<h1>Project Engineer</h1>About Limelight Steel Limelight Steel is on a mission to eliminate emissions from iron and steelmaking and build a brighter future. 8% of global CO2 emissions come from current fossil-based steelmaking processes - the largest source of industrial emissions today. Limelight Steel's electrified ironmaking technology has the potential to eliminate those emissions, significantly reduce energy use, and produce iron for cheaper than fossil-based methods. We are a startup in Oakland, CA, backed by industry-leading climate tech investors, looking to grow our team. We are committed to building a diverse and courageous team of people motivated to make a positive impact on the world. We want to hire kind and supportive teammates who have the perseverance to achieve our audacious goal of decarbonizing steel.Role Limelight Steel is seeking a Project Engineer to spearhead the development of critical hardware at the heart of our Laser Furnace. In this leadership role, you will guide a team of engineers while applying deep expertise in mechanical design, thermal modeling, and materials engineering to deliver safe, scalable, and robust molten metal ladles and high-temperature vacuum vessels. You will set technical direction, ensure engineering excellence, and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our technology platform.Responsibilities<ul style=""><li>Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a cross-functional team of equipment design engineers.</li><li>Own and guide the design of molten-metal hardware, ensuring mechanical integrity, safety, and scalability under extreme operating conditions.</li><li>Drive the integration of optics, sensors, vacuum sealing surfaces, and high-temperature mechanical structures into next-generation laser furnace systems.</li><li>Oversee the design and development of vacuum vessels, ensuring robustness under thermal, mechanical, and pressure gradients.</li><li>Partner with pyrometallurgical engineers, safety experts, and process teams to integrate industry best practices and push forward innovation in high-temperature equipment design.</li><li>Establish engineering standards, design review processes, and validation protocols to balance speed, rigor, and safety in hardware development.</li><li>Influence strategic decision-making on equipment architecture and scale-up pathways for pilot and commercial systems. </li></ul>Qualifications<ul style=""><li>Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field (advanced degree preferred).</li><li>10+ years of industry experience, including 3+ years in a technical leadership role.</li><li>Demonstrated success leading design teams through the development, build, and commissioning of complex industrial equipment.</li><li>Expertise in thermal modeling (e.g., COMSOL) and finite element analysis, with strong intuition for applying results to design decisions.</li><li>Proven experience with vacuum sealing systems (O-rings, metal seals, feedthroughs) and high-temperature industrial equipment (furnaces, kilns, reactors, or vacuum systems).</li><li>Deep knowledge of industrial safety standards and regulatory requirements.</li><li>Strong fundamentals in heat transfer, stress analysis, and materials selection for high-temperature applications.</li><li>Ability to lead across disciplines in a fast-moving, startup environment, with a track record of translating early concepts into deployed systems.</li></ul>Benefits<ul style=""><li>Competitive stock option package</li><li>Comprehensive health benefits that include:</li></ul><ul style=""><li>Full premium coverage for PPO Gold for employees with 80% coverage for dependents</li><li>Full premium coverage for Vision and Dental for employees</li><li>Generous time-off schedule</li></ul><ul style=""><li>20 days paid time off (accrued according to number of hours worked)</li><li>10 holidays (personalized to the holidays you observe)</li><li>Sustainable 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match</li><li>2x weekly catered team lunches</li><li>A team of curious, passionate, kind, and courageous people committed to eliminating industrial emissions that contribute to climate change</li><li>Unparalleled opportunities for growth, leadership, and project ownership in a dynamic and rapidly-growing startup company</li></ul>CompensationSalary range for this role is $180,000-240,000, plus meaningful equity. Final compensation will be based on experience.

Limelight Steel is on a mission to eliminate emissions from iron and steelmaking and build a brighter future. 8% of global CO2 emissions come from current steelmaking processes - the largest source of industrial emissions. Limelight Steel&rsquo;s laser furnace converts clean electricity into laser light that is tuned to rapidly and efficiently heat iron ore and create iron metal and steel products - reducing the energy required to electrify steelmaking by 49%. We are building furnaces to produce clean steel that will form the foundations of a fossil-fuel-free world.

