Natel team members pose in the yard.

We’re looking for people who want to take action to protect the planet.

At Natel your work makes a difference

Join our effort to address climate change and biodiversity loss through sustainable water and energy solutions. We are looking for collaborative, optimistic, and mission-driven teammates to accelerate the clean energy transition with sustainable hydropower.

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Our Values

Own the outcome

As stewards of our company and of the planet, we are responsible for
creating solutions, products and services that do good in the world.

Excellence through innovation

Building the best solutions for people and the environment means taking
calculated risks that enable high impact.

Act with integrity

Our interactions with customers, stakeholders and each other are courteous, respectful, and honest. We assume positive intent and communicate with grace.

Operate as a team

We embrace individuality by amplifying each other’s strengths, while also recognizing that our greatest successes come from collaboration.

Practice gratitude

We acknowledge the research, knowledge, and effort that is foundational
to our success and we strive to pay it forward for generations to come.

Perks & Benefits

Inclusive, Mission-Driven Team Culture

We strive to create a community that celebrates the diverse backgrounds and unique talents of each team member, honors our shared commitment to improving the health of our planet, and makes space for different ways of thinking, feeling, and being. We are committed to fostering a culture that recognizes, includes, and respects all life.

Workplace Centered Around Our People Being Their Best Selves

Whether you want to bring your pet to work or need a spot to take a shower after a morning bike ride, our Alameda office is designed to support the way you work best. We provide remote employees with the equipment they need to thrive in their home offices, and we host annual retreats to bring our whole internationally-distributed team together in person.

Paid Time Off to Allow Full Lives Outside of Work

We think it’s incredibly important to take time off from work to pursue whatever it is that brings you joy away from the job, and we also understand that life takes unexpected turns. We offer 4 weeks paid vacation, as well as paid sick and family leave plans so you can take the time you need to care for yourself and your loved-ones.

Comprehensive Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage

Health care should not be something that keeps you up at night. We offer flexible, trans-inclusive healthcare plans, as well as dental and vision coverage so that you and your family have access to the care you need to live vibrant, healthy lives.

Employee Rewards Program

In addition to regular cost-of-living raises and opportunities for advancement, we regularly celebrate good work with performance-based bonuses.

401K Matching

Let us help you save for retirement with a generous 401k match that helps make your personal contributions go further towards meeting your savings goals.

Open Positions

Hydraulic Design Engineer

Role

Natel Energy is seeking a skilled and motivated Senior or Staff Hydraulic Design Engineer to join our team! Natel designs and tests high performance FishSafe hydraulic turbines, modernizing the hydro industry and preserving biodiversity while simultaneously enabling decarbonization. You will join an exciting and fast paced team where we develop customized solutions for some of the largest turbines in the global fleet down to scale model performance test units.

You will help us achieve our goals of modernization, decarbonization, and biodiversity by designing and optimizing hydro turbine geometry from first principles through detailed CFD and, at times, through to physical scale model testing. You will work with other hydraulic design engineers at Natel to complete regular design deliverables for customers and partners, aid the commercial team with proposals, conduct R&D-related analysis and design work for test equipment, and improve and automate processes for increased throughput.

Prior experience in the hydro industry is a plus, but not required. A successful candidate will have a strong foundation of engineering fundamentals and systems design, with focused expertise in utilizing CFD to support system or product development. Candidates must be effective communicators, collaborators, and independent contributors. Candidates must also be creative and driven problem solvers,  not satisfied with the status quo.

Responsibilities

  • Lead the modern hydro turbine industry with design and analysis techniques to produce competitive, efficient, FishSafe, and manufacturable turbine and hydropower facility designs and upgrades.
  • Utilize Siemens NX, STAR-CCM+, and other related tools as necessary for hydraulic turbine design, analysis, and optimization. Apply existing design and analysis workflows as well as develop new and improved methods and automations.
  • Become an expert in Natel’s system and product design space. Understand tradeoffs in hydraulic design performance, cost, and mechanical + operational implications; interpret and apply customer and site design requirements along with performance and fish survival models and test data; propose and deliver solutions (OML, layouts, loads) and associated documentation.
  • Assess test data of sub- and full-scale systems to inform design approaches; design and participate in conducting performance tests. Document and report analysis and test approaches and results in formats ranging from tabular data to figures to publication-worthy reports and presentations.

