Mechanical Engineer (High-Speed Machinery)

BWX Technologies, Inc.

Oak Ridge (TN)

On-site

USD 86,000 - 136,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Flexible schedules and PTO

Professional development opportunities

Inclusive and collaborative culture

Mission-driven work tied to national‑/

Job summary

BWX Technologies, Inc. in Oak Ridge, TN is hiring a Mechanical Engineer focused on high‑speed machinery.

You will own design, analysis, and development of critical rotating subsystems for the DUECE centrifuge program, collaborating with rotodynamics engineers, composites experts, and manufacturing teams to deliver reliable, mission‑critical hardware. You will work on FEA, rotor dynamics, and rigid/rotating assemblies while ensuring compliance with relevant standards and security requirements for

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Physics; BS+10 yrs or MS+5 yrs.
Experience with turbomachinery, turbines, compressors, rotors, or gearboxes.
Proficiency with FEA tools: Abaqus, ANSYS or NASTRAN.
Knowledge of rotor dynamics, critical speeds and gyroscopic models.
Thermal-structural coupling and rotor growth prediction knowledge.
Strong documentation and communication skills; US citizen for DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

Lead design and development of high‑speed rotating systems.
Evaluate rotodynamics, critical speeds, Campbell diagrams, frequency response.
Coordinate stiffness modeling with composites teams.
Perform complex FEA including transient, nonlinear, gyroscopic, thermal‑mechanical analyses.
Develop models for rotor growth, interference fits and fatigue behavior.
Produce design reports and analysis packages; support prototype builds and testing.
Collaborate across disciplines to resolve mechanical issues; own full lifecycle of rotating hardware.
Participate in gated reviews and ensure DOE/NNSA compliance.

Skills

Rotordynamics

Critical speed analysis

Thermal-structural coupling

Documentation & communication

DOE/NNSA compliance awareness

Team collaboration

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering or Physics

MS in Mechanical Engineering (Dynamics)

Tools

Abaqus

ANSYS

NASTRAN

Python

MATLAB

APDL

Job description

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Mechanical Engineer (High-Speed Machinery)

Date: Sep 9, 2026

Location

Oak Ridge, TN, US

Company: BWXT

At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com . Follow us on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and Instagram .

Welcome to BWXT

We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth, collaboration, and technical excellence. At our Oak Ridge, Tennessee Enrichment Operations site, you will join teams working at the forefront of advanced nuclear manufacturing, precision engineering, and mission‑critical national security programs. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, you’ll find opportunities to challenge yourself, partner with seasoned experts, and contribute to innovation shaping the future of nuclear technology. Our work requires a wide range of skills, and we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and career stages who share a passion for meaningful impact and technical advancement.

Position Overview

As our Mechanical Engineer for High-Speed Machinery, you will own the design, development, analysis, and execution of critical rotating subsystems for the BWXT portion of the DUECE centrifuge program. You will work closely with rotodynamic engineers, composites specialists, analysts, and manufacturing teams to deliver high-speed rotating machinery supporting mission‑critical nuclear enrichment operations.

Location

On‑site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee (Q Clearance Required)

Your Day to Day as a Mechanical Engineer — High-Speed Machinery

Lead mechanical design and development for high-speed rotating systems.
Evaluate rotodynamics including critical speeds, Campbell diagrams, frequency response, and stability.
Coordinate interface design and stiffness modeling with composites teams.
Perform complex FEA including transient, nonlinear, gyroscopic, and thermal‑mechanical simulations.
Develop models predicting rotor/casing growth, interference fits, and fatigue behavior.
Produce engineering documentation including design reports and analysis packages.
Support prototype builds, hardware testing, and correlation with analysis predictions.
Collaborate across engineering disciplines to resolve mechanical issues.
Drive full lifecycle ownership of rotating hardware.
Participate in gated reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
Ensure compliance with engineering standards and DOE/NNSA requirements.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Physics (BS + 10 yrs, or MS + 5 yrs).
Experience with turbomachinery, turbines, compressors, electric motor rotors, or gearboxes.
Proficiency with Abaqus, ANSYS, or NASTRAN for FEA.
Experience with Campbell diagrams, critical speed analysis, and gyroscopic models.
Knowledge of rotor dynamics phenomena and prediction techniques.
Understanding of thermal‑structural coupling and rotor/casing growth.
Strong documentation and communication skills.
Must be a U.S. citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

MS in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis in dynamics/vibration.
Aerospace, defense, or turbomachinery experience.
Background with bearings, rotordynamics, and reliability engineering.
HPC experience for large analysis workloads.
Scripting in Python, MATLAB, or APDL.
Experience correlating FEA predictions to test data.
Familiarity with ASME Y14.5 GD&T.
Experience with 1D fluid‑network tools and rotating component design.

What We Offer

Competitive salary and benefits.
Flexible schedules and PTO (as applicable).
Professional development opportunities.
Inclusive and collaborative culture.
Mission‑driven work tied to national security.
Continuous learning in high-speed machinery engineering.

Pay: $86,450- $136,000

The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US‑TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $86,450 and $136,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job‑related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at‑will,’ unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.

As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities (“BWXT” or the “Company”) complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre‑employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.

BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company‑sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.

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