Mechanical Engineer (m/w/d)

Job description

About Hades Hades is a modern mining company on a mission to transform how the world accesses critical resources and energy. Founded in 2025, we’re developing ultra-deep laser drilling technologies that push the limits of what’s possible underground. Based in Munich, we’ve raised over €20M in funding from leading European resilience investors including HV Capital, Headline, Project A and Visionaries Tomorrow. We’re now building a world-class team to bring this vision to life. Why Join Hades? At Hades, you'll be part of a high-growth, high-impact deep-tech startup making a tangible difference. Our mission is critical: to secure sovereignty for Europe through the responsible and efficient extraction of vital materials and energy. We offer: Impactful Work: Contribute directly to solving global challenges related to resource scarcity and energy independence. Cutting-Edge Technology: Work at the forefront of ultra-deep drilling, leveraging advanced engineering and innovative approaches. Growth Potential: Join a rapidly expanding company with significant opportunities for personal and professional development. Dynamic Environment: Thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative, and entrepreneurial setting in the heart of Munich. Purpose-Driven Mission: Be part of a team dedicated to a sustainable and secure future for Europe. The Role As a Mechanical Engineer at Hades, you will own the mechanical design of our laser drilling system - from downhole tooling and pressure-bearing housings to surface deployment hardware. You'll take subsystems from first concept through prototype, qualification, and field deployment, where they need to survive multi-kilometre depths, hundreds of bar of pressure, high temperatures, and abrasive subsurface environments. This is a foundational role with significant ownership and direct collaboration with the founding team, spanning optics, robotics, geoscience, and applied physics. You'll set the mechanical engineering bar for the company. Responsibilities Design, analyse, and qualify mechanical systems for the laser drilling tool - including pressure housings, sealing systems, structural components, and deployment mechanisms Perform structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (FEA/CFD) to validate designs against extreme downhole conditions Drive design-for-manufacturing and design-for-assembly across in-house and external supply chains; own drawings, tolerances, and material selection Build and run test rigs to characterise components and subsystems under representative pressure, temperature, and load Take prototypes into the field: support integration, commissioning, and iteration on real drilling sites Collaborate closely with opto-mechanical, electrical, and software engineers to deliver an integrated, robust system Qualification: We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled individual who possesses: BSc or MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field 3+ years of hands-on experience designing precision or high-reliability mechanical systems (oil & gas, aerospace, defence, space, fusion, deep-sea, or similar harsh-environment domains strongly preferred) Strong CAD skills (Siemens NX, SolidWorks, or equivalent) and fluency with FEA tools (Ansys, Abaqus, or similar) Solid grasp of pressure vessel design, sealing technologies, materials selection, and tolerance stack-ups Demonstrated ability to take designs from concept through prototype to field-tested hardware Evidence of exceptional ability - top-of-class academics, ambitious side projects, competition wins, startup experience, or equivalent Excellent written and oral communication skills in English Willing to reside in the greater Munich area Why Hades? We offer An opportunity to make a huge impact on the future of Europe by increasing resilience and providing a path to resource and energy sovereignty A human-centered company culture with super nice and supportive colleagues A great sense of community through team events and fun in and outside the office Highly competitive compensation and benefits package If you are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and contributing to a more sustainable future, we encourage you to apply by sending your CV and any other documents.