Equipment Engineer

Role Summary

EQUIPMENT ENGINEER - AMPEERS

• Location: Houston, TX, on-site
• Department: Engineering
• Salary: Based on experience

BACKGROUND & JOB DESCRIPTION

Discovered at the University of Houston in 1987, high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape delivers dramatically higher current densities than copper and aluminum with near-zero resistance

AMPeers is a technology startup out of Houston, TX, developing next-generation REBCO high-temperature superconductor tapes and symmetric tape round (STAR®) superconducting wires. Spun out of the University of Houston, our technology enables the widespread adoption of superconductors in fusion magnets, power transmission, and next-generation energy systems.

To bring this technology from pilot scale to commercial production, AMPeers is building specialized manufacturing equipment and processes in-house. The Equipment Engineer will play a central role in designing, commissioning, and scaling the tools that enable reliable, high-throughput superconducting tape and wire production.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and commission thin film vacuum deposition tools, with support from senior engineering staff on complex systems.
• Develop motion, thermal, vacuum, gas delivery, and power subsystems for MOCVD, sputtering, e-beam evaporation, or ion-beam deposition platforms.
• Generate build-ready CAD models and fabrication drawings. (Software: SolidWorks or other CAD)
• Troubleshoot tools to improve throughput, uptime, and process repeatability.
• Collaborate with manufacturing, safety, and operations to define hardware specs, BOMs, and reliability targets.
• Support implementation of automation and software that enables operator-friendly, repeatable manufacturing.

Requirements

• Curiosity and comfort with ambiguous hardware problems.
• Direct experience building or troubleshooting vacuum thin-film deposition tools.
• Control systems experience across at least two of: motion, vacuum, thermal, flow, power.
• BS in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or hands-on industry experience.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• 2+ years of tool ownership from concept-to-operation OR 3+ years relevant industrial equipment experience.
• Experience with industrial automation stacks (Python, LabVIEW, embedded, PLC, etc.)
• Cryogenic, superconducting, or thin-film materials exposure.

Benefits

• Medical coverage (HMO and PPO plan options)
• Dental coverage with 100% no-deductible preventive care
• Vision coverage
• Company-paid basic life and AD&D insurance
• 401(k) plan with company contribution

AMPeers is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds.