SENIOR MECHANICAL ENGINEER
GA Drilling is developing next-generation drilling technologies to unlock geothermal energy at depths and in conditions that conventional drilling cannot reach economically. Our mission is to make geothermal a scalable, baseload source of clean power by enabling reliable, efficient drilling in hard, hot rock. With engineering teams in the USA, Brazil, the UK, and across Europe, we are progressing rapidly toward commercial deployment of our technologies.
We are seeking a senior mechanical engineer with a practical bias to perform mechanical design for downhole drilling systems and associated equipment related to assembly, testing, and maintenance. The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable working with established processes and procedures, or with helping to develop and refine new ones.
You will be based at our UK Gloucester Product Center.
The opportunity for you
You will be a core member of the operations team at our UK Product Centre, working closely with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Quality & Compliance. Your work will ensure that drilling tools are produced, deployed, and maintained. You will have the opportunity to positively impact technology and processes as we move from prototype builds to commercial operations.
You will own:
1. Safety and Compliance
- Adhere to all health, safety, and environmental (HSE) regulations and quality procedures to ensure safe work practices.
- Promote and support a positive and proactive HSE culture.
- Maintain a safe, organized, and tidy work environment (5S, housekeeping, waste segregation).
2. Mechanical Design
- Perform mechanical design and analysis of mechanical components and systems for drilling technologies, and associated tooling and test equipment.
- Adhere to GA Drilling processes to ensure that equipment is safe, reliable, and efficient.
- Determine and perform calculations to support design and material selection (e.g., stress calculations).
- Use analytical skills to derive potential solutions to engineering problems and use engineering judgement to recommend suitable options.
- Generate high quality engineering documentation, including drawings, calculations, procedures, and reports.
- Lead and contribute to technical risk management.
- Plan equipment integration and commissioning.
- Lead and participate in design reviews.
- Create and own project requirements, budgeting, timelines, and specifications.
- Maintain equipment product files.
- Travel to field locations if required.
3. Assembly and Maintenance
- Create and refine equipment assembly, disassembly, maintenance, repair, and testing process and procedures.
- Assist on a hands-on basis when appropriate, or when required.
4. Troubleshooting and Repair
- Lead or assist with diagnosing and repairing equipment failures.
- Lead or assist with failure reporting.
- Work with Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality & Compliance to escalate / solve technical or quality issues, and support investigations.
- Lead or assist with failure and cost of service delivery tracking
5. Collaboration
- Support other departments and functions e.g., manufacturing or supply chain to ensure seamless equipment deployment.
- Engage with external suppliers when required.
Position Requirements:
1. Experience & technical skills
- Extensive mechanical engineering and design experience.
- Very strong knowledge of mechanical engineering fundamentals.
- Very strong knowledge of electromechanical fundamentals.
- Have or develop hydraulics expertise.
- Proficiency with computer aided design, and analysis (CFD/FEA) software applications.
- Proficiency with other engineering software e.g., Autodesk Vault, SAP, Microsoft Office.
- Have or develop a strong understanding of drilling processes and design considerations for harsh environments, including high temperature, high pressure, vibration, shock, and abrasive rock conditions.
- Have or develop strong expertise in drilling tool design.
- Knowledge of relevant standards and legislation.
- Experience in component design and manufacturing.
- Significant experience with equipment troubleshooting, and report generation.
- Experience with the assembly, maintenance, and testing of complex mechanical and electromechanical systems.
- Significant design justification experience via analysis and calculation e.g., FEA, stress, and thermal calculations.
- Qualifications: BSc or MSc.
2. Working style & collaboration
- High attention to detail, accuracy, and documentation discipline.
- Pragmatic and able to make decisions based on business priorities.
- Comfortable working with established processes and procedures, or with helping to develop and refine new ones.
- Strong problem-solving, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective collaboration and reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently or as part of a team.
- Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback, contributing to improved product performance and reliability.
- Willingness to be hands-on during tool build, assembly, maintenance, and test activities.
What we offer:
- Opportunity to develop unique and innovative technological solutions which have the potential to change the world.
- The satisfaction of solving challenges associated with making ultra-deep geothermal energy a commercial reality.
- Be part of an experienced, global and highly motivated team.
- Collaborate with the world’s top industry players.
- Competitive industry compensation & benefits.
