Today, we’re spotlighting Jatinder Sampathkumar, Senior Systems Engineer at Amogy. Dive in to explore his unique perspective on working at Amogy, our ammonia-to-power technology, and the future of energy.
Name: Jatinder Sampathkumar
Job title: Senior Systems Engineer II
Team: Product Development
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Jatinder grew up in Bangalore, India, a vibrant tech hub often referred to as the “Silicon Valley of the East.” Raised in an engineering-oriented family, Jatinder’s interest in the discipline was nurtured from a young age, supported by his family’s encouragement of his curiosity and hands-on experimentation.
He earned his mechanical engineering degree from BMS College of Engineering in Bangalore and started his career in the aviation sector with a Boeing subsidiary in India. In 2017, Jatinder moved to Boulder, Colorado, to pursue a master’s in product design and development at the University of Colorado. His work there, particularly on silicon carbide components for evaluating sustainable aviation fuels, led him to a doctoral program focused on studying fuel molecules with microfluidic devices. His research has advanced tools for analyzing fuel reactions at the molecular level, contributing to the development of cleaner, more efficient fuels.
In early 2023, Jatinder transitioned from academia to industry by joining Amogy, where he could apply his research and innovation to practical solutions.
Why did you decide to join Amogy?
India is a fast-growing country with a burgeoning energy problem that is front and center. Growing up, I experienced frequent power cuts and often limited access to electricity. Over the years, India’s energy landscape has evolved significantly, and as it continues to increase its energy demand significantly, finding sustainable, scalable solutions is crucial. I am particularly interested in the potential to decarbonize energy-intensive sectors, like the movement of goods and people, which will play a pivotal role in the global transition to a more sustainable energy system. Joining Amogy aligns with my goal to contribute to these critical advancements in innovative energy technology.
What is your position at Amogy and what does your day-to-day look like?
As a Systems Engineer at Amogy, my role involves bridging my background in research, design, and manufacturing with the practical needs of our customers. I work to align customer requirements with our technology to ensure that our products are both impactful and viable. My day-to-day involves gathering and defining product requirements, distilling our technological advancements into deployable products, and ensuring these solutions interface seamlessly with existing systems.
I act as a translator between customer needs and our technological capabilities, managing various aspects of product development—from mechanical design to system integration. My background in mechanical engineering emphasizes the importance of packaging and form factor, which enables me to focus on packaging the components, like reactors and purification elements, into operational and serviceable systems. Additionally, I work closely with certification and regulatory bodies to ensure our products meet safety standards and help shape new regulations for emerging technologies like ammonia-powered systems.
Overall, my role involves both a high-level approach to implementing our solutions to address customer needs and a detailed know-how of the architecture of our systems in the customer context.
What do you like most about working at Amogy?
Our mission, vision, and values—especially the value of impact. In academia, I was accustomed to working on scientific advancements with a long-term change horizon spanning multiple decades. At Amogy, however, we’re addressing real-world challenges with our technology and aim to make a tangible impact in the near term. It’s encouraging to see our customers’ interest in the ability of our solutions to contribute to transitioning from carbon-intensive fuels to a greener future.
Furthermore, I’m genuinely blown away by the diverse and talented team at Amogy. The depth of expertise here is both inspiring and humbling. The startup environment accelerates learning in a way that larger organizations might not, which allows me to gain invaluable experience quickly.
Do you feel optimistic about climate solutions?
Having been involved in the field for over eight years now, I’ve seen many exciting developments that make me optimistic about the future. So many intelligent people are working on solving this challenge, and there’s been significant investment and progress. While process challenges and delays can cause slowdowns in global clean energy adoption, I believe that with continued advocacy, demonstrations of success, and public and private sector commitment, we can overcome these challenges and drive meaningful change.