Required Skills and Qualifications

  • At least 3 years experience in related role(s)
  • A bachelor’s degree or higher in an applicable engineering discipline (mechanical, aerospace, etc)
  • Competence with advanced CAD surfacing and parametric modeling techniques (preferably in Siemens NX)
  • Competence in single and multiphase aerodynamic or hydrodynamic CFD meshing and analysis, preferably with complete turbomachinery or other rotating systems, preferably with STAR-CCM+
  • Familiarity with data analysis and/or automation coding languages (eg. Python, Java)
  • A motivation to apply your skills and knowledge in a fast-paced R&D and production environment
  • An organized and data-driven approach to problem solving
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills: comfortable receiving as well as providing guidance and technical material from/to engineers, designers, technicians, and suppliers
  • Confidence in working independently to drive a project forward

Not Required, but Pluses:

  • Proficiency in Siemens NX surfacing techniques
  • Expertise in STAR-CCM+
  • Experience in the design or analysis of hydro turbines or pumps or turbomachinery in general
  • Both Windows and Linux based HPC setup and job management experience
  • Endorsements or certifications in applicable skill areas

Compensation & Benefits

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include job-related knowledge, skills, and experience, market location, business needs, other compensation components, and/or market demands. The starting base salary range for this role is  $120k-$170K. This range may be modified in the future.

In addition to competitive salaries, we offer equity to new employees and incentive compensation  based on team performance.

We are proud to offer great benefits like 4 weeks of paid vacation, 2 weeks of paid sick leave, and trans-inclusive health insurance plans (along with dental, vision and life insurance). We want our team to live full lives outside of work.

Location 

Onsite, Alameda, CA. This role is full time at Natel’s Alameda, California office and facility, with flexibility to work from home intermittently. We have a dog-friendly workplace!

Occasional travel may be required for supplier site visits, field testing, or similar.

Our hiring process

Natel Energy is committed to building, supporting, and growing a diverse team. We have a standardized interview process designed to reduce individual bias, and have structured pay scales to prevent inequity. We don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

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Ian Gagnon,
Testimonials

"When I first got a job at Natel, I was excited to be working in a job in the renewable energy field, but I had reservations about working at a hydropower company, as I knew about the negative effects of traditional hydropower on aquatic ecosystems. As my time at Natel has progressed I have come to see that we are truly making a turbine that can safely pass fish while also generating renewable energy. I like that I am working on a technology that is helping to fight climate change and restore ecosystems."

Ian Gagnon,
Senior Mechanical Engineer
Tatiana Emrat Marzan,
Testimonials

"I'm always encouraged by my manager and peers to ask for projects that help build/hone my skillset. In addition, as Natel grows, I get to add new skills and grow into unique and challenging roles. I believe these experiences are valuable for my career growth."

Tatiana Emrat Marzan,
Senior Hydropower Technical Associate
Sterling Watson,
Testimonials

"Natel has provided me the flexibility and support to pursue my passion for environmental impact through both original research and fast-paced product development."

Sterling Watson,
Staff Mechanical Engineer
Kizzie Brown,
Testimonials

"Everyone at Natel, regardless of their functional areas, seniority level or role, is passionate about environmental sustainability. It's unique to see such a consistent level of commitment to the same goals among such a diverse group of team members."

Kizzie Brown,
Chief Financial Officer
Nick Arnold,
Testimonials

"The transparency, collaboration and inclusivity from the top down is phenomenal. It's truly like a family and I have felt welcomed with open arms from day one."

Nick Arnold,
Director, Project Office
Owen Hale,
Testimonials

"There doesn't appear to be a singular brute force/one-size-fits-all solution to our energy and climate crisis — it appears that it's going to take multiple smaller solutions working together.  Natel is one of these small (yet critical!) solutions and it's a good feeling at the end of the day to know that you've spent that day contributing to a mission that truly matters."

Owen Hale,
Senior Mechanical Engineer