Thermal Engineer

Problem Definition:

Xplora is building a gas–solid thermochemical reactor — the heart of our heat battery (HeatVaultTM) system.

This system must move air through a reactive material bed, manage humidity and temperature conditions, and integrate with sensors, insulation, and other components. This is a multidisciplinary engineering challenge involving process design, mechanical integration, and thermal system optimisation.

We now need a hands-on, systems-minded engineer to take the material science off the lab bench and engineer a working chemical reactor prototype capable of controlled heat exchange, modular design, and repeatable cycling.

You’ll lead the design and prototyping of a system that integrates process flows, mechanical components, sensors, insulation, and more — in collaboration with materials scientists and engineers.

This role may involve short-term travel to support prototype deployment overseas.

What you’ll do (short-term focus)

• Help design, build, and test a working thermochemical reactor system

• Collaborate with a broad range of specialists to integrate various components and other critical features to scale up the process

• Combine thinking and doing — this is a “lab-coat AND wrench” role

• Contribute to iterative prototyping, test planning, and engineering documentation

What we’re looking for (longer-term mindset)

We’re not just hiring for a task — we’re hiring for trajectory. The right person for this role is: 

• Self-motivated — You proactively experiment, explore, and learn 

• Comfortable with ambiguity — You thrive in building novel solutions 

• Driven to grow — You aspire to leadership in your field 

• Adaptable — You evolve with the company and embrace new challenges 

• Resilient and resourceful — You learn from failures and collaborate 

Key Skills & Experience 

• Strong foundation in process engineering and thermal physics, with experience in areas such as reaction engineering, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and mass transfer.

• Experience in process and reactor design, including flow path design, air/steam systems, pressure drop calculations, and thermochemical reactor or heat exchanger design.

• Proficiency with engineering design tools such as AutoCAD or SolidWorks for equipment and flow path design.

• Proficiency in simulation and modelling tools such as ANSYS Fluent or COMSOL (CFD, heat and mass transfer), Aspen Plus or HYSYS (process simulation), and MATLAB or Python (numerical modelling and data analysis).

• Awareness of engineering safety standards and good practices for thermal/chemical systems. 

You will get bonus if you have: 

• Hands-on experience in prototype construction and testing, including pipe/valve fitting, structural assembly, sealing, insulation, and validation of experimental results against theoretical or simulation models.

• Knowledge of gas–solid interactions and adsorption systems.

• Experience in laboratory or pilot-plant environments, including experimental setup, instrumentation, or pilot-scale plant construction.

Strong collaboration skills, with experience working in cross-functional teams. 

A note from us

We want to hire one person, with two-person output, and three-times growth. If you’re someone who wants more than just a job — who wants to build something that matters and grow as fast as the company does — let’s talk.

Just send us a note — even a few paragraphs is fine — about why this role sounds exciting to you. Include your CV, or a project you’ve built, or something else that tells your story.

👉 Email: Nan Yang at nan@xploraventures.com