Job Description

Overview

Quaise Energy is unlocking Earth's deep heat to deliver clean, reliable, baseload energy at scale. They are seeking a Mechanical Engineer II to lead component-level design and development for lab-scale and field-ready mmW drilling systems, contributing to the rapid development and deployment of directed energy drilling systems.

Responsibilities

  • Lead component-level mechanical design from requirements definition through detailed drawings, release, manufacturing, and testing.
  • Perform tolerance stack-up analysis and apply GD&T principles to ensure fit, function, and manufacturability.
  • Support the design and development of testing and drilling systems for the Quaise mmW Drilling System.
  • Perform engineering analysis including structural analysis, thermal analysis, and fluid system evaluation to support design validation and optimization.
  • Utilize FEA tools to evaluate components and assemblies against expected operating conditions and loads.
  • Apply ASME standards and engineering best practices in component selection and mechanical system design.
  • Assist with CFD evaluations and flow analysis to support fluid and thermal system development.
  • Design, execute, and document experiments and testing activities, including Design of Experiments methodologies where appropriate.
  • Identify, specify, and integrate sensors, actuators, and instrumentation used in experimental and operational systems.
  • Develop and integrate hardware for laboratory experiments, test fixtures, and field-ready drilling systems.
  • Select materials and components based on thermal, structural, fatigue, and operational requirements.
  • Maintain organized engineering documentation including drawings, calculations, analyses, BOMs, and test records.
  • Collaborate with vendors and manufacturers to source custom and commercially available components.
  • Troubleshoot mechanical and experimental systems and support recovery efforts during testing and field operations.
  • Participate in technical reviews and cross-functional engineering discussions.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related engineering discipline required.
  • 2–5 years of related engineering experience in a design-focused or product development environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to independently execute component-level design, analysis, testing, and troubleshooting activities.
  • Experience working in laboratory, R&D, manufacturing, energy, aerospace, industrial, or other highly technical engineering environments preferred.
  • Proficiency with CAD software; Creo experience preferred.
  • Strong understanding of GD&T, tolerance analysis, and mechanical design principles.
  • Experience with structural analysis tools such as ANSYS Mechanical or similar FEA platforms.
  • Working knowledge of fluid systems, thermal systems, and mechanical testing methodologies.
  • Familiarity with ASME standards related to tubing, fittings, flanges, and pressure-containing systems.
  • Ability to independently execute engineering tasks and manage multiple technical priorities simultaneously.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills in experimental or fast-paced development environments.
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including maintaining review-ready engineering documentation.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with project planning tools.

How this job compares in Houston, TX

Pay in context

This employer didn't publish a rate. For reference, welding jobs in Houston, TX currently run a median of $30/hr in our index, with the middle half of them falling between $22–$37/hr across 100 postings with published pay. That median is a reasonable floor to anchor on when a recruiter asks what you're looking for.

The local market in Houston, TX

We're tracking 371 other active welding openings in Houston, TX right now, from 205 different employers. 118 of them were added in the last week. Across Texas as a whole we're tracking 1,287 other active welding openings from 582 employers. A metro this active generally means you have real leverage — employers here are competing for the same welders. Browse every welding job in Houston, or widen the search to Texas.

The most active employers in Texas at the moment, by number of open welding reqs, are Austin Industries (35), Welding Shop in Austin, TX (25), and Zachry Group (22). Volume like that usually means either a genuine expansion or a staffing agency working several client sites — worth knowing which before you apply.

Within Texas, the best-paying metros we track by median hourly rate are Abernathy at $45/hr, Arlington at $40/hr, and Pasadena at $37/hr. If you can relocate or commute, that spread is worth factoring in.

Certifications this posting mentions

  • ASME Section IX — the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code qualification. It covers welding on pressure-retaining equipment — boilers, vessels, and process piping — where a failed weld is a safety incident rather than a rework ticket.

Read straight from this posting's text. Confirm the exact qualification the employer wants before you test — requirements vary by shop even under the same code.

Similar openings near Houston, TX

Pay figures are medians computed from live postings in the Welding Pros index, not from survey data, and they move as employers post. Mechanical Engineer II figures were last recalculated when this page was built.