Entwicklungsingenieur:in F&E | High-Tech Kompressor Startup

About Ecalia

Ecalia is a Deep-Tech startup based in Stuttgart, Germany, dedicated to making heating and cooling radically more efficient. Our core innovation lies in scroll compressor-expander systems that utilize conventional refrigerants, pushing the thermodynamic cycle closer to its theoretical optimum. This technology addresses a critical need for global energy efficiency, as heating and cooling account for nearly half of the world's energy consumption.

We have been recognized as one of the Top 10 most innovative tech startups in Germany (Weconomy Award 2025) and are developing our prototypes and test facilities in collaboration with the Institute for Plastics Technology at the University of Stuttgart.

We are a small, cohesive team of three individuals, focused on growth, diversity, and high motivation. We challenge conventional business and development processes, progressively integrating AI tools as our primary work instruments.

Responsibilities

As part of our Research and Development team, you will share the workload currently managed by our CTO, operating at the intersection of system architecture and workshop implementation. While the CTO defines the technical direction, you will be responsible for component design and bringing them to production readiness for our prototype builder.

Your primary focus will be translating physical problems and requirements into functional designs – systematically, AI-supported, and to the highest quality standards. Specifically, this involves:

• Component Design & Sizing: Design and dimension scroll geometries, seals, pressure vessels, shafts, and bearings. Calculate specifications for manufacturing and ensure functional integrity.
• Evaluate Design Variants: Analyze multiple solution paths, perform comparative calculations, and present well-founded recommendations to the CTO. Your engineering judgment is highly valued.
• Construct Designs: Create CAD designs (e.g., Autodesk Inventor) directly usable for prototype construction, ensuring manufacturability, design for manufacturing, thoroughness, and ease of modification.
• Solve Physical Problems: Understand the phenomena within our scroll machines and advance our products using AI tools and physics principles. Apply expertise in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, or solid mechanics, selecting the most efficient tool – hand calculations, Python scripts, simulations, or experiments – to reach reliable conclusions. Develop AI agents to supplement areas where expertise is lacking.
• Plan Experiments & Analyze Data: Systematically design test bench experiments (DOE), analyze measurement data, draw conclusions, and derive design iterations.
• Systematic Development: Employ AI-assisted development within structured frameworks. Ensure calculations, documentation, and results are organized and retrievable, avoiding scattered data. Guide AI, critically review its outputs, and uphold our quality standards, requiring broad and deep understanding for evaluation.
• Ensure Quality & Maintain Records: Produce proof of structural integrity, conduct standards research, and generate technical documentation following structured processes. "Fit-for-Purpose" defines our quality standard.
• Programming: Utilize Python for calculations, data analysis, and automation, viewing code as an essential engineering tool and contributing to workflow development.
• Leverage AI as a Work Tool: Integrate AI into all aspects of your workflow – research, calculation, documentation, and coding. Critically evaluate AI outputs and ensure accuracy.

Qualifications

What we expect:

• Experience in the development of physical products or components, covering the entire process from design to functional prototypes.
• Strong foundation in physics (Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Energy Technology, or equivalent degree). Ability to derive new relationships from physical concepts and select appropriate tools (hand calculation, script, simulation, experiment).
• Proficiency in CAD software (Autodesk Inventor or similar) for creating designs ready for prototype construction.
• Programming skills in Python, JavaScript, or a similar language, with the ability to develop calculation tools and analyses.
• AI proficiency: AI is an integral part of your workflow. Proactively learn effective prompting techniques and critically assess AI-generated results.
• Analytical thinking: Ability to question assumptions, reason from first principles, and find the simplest effective solutions.
• Systematic work approach (Product Development Control): Structured development process with clear documentation, traceable decisions, and organized data storage. Understanding of development processes and commitment to achieving the right quality level.
• Attention to detail: Accuracy, precision, and pride in work. Routine plausibility checks.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and self-development.
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in product development or a comparable engineering role.
• Fluent German language skills (working language).

What we'd like to see:

• Experience with compressor technology, ideally scroll compressors.
• Experience with specific QMS frameworks or Systems Engineering methodologies (e.g., V-Model, Stage-Gate, APQP).
• Experience across the full development lifecycle (Concept → Design → Prototyping → Testing → Iteration).
• Experience in an engineering service provider or innovation company with a broad range of tasks.
• Knowledge of pressure equipment (Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU, design of pressure resistance).
• Experience in experimental planning and measurement data analysis.

Bonus points:

• Experience with thermodynamic & mathematical Python libraries (TesPy, SymPy, NumPy, etc.).
• HVAC or refrigeration technology knowledge.
• Understanding of plastic material lifetime (aging, fatigue, creep behavior of polymers under load).
• FEM/CFD experience (Nastran, ANSYS, OpenFOAM, etc.).
• C++ or embedded systems experience.
• Materials science or tribology expertise.
• Scientific research background (publications, research projects).

Benefits

• Impact from Day 1: As part of a small team, every contribution is significant. Your work directly influences technology that can reduce global energy consumption.
• No-Nonsense Culture: Flat hierarchies, minimal politics, and mutual respect. We value individuals willing to roll up their sleeves.
• AI-First Workflow: We have developed our own AI agent infrastructure, prompt libraries, and AI workflows. You will work with AI as a core tool, not around it.
• Flexibility: Option for two remote work days per week, flexible working hours, and part-time arrangements negotiable upon request.
• Task Variety: Experience diverse tasks weekly, with opportunities for personal growth and development, while always having support available.
• Real Engineering Work: Move beyond theoretical concepts; your calculations will be built, tested, and measured, allowing you to see tangible results of your creations.
• Growth Opportunities: While current compensation may not be top-tier due to our startup phase, we are committed to rewarding good work and are developing an employee participation program.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to send their CV via email to info@ecalia.de. Please include a brief description explaining why this role is a good fit for you, instead of a traditional cover letter. We are keen to understand your thought process and cultural fit.

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