Sr. Combustion Engineer
Arbor Energy
El Segundo, CA, USA
USD 150k-170k / year + Equity
Posted on Dec 23, 2025
Company Overview
At Arbor, we’re creating technology to power our lives while protecting the planet that sustains them. Our advanced power systems deliver clean, reliable baseload electricity with zero operating emissions—modular, fuel-flexible, and engineered for the realities of today’s energy demand. At the core is a supercritical CO₂ turbine with integrated carbon capture, designed to bring carbon-neutral power online quickly at meaningful scale.
Our team includes aerospace engineers, combustion experts, and systems thinkers with a shared goal: to build technology worthy of the world we want to live in. While many of us began our journeys looking to the stars, we’re applying that expertise here at home to deliver dependable, emission-free baseload power and a future of lasting abundance.
If you’re drawn to rigorous work with lasting impact, we’d love to hear from you. Come build what the future will run on.
The Position
The Sr. Combustion Engineer helps pioneer our rocket-inspired, high-pressure combustion systems for carbon-neutral and carbon-negative power cycles. In this role, you’ll lead end-to-end development of cutting-edge, high-efficiency combustion devices in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. You will partner closely with test engineers, analysts, and designers to push boundaries—delivering breakthrough performance that powers a sustainable future.
From conceptual design and modeling to hands-on testing and rapid iteration, you'll own the full hardware lifecycle.
Responsibilities
- Lead the clean-sheet design and analysis of advanced oxy-fuel combustion systems, delivering breakthrough performance from concept to reality
- Plan, execute, and analyze high-pressure and temperature test campaigns, delivering actionable insights to accelerate progress
- Guide system configuration and drive performance optimization for maximum efficiency and reliability
- Own rapid hardware development cycles—from manufacturing and assembly through testing and iterative improvements
- Leverage additive manufacturing and state-of-the-art simulation tools to accelerate innovation and reduce development timelines
- Champion continuous improvement by proposing and implementing design upgrades
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Chemical engineering, or related field
- 7+ years of experience in combustion system design, analysis, and testing
- Comprehensive understanding of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer
- Hands-on experience with high-temperature and pressure equipment
- Demonstrated ability to own product lifecycle from conceptual design to validation
- Curios, inventive, and entrepreneurial mindset comfortable driving progress
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Mechanical, Aerospace or Chemical engineering
- Hands-on experience with hot-fire testing and high-pressure systems in rocket or gas turbine environments
- Programming or scripting skills for data reduction and automation (Python, MATLAB, etc.)
- Background in startup environments or agile hardware development cycles
Benefits
- Pre-IPO stock options
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance (Arbor covers 90% for employees)
- Basic life insurance fully covered
- Health savings account (HSA) with matching
- Flexible savings account (FSA)
- Unlimited PTO
- 12+ company holidays, including Earth Day!
- 401(k)
- Commuter benefits
- Annual learning and development stipend
- And more!
Arbor is an equal opportunity employer. We never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status. Building a global solution to this global problem will require humans of all varieties to contribute diverse ideas and experiences, so we have put finding and hiring qualified individuals from underrepresented groups at the top of our priority list.
150000 - 170000 USD a year
Subject to applicant’s skills, qualifications, and experience