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Salary: USD 173,000 - 211,000 / annual
Valar Atomics is building advanced nuclear power systems to unlock clean, scalable energy for industrial applications, hydrogen production, and next-generation manufacturing. The company is developing factory-made, rapidly deployable nuclear technology with a pilot plant planned for Orangeville, Utah.
As a Staff Mechanical Engineer, you will lead mechanical design efforts across major subsystems for advanced nuclear power generation. You'll be responsible for designing, developing, and validating mechanical systems and components that meet stringent performance, manufacturability, and cost requirements. This is a technical leadership role where you'll mentor junior engineers, review designs for consistency with company standards, and serve as a key technical authority within the engineering organization.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading mechanical design efforts for major subsystems, ensuring alignment between performance targets, manufacturability, and cost
- Mentoring junior engineers and reviewing mechanical designs to ensure consistency with company standards and engineering rigor
- Developing detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings using SolidWorks, Creo, or NX, with advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis
- Performing structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (FEA and CFD) to validate system performance and reliability
- Overseeing prototype fabrication, assembly, and testing, interpreting results to refine designs and improve system performance
- Partnering with electrical, manufacturing, and systems engineers to drive integration and design optimization
- Working with vendors to manage DFM feedback, manufacturing process selection, and quality control
- Contributing to internal best practices for mechanical design, documentation, and configuration management
You'll work in a high-impact startup environment with significant autonomy and ownership, collaborating directly with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders. The role offers opportunities for rapid career growth and the chance to help build transformative energy technology from the ground up.
REQUIREMENTS:
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field
- 8+ 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
- Expertise in performing or overseeing FEA and CFD analyses
- Excellent communication, technical documentation, and leadership skills
Preferred Qualifications:
- 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
