Engineer I, Mechanical

X-Energy, LLC; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 75,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K match

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Dev

Job summary

X-energy LLC is hiring a Junior Mechanical Engineer to design and develop mechanical systems, structures, and components for nuclear products. You will participate in concept development, evaluation of concepts, analysis, prototyping, testing, and commissioning to ensure performance and safety.

You will work on structural design, thermal hydraulics, thermosystems, and mechanical design, using CAD/FEA tools, and collaborating with engineers to meet project requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering or related discipline is required.
• Zero years of experience in an engineering role required.
• Proficiency with engineering hand calculations is required.
• Experience in at least one area: Thermodynamics with 1D flow-solvers, Mechanical Design, hardware in production, internships/projects, or CAD/PLM ownership.
• Knowledge of CAD/PLM software such as UG/NX, SolidWorks, Pro/Engineer, Teamcenter, Windchill or similar.
• Structural analysis experience with hand calculations and FEA tools (ANSYS, ABAQUS, NASTRAN, etc.).
• Thermal hydraulics CFD knowledge (STAR-CCM+, Fluent or similar).

Responsibilities

• Develop SSCs for nuclear products with a focus on safety.
• Coordinate with stakeholders and systems engineers to gather requirements and standards.
• Plan and perform analyses to ensure SSCs meet specifications and design criteria.
• Perform hand calculations and use FEA tools to verify structural integrity.
• Create and maintain CAD models and design documentation per procedures.

Skills

Engineering hand calculations

Thermodynamics

Structural design

Heat transfer

Education

Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering

Tools

UG/NX

SolidWorks

Pro-Engineer

Teamcenter

Windchill

ANSYS/ABAQUS/NASTRAN/LS-DYNA

Job description

X-energy LLC conducts a thorough recruiting process and will never issue offers without interview to discuss qualifications and responsibilities. All applications will be submitted via our company career page, www.x-energy.com/careers/. We will never ask you to provide payment information as part of the recruiting process. If anyone claiming to represent X-energy directs you in a manner otherwise, please contact us at www.x-energy.com/contact-us.

Job Description

X-energy LLC is hiring a Junior Mechanical Engineer. This role is responsible for the engineering design and development of mechanical systems, structures, and components. This includes concept development, evaluation of concepts, analysis of systems, structures, and components for their ability to perform their intended function, and ensuring they meet all technical specifications and requirements. The role will ensure the development of the systems and components through production including any necessary prototyping, testing, and commissioning.

Job Profile

• Develop mechanical/physical concepts, design and support development of processes to create or identify structures, systems, and components (SSCs) for use in nuclear products or facilities with a focus on nuclear safety.
• Identify, collect, and document applicable requirements, interfaces, design basis and criteria by coordinating with key stakeholders/systems engineers and support identifying applicable industry codes and standards and the direction of project leads and systems engineers.
• Planning and performing the analysis required to assess aspects of the SSCs to ensure they can perform their intended functions and meet technical specifications and design requirements.
• Perform computations utilizing hand calculations and analytical tools for structural, thermal, hydraulic, and other scoping calculations as required at the direction of project leads and systems engineers to ensure SSCs can meet technical requirements.

The role may include specialization in one or more of the following areas:

Structural Design

Perform and assist structural analysis for systems, structures, and components of X-energy developed reactors, including pressure vessels and piping, reactor internals, nuclear fuel, and high temperature materials such as graphite. Use engineering tools, including finite element analysis (FEA) simulation software, hand calculations, and engineering judgment, to assess stress, deformation, degradation behavior, and lifetime mechanical performance of these nuclear reactor components.

Thermal Hydraulics

Responsible for providing heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and particulate mechanics analysis to support the design of various X-energy developed reactors and supporting subsystems. Responsible for development, testing and verification of CFD models to support design and analysis which will form part of the reactor licensing basis (steady state and transient conditions, design basis events, anomalies, etc.).

Thermosystems

Perform system-level thermodynamic analyses and process design using system-level simulation codes to support design iterations of X-energy developed reactors and supporting subsystems. Support the sizing and analysis of components including heat exchangers, pumps, circulators, and turbomachinery. Support the development of reactor and plant control philosophy and implement in plant models, simulations, and digital twins.

Mechanical Design

Develop innovative mechanical solutions to refine and deploy concepts, technologies, and designs associated with X-energy developed reactors, including pressure vessels and piping, reactor internals, nuclear fuel, and high temperature materials such as graphite. Integrate design activities across engineering team members, partners, and suppliers and perform supporting scoping and sizing calculations to downselect design features to meet design requirements using guidance from consensus codes and standards. Create and maintain CAD-generated engineering models of reactor SSCs. Support the assessment of SSCs for manufacturability as well as assembly and integration considerations at the direction of project leads. Write and develop design documentation including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings in accordance with applicable procedures. Develop Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and support qualification of toolset. Perform work in accordance with X-energy quality procedures for design and configuration management to ensure project quality requirements are met. Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables and data. Maintain professional demeanor and behavior at all times in all forms of communication. Assist and support team members with the execution of the core tasks and responsibilities listed in the Job Profile Task/Responsibilities section of this document, under guided supervision. Establish a foundation in reactor and nuclear design & analysis while deepening understanding of, and experience with, design & analysis tools, processes, and key product development and safety considerations for nuclear systems, structures, and components. Perform other duties as assigned by manager.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, or related engineering discipline (e.g., nuclear aerospace, chemical, etc.) from an accredited institution required.
• Zero years of experience in an engineering role required.
• Proficiency with engineering hand calculations is required.
• Experience and/or knowledge in a minimum of one of the following areas:
• Thermodynamics Use of 1D flow-solvers performing heat/energy and mass balance (e.g., RELAP, Flownex, NPSS, SINDA/FLUINT, Flomaster, or similar).
• Mechanical Design Designing and developing mechanical or fluid systems, assemblies, or components.
• One plus years of demonstrated hands‑on experience developing and delivering hardware or manufacturing processes in a production environment is required.
• May include industry internship experience, hobby, or participation in collegiate engineering projects such as: Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Design Build Fly, Rocket Club, etc.
• Hardware ownership including manufacturing and testing oversight.
• Use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and product lifecycle management (PLM) software. E.g. UG/NX, SolidWorks, Pro-Engineer, Teamcenter, Windchill, or similar.
• Structural Analysis Analytical experience with structural analysis hand calculations and structural FEA software programs (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS, NASTRAN, FEMAP, CAESAR, ROHR, LS-DYNA, PIPESTRESS).
• Thermal Hydraulics Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis codes (e.g., STAR-CCM+, Fluent, or similar).
• Mechanical Process Equipment

Location

9801 Washingtonian Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD

Work Schedule

4 days a week in office

Travel Expectations

Up to 10% as needed

Hours

8:00am-5:00pm, Monday-Friday

Compensation

As required by Maryland and other applicable state law, X Energy, LLC (X-energy) lists the expected compensation range for a publicly advertised job opportunity based upon the job requirements (e.g. education/training, experience, skill sets, etc.). Individual candidates who meet the job requirements for the posted position will be offered a salary within this range based on their respective levels of education/training, experience, and other qualifications unique to them. Salary ranges may vary based on the specific office location and region referenced in the posting to take into consideration differences in cost of living and may not be reflective of all regions. Please note that compensation ranges listed for US job postings reflect base salary only and do not include benefits or other incentives. Offers within the posted salary range are commensurate with the individual’s qualifications for the position, along with a view on internal equity, market data, and room for growth. The salary range for this position is: $75,000- $100,000

Position Job Classification

Full time - Exempt

Benefits

X Energy, LLC offers a robust benefits package that includes a 401K plan with an employer match, Medical/Dental /Vision Insurance, Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off, and a Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Development policy that supports the continuing education of our employees.

An Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

X Energy, LLC participates in E-Verify. Please visit the links below for more information about E-Verify and the protection of your Right to Work. Right To Work Link: If you have the right to work, don't let anyone take it away (e-verify.gov) E-Verify Participation Link: E-Verify Participation Poster English and Spanish

X-energy is delivering the next generation of carbon-free energy by reinventing nuclear power. We believe in leaving a cleaner planet for our children and grandchildren, while continuing to provide sufficient and affordable power to sustain growing populations around the world. That is why we have reinvented nuclear power, with a unique combination of proven technologies and new innovations, to meet our current and future needs. Watch our Anthem here An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Equal Employment Opportunity Posters X-energy does not discriminate in employment against qualified individuals on the basis of a disability, and understands its obligation to make reasonable accommodation for individuals with physical or mental impairments that qualify as a disability under the ADA and ADAAA, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the company. It is an applicant’s or employee’s responsibility to participate in this interactive process by seeking an accommodation, assisting X-energy in reviewing accommodation alternatives and providing medical certification of the need for an accommodation. Any applicant or employee who wishes to seek an accommodation under this policy should contact the Human Resources Department via email at [e-mail]. Whether a requested accommodation would create an undue hardship will be determined based on the facts of each particular case.