Cycle Performance Engineer - Turbomachinery

Valar Atomics; El Segundo (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Free daily lunch and dinner onsite

PPE stipend

High-impact startup environment

Career growth opportunities

Direct collaboration with operators/CE

Job summary

Valar Atomics is hiring a turbomachinery aerodynamics engineer in California to lead cycle performance modeling for a cutting-edge power conversion system. You will work with cross-functional teams to define a high-efficiency, producible cycle design and influence system architecture decisions as an early turbomachinery hire.

This role focuses on developing a thermodynamic model, validating it against results, and driving optimization across components and subsystems with ownership and autonomy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering required.
• 3 years' experience analyzing thermodynamic cycles in a thermodynamic solver (NPSS, Aspen, GateCycle, Flownex, EES, etc.) required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a thermodynamic model of the power conversion system.
• Aggregate, interpret and integrate the contributions of component owners into the overall cycle model.
• Partner with turbomachinery, secondary flow, and heat exchanger owners to input their component performance into the system model.
• Define instrumentation plans to calibrate the cycle model to tested results.
• Evaluate system level trades to drive the cycle to the optimal business outcome.

Skills

Thermodynamic cycle analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

NPSS

Aspen

GateCycle

Flownex

EES

Job description

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team

As part of the Engineering organization, Power Con v ers ion develops the technologies that efficiently transform reactor-generated heat into usable electrical power . The team focuses on maximizing system performance, reliability, and commercial viability.

The Role

Valar Atomics is seeking a turbomachinery aerodynamics engineer to join the turbomachinery team and advance power generation capability. In this role, you’ll be responsible for the cycle performance modeling for cutting edge turbomachinery. You’ll be working with cross-functional team members to define a high efficiency, highly producible cycle design. As an early hire in turbomachinery, you will be able to directly influence design decisions on the system architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a thermodynamic model of the power conversion system
• Aggregate, interpret and integrate the contributions of component owners into the overall cycle model
• Partner with turbomachinery, secondary flow, and heat exchanger owners to input their component performance into the system model
• Define instrumentation plans to calibrate the cycle model to tested results
• Evaluate system level trades to drive the cycle to the optimal business outcome

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

• You are excited to be a part of a complex turbomachinery product from the beginning
• You thrive in ambiguous environments without defined turbomachinery design best practices
• You want to be part of turbomachinery design beyond a singular aerodynamic, structural or manufacturing perspective

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 3 years experience in analyzing thermodynamic cycles in a thermodynamic solver (NPSS, Aspen, GateCycle, Flownex, EES, etc.)

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• Experience with modeling closed cycles
• Test experience with turbomachinery
• Experience with supercritical C02
• Experience analyzing turbomachinery at a component design level

What We Offer

• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Unlimited PTO
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
• Generous PPE stipend
• High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
• Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
• Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
• The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).