Mechanical Design Engineer
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Nov 3, 2026. First seen by Alion on Oct 19, 2026.
Role:Mechanical Design Engineer
Job type:Full time - On site
Location:Eastern Bypass Rd, Ruai - Nairobi, Kenya
About Octavia Carbon
Octavia Carbon is the Global South’s first Direct Air Capture (DAC) company, dedicated to combating climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We design and build low-cost DAC technology that leverages Kenya's geothermal energy, geology, and talent to radically accelerate DAC down the cost curve. Our mission is to reverse climate change by removing billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the air by 2050.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineerto lead the design, procurement, and lifecycle management of piping systems and mechanical equipment across our Direct Air Capture (DAC) plants, including geothermal-integrated facilities. This is a hands-on role spanning the full asset lifecycle: from plant and pipe layout design, through equipment selection and purchasing, to ongoing maintenance of piping and equipment in the field. You will work closely with our process engineering team and site operators to ensure our plants are designed for reliability, safety, and long-term performance.
Key Responsibilities
Plant & Piping Design
- Develop plant layouts and detailed pipe routing for DAC facilities, including geothermal-integrated plants
- Produce and review piping deliverables: plot plans, piping layouts, isometrics, pipe supports, stresscritical line analysis, and tie-in designs
- Select appropriate piping materials, wall thicknesses, and specifications based on process conditions (temperature, pressure, fluid composition, corrosivity)
- Ensure designs comply with applicable codes and standards (e.g., ASME B31.1/B31.3, ASME BPVC, API standards)
- Coordinate piping design with mechanical, process, electrical, and instrumentation disciplines
Equipment Selection & Procurement
- Work with the process engineering team to obtain and interpret process conditions, datasheets, and duty requirements
- Select, specify, and purchase mechanical equipment including pumps, compressors, blowers, fans, and valves
- Prepare technical requisitions, evaluate vendor bids, and conduct technical bid analyses
- Review vendor drawings and documentation; manage technical clarifications through to delivery
- Support factory acceptance tests (FATs) and equipment commissioning
Corrosion & Materials
- Identify and assess corrosion and degradation mechanisms relevant to DAC and geothermal service (e.g., CO2 corrosion, chloride pitting and stress corrosion cracking, erosion-corrosion, scaling, H2S/sour service where applicable)
- Recommend materials, coatings, linings, and corrosion allowances to prevent or mitigate degradation
- Define and support inspection programs (corrosion monitoring, wall-thickness surveys, NDT) with site teams
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field
- Experience in piping design and/or plant mechanical engineering, ideally in process industries (chemical, geothermal, power, oil & gas, or carbon capture)
- Strong working knowledge of rotating equipment: pumps, compressors, blowers, and fans, including selection, operation, and common failure modes
- Working knowledge of metallurgy and corrosion mechanisms, and practical experience selecting materials to prevent them
- Proficiency with piping design tools (e.g., AutoCAD Plant 3D) and familiarity with pipe stress analysis; solid grasp of relevant codes and standards (ASME B31.3, API 610/617/std series, or equivalents)
- Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, PFDs, and equipment datasheets
- Willingness to spend regular time on site supporting operations and maintenance teams
Applications must be submittedno later than Sunday, 1st November 2026 by11:59pm. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Octavia Carbon offers competitive growth opportunities, a competitive salary, a route to owning company equity, and a high degree of professional freedom & responsibility, coupled with intense working environment to enable a steep learning curve.
Octavia Carbon is an equal opportunity employer and especially encourages applications from women, and individuals from diverse socioeconomic, religious and regional backgrounds.