Principal Engineer, Mechanical - Nuclear

Zachry Group; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Zachry Nuclear Engineering, a division of Zachry Group, is seeking a Principal Engineer, Mechanical to provide technical leadership across major client programs and complex nuclear challenges. Based in Charlotte, NC or Stonington, CT, the role entails guiding mechanical engineering projects for commercial nuclear facilities with significant independence.

You will mentor engineers, contribute to proposals, and help shape strategic initiatives while staying current with industry trends, regulatory

Qualifications

• Advanced expertise in mechanical engineering principles.
• Experience with nuclear plant systems is required.
• Ability to lead major engineering efforts and mentor others.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for complex mechanical engineering projects in commercial nuclear facilities.
• Mentor developing engineers and contribute to proposals and technical planning activities.

Job description

Overview

• Location: Stonington, CT or Charlotte, NC
• Travel: Approximately 10–25%
• Schedule: Full-Time

About Zachry Nuclear Engineering

Zachry Nuclear Engineering (ZNE), a division of Zachry Group, provides engineering and technical consulting services to the commercial nuclear power industry. Our engineers support some of the nation\'s most critical energy infrastructure through the delivery of complex engineering solutions, plant modernization initiatives, digital transformation efforts, and technical consulting services.

At Zachry, we are committed to technical excellence, client success, and developing innovative solutions that support the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of nuclear facilities. As the nuclear industry continues to evolve—including advancements in plant modernization and emerging technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—our engineers play a critical role in shaping the future of clean, reliable energy.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Principal Engineer, Mechanical to provide technical leadership and expertise across major client programs, strategic engineering initiatives, and complex nuclear engineering challenges.

Responsibilities and Focus

The Principal Engineer serves as a senior technical leader and recognized subject matter expert within Zachry Nuclear Engineering. This position provides technical leadership for complex mechanical engineering projects supporting commercial nuclear power generation facilities and serves as a trusted technical advisor to both clients and internal engineering teams.

The successful candidate will possess advanced expertise in mechanical engineering principles and nuclear plant systems and will apply sound engineering judgment to solve complex technical challenges. This individual will work with significant independence while leading major engineering efforts, supporting strategic client initiatives, mentoring developing engineers, and contributing to organizational growth through proposal development and technical planning activities.

Qualifications

The Principal Engineer is expected to represent Zachry professionally with clients, industry organizations, and project stakeholders while maintaining awareness of emerging industry trends, technologies, regulatory developments, and engineering best practices.