Manager, Mechanical Design

Valar Atomics; New Mexico; On-site; USD 173,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Equity ownership

Medical benefits

Unlimited PTO

Free daily lunch and dinner onsite

PPE stipend

High-impact startup environment

Career growth opportunities

Collaboration with experienced leaders

Job summary

Valar Atomics is building a high-performance mechanical design team to support fuel equipment design, high-temperature gas reactions, and turbomachinery. The Manager of Mechanical Design leads cross-functional teams with hands-on engineering leadership, shaping interfaces across programs and driving robust, manufacturable solutions.

Ideal candidates bring 5+ years in mechanical design, 2+ years in leadership, and strong SolidWorks/NX/PLM skills.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of mechanical design experience including piping, harnessing, and complex assemblies.
• 2+ years of experience managing a mechanical design team.
• Deep expertise in SolidWorks, NX, or a similar program.
• Deep expertise in PLM software and working in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to build teams and deliver on aggressive schedules.
• Experience with ASME BPVC and ASME B31 design.
• Experience in startup or rapid-growth environments.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead an in-house Mechanical Design organization, including hiring, organizational design, technical standards, and development of mechanical designers.
• Own the highest level assemblies, bills of materials, and layouts for all of our projects.
• Manage software selection, templates, workflows, and cross-functional decision making.
• Collaborate with our in-house software engineering team on interfaces between models, supply chain systems, and manufacturing systems.
• Define and enforce requirements for 3D modelling and 2D drawings.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Cross-disciplinary collaboration

Attention to modelling detail

Tools

SolidWorks

NX

PLM software

Job description

About Valar Atomics

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, Mechanical Engineering designs and develops the mechanical systems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies. The team ensures designs are robust, manufacturable, and optimized for long-term performance.

The Role

The Manager of Mechanical Design leads a shared mechanical design team that supports efforts across fuel equipment design, high-temp-gas-reaction design, and turbo machinery design. This role is for a hands-on engineering leader who can build a cross functional team that spans a variety of engineering disciplines, and context switch quickly between programs at Valar. Candidates from oil & gas, aerospacepropulsion, or industrial turbomachinery are strongly preferred. Nuclear background is a plus, not a prerequisite.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and lean an in-house Mechanical Design organization, including hiring, organizational design, technical standards, and development of mechanical designers

• Own the highest level assemblies, bills of materials, and layouts for all of our projects

• Manage software selection, templates, workflows, and cross-functional decision making

• Collaborate with our in-house software engineering team on interfaces between models, supply chain systems, and manufacturing systems

• Define and enforce requirements for 3D modelling and 2D drawings

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

• You have previously led high functioning Mechanical Design organizations

• You are comfortable designing plumbing, harnessing, machined components, and large assemblies

• You enjoy working across disciplines and organizing stakeholders through design detail

• You are passionate about good modelling, GD&T, and collaborating with many different groups

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, including piping, tubing, harnessing, and complex assemblies

• 2+ years of experience managing a mechanical design team

• Deep expertise in Solidworks, NX, or a similar program

• Deep expertise in PLM software and working in a manufacturing environment

• Proven ability to build teams, hire strong designers, and deliver on aggressive schedules

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Experience with ASME BPVC and ASME B31 design

• Experience working in the nuclear industry

• Experience in startup or rapid-growth environments

• Experience owning plant level models and driving design reviews at the plant level

What We Offer

• Competitive base salary

• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company

• Comprehensive medical benefits

• 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).

Salary

$173,000 — $211,000 USD