Lead Cryogenic Engineer – Cryomodule

Subcritical Systems Inc; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Subcritical Systems, Inc. in Austin, TX leads the cryogenic design of SRF cryomodules for accelerator technologies and novel energy systems. You will own the cryogenic distribution, heat exchangers, and safety-critical systems from concept to fabrication and cold testing.

You will apply thermodynamics expertise, lead multidisciplinary teams, and contribute to AI-assisted engineering workflows to optimize performance and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Cryogenic, or a related engineering discipline; master's preferred.
• 4+ years of cryogenic engineering experience directly relevant to the role.
• Experience taking cryogenic mechanical systems from concept through commissioning.
• Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid flow.
• Ability to perform analyses using CAD and simulation tools and set acceptance criteria.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary technical work, mentor others, and produce clear specs.

Responsibilities

• Own the cryomodule's cryogenic design, pressure systems safety, and distribution systems.
• Perform and review thermal, structural, and fluid analyses to size cooling circuits.
• Define and integrate interfaces with other cryomodule subsystems.
• Develop drawings, specifications, calculations, and test procedures.
• Set requirements for safe cryomodule transport and handling.
• Translate validated models and test data into ATLAS, review outputs before fabrication.
• Represent cryogenic engineering with leadership, mentoring, and safety advocacy.

Skills

Cryogenic engineering

Thermodynamics

Heat transfer

Leadership

CAD/Simulation tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Cryogenic, or related engineering

Master's degree preferred

Tools

CAD

Simulation tools

Job description

Subcritical Systems, Inc. is a venture-backed startup in Austin, Texas building the accelerator driven systems and the only US commercial manufacturer of accelerator cavities. What Space X did for rockets, we plan to do for accelerator cavities and commercialize across applications of power production, medical isotopes, semiconductors and waste transmutation.

We are in the process of building the Energy Amplifier — a novel nuclear fission system in which a particle accelerator drives a subcritical core, making melt-down physically impossible for clean power production. Due to its inherent safety, our system has a more streamlined licensing process. Our founding team includes successful entrepreneurs with a track record of building several multibillion dollar companies in deep-tech, and scientists who were leading U.S. national labs with deep experience in accelerator &nuclear technologies.

We are actively hiring to expand our team as we work toward licensing, regulatory submissions, and construction of our first energy amplifier. More information is available at subcritical.com..

ROLE SUMMARY

This role leads the cryogenic design of Subcritical Systems’ SRF cryomodules - the cryogenic two-phase helium and nitrogen distribution and heat exchanger systems enabling our particle accelerators. These systems include bath cooled accelerating devices, thermal shielding and multilayer insulation, mechanical supports that accommodate thermal contraction from 300 K to 2 K, vacuum systems, and the cryogenic distribution and subatmospheric pumping that hold cavity operation at a stable 2-4 K. You will be the senior technical authority for cryomodule cryogenics, working closely with SRF, mechanical, RF, controls, and manufacturing engineers to carry designs from concept through fabrication, cold testing, and commissioning.

You’ll also feed your engineering judgment, physical constraints, and test data into ATLAS, our internal AI-assisted engineering platform, and review its outputs before they reach detailed design or the manufacturing floor.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own the cryomodule's cryogenic design, pressure systems safety, and distribution systems.
• Perform and review thermal, structural, and fluid analyses to size cooling circuits, set heat-load budgets across the 2 K, 4 K, and 40–80 K operating components.
• Define and integrate interfaces with other cryomodule subsystems.
• Develop drawings, specifications, calculations, and test procedures; and feed results back into future designs.
• Set requirements for safe cryomodule transport and handling protecting the cryogenic system.
• Translate validated models and test data into ATLAS, and review new design outputs before they proceed to fabrication or testing.
• Represent cryogenic engineering in design and program development, mentor engineers and junior staff, and promote a proactive safety culture.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Cryogenic, or a related engineering discipline; master's degree preferred.
• 4+ years of cryogenic engineering experience directly relevant to this role, or 10+ years of broader engineering experience with substantial cryogenic exposure.
• Experience taking cryogenic mechanical systems from concept through commissioning.
• Working knowledge of thermodynamics and heat transfer, and fluid flow.
• Ability to perform and interpret thermal, structural, and fluid analyses using CAD and simulation tools to set engineering requirements and acceptance criteria.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary technical work while staying hands‑on, mentor others, and produce clear specifications, design reports, and test plans.

Preferred

• Experience with SRF cryomodules, superconducting accelerators, or comparable cryogenic systems.
• Experience with cryomodule design, fabrication, assembly, cold testing, and/or cryogenic distribution hardware (valves, transfer lines, heat exchangers).
• Experience moving prototype cryogenic systems into repeatable manufacturing processes.
• Familiarity with computational design tools, simulation-driven optimization, or AI-assisted engineering workflows, including evaluating their outputs with sound engineering judgment.

BENEFITS

• We offer health, dental, and vision insurance.

LOCATION & WORK POLICY

This role is fully in person in Austin, Texas. Our facility is located next to Austin Airport.