Project Engineer

<h1>Project Engineer</h1>About Limelight Steel Limelight Steel is on a mission to eliminate emissions from iron and steelmaking and build a brighter future. 8% of global CO2 emissions come from current fossil-based steelmaking processes - the largest source of industrial emissions today. Limelight Steel's electrified ironmaking technology has the potential to eliminate those emissions, significantly reduce energy use, and produce iron for cheaper than fossil-based methods. We are a startup in Oakland, CA, backed by industry-leading climate tech investors, looking to grow our team. We are committed to building a diverse and courageous team of people motivated to make a positive impact on the world. We want to hire kind and supportive teammates who have the perseverance to achieve our audacious goal of decarbonizing steel.Role Limelight Steel is seeking a Project Engineer to spearhead the development of critical hardware at the heart of our Laser Furnace. In this leadership role, you will guide a team of engineers while applying deep expertise in mechanical design, thermal modeling, and materials engineering to deliver safe, scalable, and robust molten metal ladles and high-temperature vacuum vessels. You will set technical direction, ensure engineering excellence, and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our technology platform.Responsibilities<ul><li>Provide technical leadership and mentorship to a cross-functional team of equipment design engineers.</li><li>Own and guide the design of molten-metal hardware, ensuring mechanical integrity, safety, and scalability under extreme operating conditions.</li><li>Drive the integration of optics, sensors, vacuum sealing surfaces, and high-temperature mechanical structures into next-generation laser furnace systems.</li><li>Oversee the design and development of vacuum vessels, ensuring robustness under thermal, mechanical, and pressure gradients.</li><li>Partner with pyrometallurgical engineers, safety experts, and process teams to integrate industry best practices and push forward innovation in high-temperature equipment design.</li><li>Establish engineering standards, design review processes, and validation protocols to balance speed, rigor, and safety in hardware development.</li><li>Influence strategic decision-making on equipment architecture and scale-up pathways for pilot and commercial systems. </li></ul>Qualifications<ul><li>Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related field (advanced degree preferred).</li><li>10+ years of industry experience, including 3+ years in a technical leadership role.</li><li>Demonstrated success leading design teams through the development, build, and commissioning of complex industrial equipment.</li><li>Expertise in thermal modeling (e.g., COMSOL) and finite element analysis, with strong intuition for applying results to design decisions.</li><li>Proven experience with vacuum sealing systems (O-rings, metal seals, feedthroughs) and high-temperature industrial equipment (furnaces, kilns, reactors, or vacuum systems).</li><li>Deep knowledge of industrial safety standards and regulatory requirements.</li><li>Strong fundamentals in heat transfer, stress analysis, and materials selection for high-temperature applications.</li><li>Ability to lead across disciplines in a fast-moving, startup environment, with a track record of translating early concepts into deployed systems.</li></ul>Benefits<ul><li>Competitive stock option package</li><li>Comprehensive health benefits that include:</li></ul><ul><li>Full premium coverage for PPO Gold for employees with 80% coverage for dependents</li><li>Full premium coverage for Vision and Dental for employees</li><li>Generous time-off schedule</li></ul><ul><li>20 days paid time off (accrued according to number of hours worked)</li><li>10 holidays (personalized to the holidays you observe)</li><li>Sustainable 401(k) retirement savings plan with company match</li><li>2x weekly catered team lunches</li><li>A team of curious, passionate, kind, and courageous people committed to eliminating industrial emissions that contribute to climate change</li><li>Unparalleled opportunities for growth, leadership, and project ownership in a dynamic and rapidly-growing startup company</li></ul>CompensationSalary range for this role is $180,000-240,000, plus meaningful equity. Final compensation will be based on experience.

Project Engineer

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Limelight Steel

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