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Salary: USD 140,000 - 180,000 / annual
Valar Atomics is redefining energy by making clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable for industry, hydrogen production, and next-generation manufacturing. The company is building advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication capabilities, with a pilot plant planned in Orangeville, Utah. The Mechanical Engineering organization designs and develops the mechanical systems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies.
As a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, you will be responsible for designing, developing, and validating mechanical systems and components that meet performance, manufacturability, and cost requirements. You will lead mechanical design efforts for major subsystems, ensuring alignment between performance targets, manufacturability, and cost. You will mentor junior engineers and review mechanical designs to ensure consistency with company standards and engineering rigor.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead mechanical design efforts for major subsystems, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost
- Mentor junior engineers and review designs for consistency with company standards
- Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings using SolidWorks, Creo, or NX, applying advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis
- Perform structural, thermal, or fluid analyses (FEA and CFD) to validate system performance and reliability
- Oversee prototype fabrication, assembly, and testing, and interpret results to refine designs
- Partner with electrical, manufacturing, and systems engineers to drive integration and design optimization
- Work with vendors to manage DFM feedback, manufacturing process selection, and quality control
- Contribute to internal best practices for mechanical design, documentation, and configuration management
You will be successful if you take true ownership of major subsystems, bring strong technical judgment to design trade-offs, apply analysis appropriately as a tool for decision-making, partner effectively with manufacturing teams, mentor other engineers, communicate and document clearly, and approach problems with a root-cause mindset.
REQUIREMENTS:
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 5+ years of experience in mechanical design and product development
- Proven track record of designing and delivering production-ready hardware
- Expertise in CAD (SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar) and mechanical drafting standards
- Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical systems
- Experience performing or overseeing FEA and CFD analyses
- Excellent communication, technical documentation, and leadership skills
Preferred Skills and Experience:
- Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- Experience in high-performance or safety-critical systems (aerospace, energy, or defense)
- Deep understanding of DFM/DFA and reliability engineering
- Familiarity with PLM/PDM tools and design control processes
- Hands-on prototyping, testing, and validation experience
- Strong analytical mindset with ability to lead root cause investigations
