Development engineer R&D | High-tech compressor startup

Role Summary

We make heating and cooling radically more efficient.

Ecalia is a deep-tech startup from Stuttgart that is fundamentally rethinking refrigeration and heat pump technology. Our innovation is scroll compressor expander systems that work with conventional refrigerants and bring the thermodynamic cycle closer to the optimum than all systems currently available on the market. In doing so, we are addressing one of the largest levers for global energy efficiency, as heating and cooling consume almost half of the world's energy.

We were recognized as one of the top 10 most innovative tech startups in Germany (Weconomy Award 2025) and are working on our prototypes and test systems at the Institute for Plastics Technology at the University of Stuttgart.

We are a small, well-rehearsed team of currently 4 people. We are growing and value a diverse and highly motivated team. Our aim is also to rethink existing business and development processes and to gradually integrate AI tools into work processes and develop them into our primary work tool.

Start date: From November 2026.

Responsibilities

You will take on part of the research and development work, which is currently carried out by our CTO alone, and work at the interface between system architecture and the workshop. The CTO defines the technical direction, you design the components and get them ready for construction, our prototype engineer builds them.

Your focus: Translating physical problems or needs into working designs. Systematic, AI-supported and at a high level of quality.

Specifically this means

• Design & dimension components: You calculate scroll geometries, seals, pressure vessels, shafts and bearings and ensure that everything works.
• Evaluate design variants: Calculate several possible solutions, compare them, and present a well-founded recommendation to the CTO. Your engineer’s judgment counts.
• Design: Create CAD designs (Autodesk Inventor or similar) that go directly into prototype construction. Buildable, ready for production, well thought out and easy to adapt.

Solving physics problems: Understanding what's going on in our scroll machines and using AI tools and physics to further develop our products. Whether thermodynamics, fluid mechanics or strength, you use the tool that leads to a reliable answer most quickly: manual calculation, Python script, simulation or experiment. Where you lack know-how, you can build AI agents to complement you.

Plan tests & evaluate data: systematically design test bench tests (DoE), analyze measurement data, draw conclusions, derive design iterations.

Develop systematically: We develop AI-supported, but not chaotically. You work according to clear structures. Calculations, documentation and results are stored in a targeted and comprehensible manner, not parked somewhere as loose Excel files. You control the AI, correct it and ensure that the outputs meet our quality standards. To do this, you need broad and deep understanding to be able to evaluate results.

• Live quality & provide evidence: proof of compressive strength, research into standards, technical documentation according to structured processes. We define perfect as “fit-for-purpose”, not “as best as is technically possible”.
• Programming: Python for calculations, data analysis, automation. Code as an engineering tool. You can think in processes and also help build your own workflows.
• Use AI as a work tool: research, calculation, documentation, code - for us, AI is not an add-on, but an integral part of the workflow. You control the AI, set the direction, check critically and ensure that the results are correct.

Requirements

This is what you need for your new role

• Experience in developing physical products or components: The complete path from design to working design.
• Physics foundation: Studies in mechanical engineering, physics, energy technology or comparable. You understand the physics behind the formulas, can derive new connections from physical concepts and choose the right tools.
• CAD competence: You independently create designs that go into prototype construction (Autodesk Inventor or comparable).
• Programming knowledge: Python or a comparable language for calculation and evaluation is mandatory. You think algorithmically and can develop calculation tools and analyzes independently.
• AI competence: AI is an integral part of your workflow (research, calculation, documentation, code).
• You will proactively learn how to prompt (so as not to invite hallucinations or confirmation bias) and know when to trust AI results and when not.
• Analytical Thinking: You question assumptions, think from first principles, and find the simplest solution that works.

Systematic work (Product Development Control): You don't just develop at random, but rather work in a structured manner - clear documentation, understandable decisions, targeted filing. You understand why processes in development exist and have the ambition to hit the right quality angle (neither over-engineering nor sloppy).

• Eye for detail: Correct, accurate, with pride in your own work. Plausibility checks are a given for you.
• Strive for further development: You are reflective and constantly improve your way of working in order to develop your full potential.
• ≥3 years of professional experience in product development or comparable engineering work.
• Fluent in German (working language).

We would like to see that

• Experience with compressor technology, ideally scroll compressors.
• Experience with specific QMS frameworks or systems engineering methods (V-Model, Stage-Gate, APQP or similar).
• Experience in the full development cycle (concept → design → draft → test → iteration).
• Experience at an engineering service provider or innovation company with a wide range of tasks.
• Pressure equipment knowledge (Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU, design of seals and pressure resistance).
• Experiment planning and measurement data evaluation.

Bonus

• Experience with thermodynamic & mathematical Python libraries (TesPy, SymPy, NumPy or similar).
• HVAC or refrigeration knowledge.
• Plastic lifespan (aging, fatigue, creep behavior of polymers under load).
• FEM/CFD experience (Nastran, ANSYS, OpenFOAM or similar).
• C++ or embedded experience.
• Materials science or tribology.
• Scientific work (publications, research projects).

Benefits

• Impact from day 1: In a team of five people, every contribution counts. Your work goes directly into technology that can reduce global energy consumption.
• Culture without bullshit: flat hierarchy, no politics, we look out for each other. We are looking for people who can also sweep up shavings.
• AI-first way of working: We have built our own AI agent infrastructure, prompt libraries and AI workflows. You don't work despite, but with AI as a core tool.
• Flexibility: Two days remote per week possible, flexible working hours, part-time negotiable upon request.
• Variety of tasks: Every week looks different and you have freedom to develop and develop yourself. At the same time, you won't be left alone with unfamiliar tasks.
• Real Engineering: Not PowerPoint engineering. Your calculations are built, tested and measured. You see what you have created.
• Opportunities for advancement: Unfortunately, in our current phase we cannot offer high salaries. However, we believe that good work must be rewarded and are working on an employee participation concept.
• Interest?
• Simply send us your CV by email and tell us in a few sentences why this role suits you. A classic cover letter is not necessary. We want to know how you think and why you're a good fit for us.
• info@ecalia.de