Lead Mechanical Engineer

Lead Mechanical Engineer - Saltes
About Saltes

Saltes is an energy technology company based at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. We develop the ThermalPod, a molten salt heat battery that stores renewable electricity as heat and supplies it on demand. Our mission is to decarbonize industrial heat, one of the largest and hardest-to-abate sources of CO₂ emissions, by making renewable heat reliable, affordable, and scalable.

After developing and validating our technology in multiple projects, we are now entering the first commercial rollout across Europe. To turn our technology roadmap into reality, we are looking for a Lead Mechanical Engineer who will take technical ownership of the ThermalPod design and ensure it evolves into a robust, manufacturable, and scalable product family.

Role description

As Lead Mechanical Engineer, you will be responsible for the technical development and industrialization of the ThermalPod system. You will work closely with the CTO, Head of Product, Principal Systems Engineer, and Head of Projects to develop new versions of the ThermalPod that meet performance, cost, and manufacturing targets.

You will own the mechanical architecture, CAD and PDM structure, and feature design process. From CAD modeling to manufacturability and CE compliance, you ensure every design is ready for production and deployment. This role combines hands-on engineering with system-level decision-making, emphasizing technical depth and clear design ownership.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the foundation of Saltes' product line: building the tools, processes, and versions that define how the ThermalPod scales across Europe and beyond.

What we offer

• A leading technical role in shaping and scaling a breakthrough energy technology
• Content-driven ownership of core product development processes
• Close collaboration with the CTO and Saltes' leadership team
• A scale-up environment with focus, ownership, and collaboration
• Clear growth potential as the company expands
• Direct, tangible impact on Europe's industrial energy transition
• Working in a young and enthusiastic team at the High Tech Campus
• An informal atmosphere with Friday drinks and quarterly team events
• A market-conform salary and an excellent pension scheme
• Varied and challenging engineering projects

What you will do

• Take technical ownership of mechanical design and product evolution for the ThermalPod
• Own the mechanical architecture and ensure designs are manufacturable, compliant, and cost-efficient
• Develop and manage the CAD/PDM environment, including templates, structure, naming, and revision control
• Drive feature development, design locks, and cost-down programs for next-generation ThermalPod modules
• Collaborate with suppliers and assemblers on new module designs and manufacturability improvements
• Ensure CE/PED compliance through risk assessments, documentation, and validation testing
• Coordinate with the CTO and Principal Systems Engineer on long-term technology development
• Work closely with the Head of Projects to align design choices with installation and delivery requirements
• Translate product and technology roadmaps into concrete engineering deliverables and release milestones
• Establish clear design processes and version control to enable scalable, repeatable product evolution

What success looks like

Within two years, you have established a fully functional PDM environment and a structured product development process. Multiple versions of the ThermalPod are in production, combining improved manufacturability, reduced cost, and new technical features. Engineering documentation is reliable, and suppliers work confidently with your standards and designs.

Your profile

• 5–10 years of experience in mechanical or product design for industrial systems or energy equipment
• Strong multidisciplinary understanding of mechanical, electrical, and thermal systems
• Deep experience in CAD modeling, PDM setup, and design release workflows
• Proven ability to drive complex design trajectories with clear ownership of technical outcomes
• Track record in product industrialization, DFM/DFA, and cost optimization
• Familiar with CE/PED compliance, FMEA/HAZOP, and risk management
• Hands-on engineer who enjoys balancing detail with system-level oversight
• Fluent in English; other European languages are a plus

Interested?

Send your CV and motivation letter to Bram Bens, CTO, via