performance requirements. * Technical Documentation: Systematically document design iterations, test observations, engineering changes, and key learning outcomes. YOUR PROFILE * Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design, Aerospace Engineering, or a highly related technical field. * CAD Proficiency: Strong foundational proficiency in 3D CAD modeling software (such as SolidWorks, Inventor, or similar) and a clear understanding of technical drawing standards. * Hands-on Mindset: A proactive, physical problem-solver who genuinely enjoys working with tools, building experimental setups, and handling hardware in a workshop or lab. * Analytical Curiosity: Strong analytical and detail-oriented mindset with a fast learning curve and a deep curiosity for battery technology and energy storage systems. * Navigating Ambiguity: Comfortable working in an iterative design environment with evolving technical requirements and challenges. * Collaboration & Communication: Highly collaborative, open to feedback, and possessing excellent communication skills in English to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.