SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
Salary: USD 138,100 - 263,800 / annual
Pacific Fusion, founded in 2023 and backed by over $900M in funding, is developing pulser-driven inertial fusion systems to achieve net facility gain and deliver abundant, affordable clean energy. The company is rapidly scaling its engineering team to design and build core fusion demonstration hardware.
As Senior Mechanical Engineer for Test Infrastructure, you will lead end-to-end mechanical design and structural implementation of complex, high-precision components and assemblies for the fusion system. You will own the full lifecycle from concept through detailed 3D CAD modeling, rigorous finite element analysis, and final system integration.
Key responsibilities include:
- Lead mechanical design, 3D CAD modeling, and detail engineering of high-performance components and assemblies
- Perform hand calculations, first-principles mechanical design, and advanced FEA (ANSYS, Abaqus, Creo Simulate)
- Translate physics requirements, spatial constraints, and boundary conditions into robust engineering models and hardware specifications
- Conduct tolerance stack-up analyses and assess part variance impacts on design interface requirements
- Apply Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) best practices
- Interface with physics, systems engineering, and manufacturing teams to resolve design trade-offs and mitigate technical risk
- Prepare comprehensive engineering documentation including fully dimensioned detail drawings with GD&T and design review packages
You will bring 5+ years of hands-on mechanical design and structural/thermal analysis experience for complex hardware systems. Required expertise includes advanced 3D CAD (Creo, SolidWorks), FEA software, GD&T (ASME Y14.5), tolerance stack-up analysis, material selection for demanding environments, and knowledge of advanced manufacturing techniques (machining, additive manufacturing, precision welding). A Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering is required; Master's or PhD is preferred. Strong problem-solving, engineering fundamentals, and cross-functional technical leadership skills are essential.
