Mechanical Engineer Level 4/5

Battelle Energy Alliance; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Idaho National Laboratory seeks a Mechanical Engineer to design, test, and verify complex electrical, mechanical, and software systems using a rigorous systems engineering approach. You will work at the Materials and Fuels Complex applying MBSE, AI-assisted review platforms, and digital tools to ensure traceable requirements and high-quality system design.

The role involves cross-disciplinary collaboration, development of requirements, and mentoring in technical writing and processes while

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited program in mechanical engineering or related field.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field; advanced degree optional with more experience.
• US citizenship and ability to obtain DOE Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Apply systems engineering principles across the full project lifecycle.
• Use digital engineering tools to implement systems engineering on all projects.
• Create and manage system architecture artifacts and digital thread documentation.
• Develop AI-assisted workflows to support design reviews and requirements traceability.
• Coordinate guidance across multiple engineering disciplines and mentor junior staff.

Education

ABET-accredited mechanical engineering program

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related field

Tools

DOORS

PTC Windchill

CoLab

Job description

Idaho National Laboratory seeks Mechanical Engineer to shape the future of energy and national innovation by designing and testing cutting-edge systems that push the boundaries of possibility through integration of transformative technologies. You will participate in the design, development, testing, and verification of complex electrical, mechanical and/or software systems and components by providing a rigorous systems engineering approach. You will analyze engineering plans and projects to establish operational objectives, high level functions and detailed requirement decomposition. Assist in the analysis of proposals and related technical data to evaluate design alternatives using a systems engineering approach. Utilize digital engineering tools - including requirements management, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and AI-assisted design review platforms - to carry out the role of systems engineer. Identify opportunities for integration of technologies and techniques to advance technical capabilities and develop new, unique cutting-edge solutions. You will serve as a technical authority and cross-project resource for requirements management, configuration control, and systems documentation, interfacing with other organizations to communicate design requirements and details and address design and integration issues. Work may encompass a wide range of sophisticated (cross-discipline) engineering problem resolutions, including support across multiple concurrent reactor/facility projects.

This position is located at our Materials and Fuels Complex, which hosts the core of the U.S. nuclear research and development capabilities with a diverse array of facilities designed for remote work on highly irradiated fuels and materials. A new fuel idea can be designed, fabricated, tested, and analyzed at MFC to better understand the effects of irradiation. Many groups, such as universities, industry partners, other national laboratories, international research organizations, and other federal agencies are working at MFC. Our team works a 4x10 schedule every Friday off.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

(Knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for this position.)

• Apply Systems Engineering principles and techniques to support and carry out the engineering design process, including requirements development, decomposition, verification, and traceability across the full project/system lifecycle.
• Develop, implement, and integrate systems engineering principles throughout the project/system lifecycle. This includes systems and organizational integration, road mapping, and testing.
• Use digital engineering tools - including requirements management platforms (e.g., DOORS), product lifecycle management (PLM) tools (e.g., PTC Windchill), and collaborative review platforms (e.g., CoLab) - to implement systems engineering on all assigned projects.
• Create, revise, and manage configuration baselines for System Design Descriptions (SDDs), Functional and Operational Requirements (F&OR), Concepts of Operations (ConOps), and Code of Record (COR) documents, ensuring numbering, callouts, figures, tables, cross-references are correct and complete.
• Reconcile discrepancies between requirements management databases (e.g., DOORS), document control systems (e.g., EDMS), and source documents; maintain synchronization and traceability across artifacts.
• Develop and apply custom macros, scripts, and database tools (e.g., Access-based requirements databases) to automate document generation, formatting, difference reporting, and requirements management tasks.
• Support the development of risk analysis and reliability models using tools and methods such as RAAML and MBSE/SysML; identify and integrate relevant data sources (e.g., equipment records, incident reports) into risk assessments.
• Develop and apply AI-assisted digital engineering workflows (e.g., using Microsoft 365 Copilot, Claude, and ChatGPT) to perform completeness checks, automated design reviews, and comparison of requirements against design output binders; evaluate and recommend AI tools for design review processes.
• Support the development of concepts of operations to identify high-level functions and detailed requirements for a wide range of projects.
• Develop and implement appropriate graded systems engineering approaches and processes to meet program and customer needs.
• Draft, edit, and maintain technical specifications, requirements documents, and safety-basis documentation (e.g., PDSA/DSA inputs), ensuring alignment with DOE Orders, NE Standards, ANS standards, and other applicable codes and regulations.
• Create and interpret system architecture artifacts, including interface definitions, digital thread documentation, and 3D models (e.g., Creo or Revit) to communicate system design and boundaries.
• Author or co-author engineering specifications and serve as document owner responsible for change requests, comment resolution, and release readiness.
• Develop control system concepts, instrumentation and P&ID diagrams, and related technical design artifacts in support of system design efforts.
• Create and administer technical document reviews (e.g., via CoLab), coordinate reviewer input, and drive resolution of review comments across multidisciplinary stakeholder groups.
• Identify the full range of viable systems and decision-making alternatives to address engineering challenges and problems.
• Develop systems models and decision-making tools to help customers make informed, efficient, effective, and defensible decisions relative to the problem or challenge being addressed.
• Support and mentor colleagues in technical writing and professional development.
• Ensure that all activities are conducted in compliance with DOE orders and Federal, State, and Local regulations.
• Coordinate and provide technical guidance across multiple engineering disciplines, including instrumentation & controls, networking, mechanical, safety engineering, and document control.
• Mentor junior level staff, including guidance on tool usage, documentation practices, and systems engineering methodology.
• Other duties as assigned by the department manager or lead engineer.

Required:

• Level 4: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, or other related technical discipline plus 9 years relevant experience, or Advanced Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or other related degree with 6+ years relevant experience or a closely related field from a program accredited by ABET.
• Level 5: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, or other related technical discipline plus 14 years relevant experience, or Advanced Degree in Mechanical Engineering, or other related degree with 8+ years relevant experience or a closely related field from a program accredited by ABET.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy "Q" clearance, which requires US Citizenship.

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds without assistance. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with the public is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities