Mechanical Engineer

Design Hire LLC; Illinois; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

Design Hire LLC is seeking a Sr. Mechanical Engineer to advance mechanical/structural designs for an advanced nuclear reactor program. You will model components in SolidWorks and coordinate with ANSYS analysts to define analyses, inputs, and acceptance criteria.

The role requires hands-on design experience, strong knowledge of FEA, and the ability to translate results back into robust component designs while ensuring manufacturability and compliance with nuclear design criteria.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering or component design experience.
• Hands-on SolidWorks experience designing complex mechanical components and assemblies.
• Experience designing mechanical components for nuclear applications.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design, structural mechanics, stresses, materials, loads, and component behavior.
• Ability to collaborate with dedicated FEA engineers to interpret results and apply findings.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical and structural reactor components using SolidWorks.
• Serve as a technical interface between Mechanical/Structural Design and ANSYS FEA teams.
• Work with FEA engineers to determine analyses, loads, constraints, and acceptance criteria.
• Translate geometry, operating conditions, loads, materials into inputs for analysis.
• Review and interpret ANSYS FEA results (stress, deformation, thermal effects).
• Modify and optimize designs based on analysis results and design criteria.
• Develop detailed 3D models, assemblies, and related documentation in SolidWorks.
• Apply mechanical engineering principles to component design including loads and boundary conditions.
• Review drawings and technical documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Collaborate across mechanical, structural, FEA, materials, manufacturing disciplines.
• Support activities in accordance with nuclear codes, standards and QA requirements.

Skills

SolidWorks

FEA collaboration

Mechanical design

Structural mechanics

Stress analysis

Loads and boundary conditions

Communication

Education

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

SolidWorks

Job description

We are seeking a Sr. Mechanical Engineer to support the mechanical design and development of components for an advanced nuclear reactor program. This role will work at the intersection of Mechanical/Structural Design and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), developing detailed component designs in SolidWorks while collaborating closely with ANSYS analysis engineers.

The ideal candidate combines strong hands-on mechanical design capabilities with enough structural and FEA knowledge to understand what needs to be analyzed, communicate design requirements to the analysis team, interpret results, and incorporate those findings back into the component design.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop mechanical and structural reactor components using SolidWorks.
  
• Serve as a technical interface between Mechanical/Structural Design and ANSYS FEA teams.
  
• Work directly with FEA engineers to determine required analyses, design inputs, loading conditions, constraints, boundary conditions, and acceptance criteria.
  
• Translate component geometry, operating conditions, loads, materials, and design requirements into clear inputs for structural and FEA analysis.
  
• Review and interpret ANSYS FEA results, including stress, deformation, thermal effects, and other component performance characteristics.
  
• Modify and optimize component designs based on analysis results, engineering requirements, manufacturability, and applicable nuclear design criteria.
  
• Develop detailed 3D models, component designs, assemblies, and associated engineering documentation in SolidWorks.
  
• Apply mechanical engineering principles including mechanics, structural behavior, material properties, thermal effects, and load transfer to component design.
  
• Review drawings, calculations, models, specifications, and technical documentation for accuracy and design compliance.
  
• Collaborate with mechanical, structural, FEA, materials, manufacturing, and other engineering disciplines throughout the design process.
  
• Support engineering activities in accordance with applicable nuclear codes, standards, quality requirements, and project design criteria.
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from an ABET-accredited institution.
  
• 5+ years of mechanical engineering or mechanical component design experience.
  
• Hands-on SolidWorks experience designing complex mechanical components and assemblies.
  
• Experience designing mechanical components for nuclear applications.
  
• Strong understanding of mechanical design, structural mechanics, stress, materials, loads, and component behavior.
  
• Working knowledge of Finite Element Analysis with the ability to effectively collaborate with dedicated FEA engineers.
  
• Ability to understand and communicate analysis requirements including loads, constraints, boundary conditions, stresses, deformation, and design criteria.
  
• Experience interpreting FEA results and incorporating findings into mechanical designs.
  
• Experience reviewing engineering drawings, calculations, specifications, and technical design documentation.
  
• Strong problem-solving skills and practical mechanical engineering judgment.
  
• Ability to work effectively across mechanical design, structural, and analysis disciplines.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working directly with ANSYS FEA engineers or performing ANSYS analysis.
  
• Advanced nuclear reactor, SMR, or nuclear power generation experience.
  
• Experience designing reactor components, pressure boundary components, supports, vessels, piping components, structural components, or other safety-related mechanical equipment.
  
• Familiarity with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code and other applicable nuclear mechanical design codes and standards.
  
• Experience with mechanical and thermal stress analysis.
  
• Experience designing components subject to combinations of pressure, thermal, mechanical, seismic, and other operating loads.
  
• Working knowledge of Nuclear Quality Assurance requirements.
  
• Experience working within a controlled nuclear engineering design environment.
  

Design Hire is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity / Affiantive Action employer. It is our policy to consider for employment all individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Employment Eligibility: If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.