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Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Rivian

Staff Thermal Attributes Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees ... thermodynamic devices like heat exchangers, compressors, valves, pumps, fans, and heaters along ...

Radiant

Mechanical Engineer, Fluid Systems

El Segundo, CA · On-site

$107K - $150K/yr

Knowledge of thermodynamic power cycles. * Prior experience with designing piping system for ... Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees. * Medical: 100% up to base silver ...

Rivian

Staff Thermal Attributes Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

... thermodynamic devices like heat exchangers, compressors, valves, pumps, fans, and heaters along ... Rivian provides robust medical/Rx, dental and vision insurance packages for full-time employees ...

Rivian

Staff Thermal Attributes Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$154K - $192K/yr

Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee ... thermodynamic devices like heat exchangers, compressors, valves, pumps, fans, and heaters along ...

Rivian

Staff Thermal Attributes Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$154K - $192K/yr

... thermodynamic devices like heat exchangers, compressors, valves, pumps, fans, and heaters along ... Full-time employee coverage is effective on their first day of employment. Part-time employee ...

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Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer information

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$38K

$115.9K

$191.5K

How much do full time thermodynamic engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average yearly pay for full time thermodynamic engineer in the United States is $115,864.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $83,000.00 and $151,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer vs Mechanical Engineer?

AspectFull Time Thermodynamic EngineerMechanical Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Mechanical, Chemical, or Aerospace Engineering; Thermodynamics certificationBachelor's in Mechanical Engineering; Optional certifications
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, energy plants, aerospace firmsManufacturing, design firms, industrial facilities
Industry UsageEnergy, aerospace, HVACAutomotive, manufacturing, robotics

Full Time Thermodynamic Engineers focus on energy systems, heat transfer, and thermodynamic processes, often within energy or aerospace sectors. Mechanical Engineers have a broader scope, working on design, manufacturing, and systems across various industries. While both roles require engineering fundamentals, thermodynamic engineers specialize in energy and heat-related applications, making their roles more specific compared to the versatile Mechanical Engineer position.

More about Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer jobs
What are the most commonly searched types of Thermodynamic Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Thermodynamic Engineer jobs are:
What job categories do people searching Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer jobs are:
Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Full Time Thermodynamic Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $115,864 per year, or $55.7 per hour.

Senior Electrical Engineer, Controls

Critical Energy Systems

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Company Description:
Critical Energy is an innovative, early-stage, venture-backed cleantech company on a mission to accelerate the global energy transition through abundant, low-cost clean energy. Founded by an ex-SpaceX engineer, Critical Energy designs and manufactures factory-built, modular power plants. These rapidly deployable systems convert heat into electricity using a closed-loop thermodynamic cycle and can be installed in just weeks.
Critical Energy's technology delivers high-efficiency, 24/7 power for geothermal applications and waste heat recovery (including from data center gas turbines), making clean energy practical and cost-effective for demanding sectors like AI hyperscalers and data centers. Backed by top climate and technology investors, Critical Energy is scaling rapidly.
Our Mission:
To build an abundant, low-cost, 100% clean energy future through groundbreaking geothermal innovation.
We are a team of passionate engineers, designers, and visionaries building cutting-edge solutions to meet the world's energy needs with 100% clean energy. We are in the initial stages of development and building our team. This is your chance to join on the ground floor of something big! If you are ready to work at a fun, fast-paced, groundbreaking organization that is positioned to revolutionize geothermal energy, apply today!
About the Role:
We are seeking Senior Electrical Engineer, Controls to own the design, development, and deployment of the instrumentation and controls of our heat-to-electricity ORC products. You will collaborate closely with the systems and turbomachinery teams to translate CONOPS, safety, and system performance requirements into instrumentation hardware procurement decisions and software control schemes. This role will also be part of the commissioning team, including factory acceptance testing and onsite deployments at customer sites. This is a full-time, on-site position located in our Hawthorne, CA facility.
Responsibilities:
  • Architect, develop, and commission PLC-based control systems for ORC power plant processes including working fluid pumps, air-cooled condensers, heat exchangers, and auxiliary systems
  • Design and implement HMI and SCADA applications providing operators with clear process visibility, alarm management, and control functionality
  • Develop control strategies for key process loops including pressure control, working fluid flow regulation, heat source management, and startup/shutdown sequencing
  • Specify, select, and integrate field instrumentation including pressure transmitters, flow meters, temperature transmitters, and level devices
  • Design and lay out industrial electrical control panels compliant with NEC, NFPA 79, and UL 508A, manage panel builds, field wiring, and loop checkout
  • Implement and maintain safety instrumented functions per IEC 61511 principles including SIL verification, cause and effect matrix development, and SIS logic implementation
  • Integrate plant devices across industrial communication protocols including EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, DNP3, and OPC-UA
  • Develop and maintain controls documentation including I/O lists, network architecture diagrams, functional descriptions, cause and effect matrices, and FAT/SAT procedures
  • Support factory acceptance testing and field commissioning of control systems for future plant deployments
  • Collaborate with electrical, mechanical, and systems engineering teams to ensure controls architecture supports plant performance, safety, and reliability requirements
  • Contribute to development of controls standards, templates, and reusable code libraries to drive consistency across future plant designs

Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, or related field
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience designing, programming, and commissioning industrial control systems
  • Demonstrated PLC programming experience: Beckhoff, Allen-Bradley or Siemens acceptable
  • Experience with Structured Text (ST) or similar IEC 61131-3 standard language
  • Experience developing HMI and SCADA applications from scratch with emphasis on operator usability and alarm rationalization
  • Proficiency reading and producing electrical schematics, wiring diagrams, and P&IDs
  • Experience with industrial fieldbus and communication protocols (EtherCAT, Modbus TCP, OPC-UA, or equivalent)
  • Familiarity with NEC, NFPA 79, and UL 508A for industrial control panel design
  • Strong first-principles analytical and troubleshooting skills, able to debug complex system interactions across mechanical, electrical, and software domains
  • Highly self-motivated with demonstrated ability to drive tasks to completion with minimal supervision in a fast-paced startup environment

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with ORC, geothermal, Rankine-cycle, or other power generation systems
  • Experience with VFD-driven motor systems including tuning, commissioning, and integration with PLC control loops
  • Familiarity with IEC 61511 safety instrumented systems and SIL classification
  • Experience with data historian platforms and process data infrastructure
  • Python experience for data acquisition, analysis, or PLC/SCADA integration
  • Experience with AutoCAD Electrical or EPLAN for controls documentation
  • Exposure to API 670 machinery protection systems
  • Experience supporting hardware bring-up, FAT, SAT, and commissioning in field environments
  • NFPA 70E electrical safety certification

Compensation:
  • Base salary ranges from $140-200k per annum
  • Equity options
  • 100% company-covered Platinum or HD/HSA (with company contribution) medical
  • 100% company-covered dental and vision
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • 401k retirement options
  • Daily catered lunch
  • Free EV charging
  • Several annual social and team building outings

Apply