Mechanical Engineer (m/w/d)

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.