Mechanisms Engineer

Uncover; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 138,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive stock plan

Medical/Vision/Dental

Flexible PTO

Hybrid/Remote options

Other benefits to be announced

Job summary

Applied Atomics is seeking a Mechanisms Engineer to design, develop, and validate critical mechanisms that control reactivity and safety systems for our next‑gen reactor systems. This hands‑on hardware role covers concept development, material selection, structural and thermal analysis, and qualification testing in a fast‑paced build environment.

You will own hardware systems end‑to‑end, coordinating across nuclear engineering, materials, and product teams while developing robust processes and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of experience designing mechanisms (2+ years w/ MS).
• Strong proficiency in structural analysis using hand calcs and FEM tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, FEMAP, etc.).
• Experience with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, Creo, etc.).
• Demonstrated understanding and application of GD&T.
• Experience through full product lifecycle: concept → detailed design → build → test.

Responsibilities

• Ownership of critical mechanisms, including reactivity control mechanisms and safety actuators.
• Lead trade studies and concept development to meet requirements.
• Perform detailed analyses for structural integrity and margins.
• Evaluate loads, stresses, deflection, frequencies, fatigue life, wear, and friction.
• Develop manufacturing processes, assembly sequences, and BOMs.
• Interface daily with engineering, materials, systems, control/electronics, and product teams.
• Develop test plans for subcomponents and mechanism-level testing.
• Execute hardware bring-up, qualification tests, and failure analysis.

Skills

Mechanisms design

Cross-functional teamwork

Technical writing

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ANSYS

Abaqus

FEMAP

NX

SolidWorks

Creo

Job description

Deploy the next generation of energy infrastructure with Applied Atomics Applied Atomics delivers firm, clean electricity with proven technology. We design, build, and operate nuclear plants directly alongside the facilities they power. With n o reactor science or new fuel to invent , we have n o reason to stall. We are the first fully integrated nuclear power provider built to deploy now. Founded by a team of engineers and operators who built the launch sites, test complexes, and factories behind SpaceX , designed and commercialized nuclear reactors, and ran billion-dollar asset portfolios , the team is now focused on clean power deployment. Applied Atomics is b acked by Alpaca VC, Transition, and Morpheus Ventures.

About the role: Applied Atomics is seeking a Mechanisms Engineer to design, develop, and validate the critical mechanisms that control reactivity, actuate safety systems, and enable reliable operations of our reactor systems. You will solve complex mechanical and electromechanical challenges involving precision motion, high-temperatures, radiation environments, fail-safe actuation, and long-life reliability. This is a broad, hands-on hardware role. You will perform concept development, trade studies, material and component selection, detailed structural and thermal analysis, tolerance stack-ups, manufacturing process development, and qualification testing. This role is ideal for someone who wants to own major hardware systems, thrives in a fast-paced build environment, and wants to help define and scale a first-of-a-kind (FOAK) nuclear product.

Why we need you

We are transitioning nuclear energy from a theoretical science into a practical reality, and that requires practical problem-solvers. We need engineers who are eager to take direct responsibility for their work and see it through to completion. Your role will be critical in transforming complex designs into safe, reliable, and operational power plants that will operate for decades to come.

What you will do

Key Responsibilities

• Ownership of critical mechanisms, including but not limited to reactivity control mechanisms, safety systems actuators, release mechanisms, and high-reliability motion systems.
• Lead trade studies and concept development to meet functional, safety, and reliability requirements.
• Perform detailed analyses to determine structural integrity and performance margins through both hand calcs and finite element tools.
• Evaluate loads, stresses, deflection, natural frequencies, fatigue life, wear, and friction.
• Conduct tolerance analysis, GD&T application, stack-ups, and mechanism performance modeling.
• Develop manufacturing processes, assembly sequences, and integration procedures for mechanisms.
• Define and manager Bills of Materials (BOMs), component specifications, and configuration control.
• Conduct design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly reviews with suppliers and internal teams.
• Develop test plans for subcomponents and full mechanism-level testing.
• Execute hardware bring-up, functional qualification tests, endurance tests, and failure analysis.
• Identify and develop vendors for machined parts, actuators, materials, and specialized components.
• Work with suppliers to understand manufacturing capabilities, tolerances, and lead times.
• Prepare written reports, drawings & sketches, and technical documents.
• Interface daily with nuclear engineering, materials, systems engineering, control/electronics, thermal-fluids, and product integration teams.

Additional Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end responsibility for your projects, from initial concepts through to deployment and ongoing operations
• Partner closely with our multidisciplinary team of experienced engineers to tackle complex, cross-functional challenges
• Deliver high-quality work steadily and safely, ensuring every solution meets our rigorous quality standards while also for solving scalability issues in the future
• Continually improve our internal engineering processes, documentation, and tools to support the team as we scale

What you bring to the table

Need to haves:

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of experience designing mechanisms (2+ years w/ MS).
• Strong proficiency in structural analysis using both hand calcs and finite element tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, FEMAP, etc.).
• Experience with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, Creo, etc.).
• Demonstrated understanding and application of GD&T.
• Experience through full product lifecycle: concept --> detailed design --> build --> test.
• Ability to operate across multiple cross-functional teams.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; able to explain complex topics simply.
• Self-starter, ownership mentality, and ability to drive tasks from concept to completion

Nice-to-haves:

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience taking hardware into production or operating environments with tight reliability margins.
• Experience with electromechanical components (motors, solenoids, encoders, drives).
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory standards (ASME, NRC regs., 10 CFR 50, etc.).
• Prior experience with FOAK (first-of-a-kind) or advanced reactor development programs.

BENEFITS & PERKS FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES

• Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees.
• Medical / Vision / Dental (details forthcoming).
• Flexible PTO policy.
• Hybrid and remote work options depending on role.
• Other benefits to be announced at offer stage.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time. This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

Remote pay range $138,342 — $195,322 USD