Manufacturing Engineer

Valar Atomics; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Free lunch & dinner

Autonomy

Career growth

Collaborative team

Ground-up tech

Job summary

Valar Atomics in California seeks a Manufacturing Engineer to own the execution, improvement, and scalability of hardware builds across development and production programs. This hands-on role sits on the shop floor and bridges engineering intent with manufacturing reality.

You will work with technicians, machinists, welders, and design engineers to ensure hardware can be built efficiently, repeatedly, and to the required quality.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent required.
• 3+ years of experience in manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, or production operations with physical hardware.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day manufacturing execution activities supporting prototype, development, and early production hardware builds.
• Work directly with technicians, machinists, welders, and fabrication personnel to support assembly and manufacturing operations.
• Diagnose and resolve fit-up, tolerance, alignment, assembly, and yield-related issues encountered during production.
• Design and implement fixtures, jigs, gauges, tooling, and test setups that improve manufacturing efficiency and repeatability.
• Develop and continuously improve manufacturing processes, assembly procedures, and work instructions.
• Drive DFM and DFA improvements based on direct production feedback.

Skills

CAD software

Root-cause analysis

Mechanical troubleshooting

Manufacturing experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

NX

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 Role

As a Manufacturing Engineer, you will own the execution, improvement, and scalability of hardware builds across Valar's development and production programs. This role sits directly on the shop floor and serves as the bridge between engineering intent and manufacturing reality.

You will work alongside technicians, machinists, welders, fabricators, and design engineers to ensure hardware can be built efficiently, repeatedly, and at the level of quality required for advanced nuclear systems. This is a highly hands‑on position. You will spend significant time assembling hardware, troubleshooting production issues, validating manufacturing processes, improving work instructions, and developing fixtures, tooling, and assembly methods that enable reliable execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day manufacturing execution activities supporting prototype, development, and early production hardware builds.
• Work directly with technicians, machinists, welders, and fabrication personnel to support assembly and manufacturing operations.
• Diagnose and resolve fit-up, tolerance, alignment, assembly, and yield-related issues encountered during production.
• Design and implement fixtures, jigs, gauges, tooling, and test setups that improve manufacturing efficiency and repeatability.
• Develop and continuously improve manufacturing processes, assembly procedures, and work instructions.
• Drive DFM and DFA improvements based on direct production feedback.

You Will Be Successful in This Role If...

• Hardware moves through the shop faster and with fewer surprises because of your involvement.
• Technicians seek your input when manufacturing issues arise because you consistently provide practical solutions.
• You can quickly identify the root cause of build, fit-up, tolerance, or assembly issues and drive them to resolution.
• Manufacturing processes become more repeatable, efficient, and scalable through the fixtures, tooling, and work instructions you develop.
• Engineering designs improve because of the feedback you provide from direct manufacturing experience.
• You are equally comfortable reviewing CAD models, taking measurements on the shop floor, and jumping into a build when needed.
• You thrive in fast-paced environments where priorities shift and execution matters more than perfect plans.
• You take ownership of outcomes, not just tasks, and are motivated by seeing hardware successfully built and deployed.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years of experience supporting manufacturing, assembly, fabrication, or production operations involving physical hardware.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis skills.
• Proficiency with CAD software such as SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience transitioning products from prototype to production.
• Knowledge of GD&T, tolerance stack-ups, and manufacturing process development.
• Experience designing production tooling, fixtures, and assembly equipment.

What We Offer

• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
• 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).