Nuclear Thermal-Mechanical Engineer: Heat Exchanger Design

Lever, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Last Energy is a US technology company accelerating the deployment of next-generation nuclear assets. We seek a Thermal Engineer to design pressure-boundary hardware—heat exchangers, piping, and pressure vessels—starting from hand calculations toward manufacturable hardware.

This is a hardware role with startup-culture expectations. You will own thermal-mechanical component design, perform thermal/structural analyses, and collaborate with analysis and structural engineers to ensure safety and

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 7+ years of hands-on experience designing components under thermal and mechanical loading.
• Experience with pressure-boundary design in nuclear or industrial systems.
• Proficient in CAD and finite element analysis tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptual design, analysis, and execution of critical thermal-mechanical components and systems for our advanced power plant.
• Drive mechanical design of components subject to thermal loading.
• Own the design of heat exchangers, piping networks, fluid storage tanks, and other pressure-boundary equipment, and partner with our structural engineers on validation, ensuring structural integrity, thermal performance, and design safety across key reactor components.
• Perform thermal and structural analyses (thermal stress, fatigue, and thermal expansion) to validate component designs against pressure, temperature, and cyclic loading requirements.
• Contribute directly to the mechanical design and optimization of critical thermal components, translating thermal performance requirements into manufacturable, deployable hardware.
• Collaborate daily with a multidisciplinary team to integrate thermal-mechanical solutions into cohesive, plant-level designs.
• Support material selection, tolerancing, and design-for-manufacturing decisions for components operating under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.
• Operate autonomously, driving projects from concept to design verification in a startup culture that values speed, ingenuity, and accountability.

Skills

3D CAD

Thermal analysis

Structural analysis

Heat transfer

Fatigue

Education

BS/MS Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

PTC Creo

ANSYS Mechanical

Abaqus

Job description

Last Energy is a US technology company accelerating the deployment of next-generation nuclear assets. We seek a Thermal Engineer to design pressure-boundary hardware—heat exchangers, piping, and pressure vessels—starting from hand calculations toward manufacturable hardware.

This is a hardware role with startup-culture expectations. You will own thermal-mechanical component design, perform thermal/structural analyses, and collaborate with analysis and structural engineers to ensure safety and