Senior Mechanical Engineer

Valar Atomics Inc.; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity ownership

Unlimited PTO

Free onsite lunch & dinner

PPE stipend

High-impact startup environment

Career growth

Job summary

Valar Atomics is seeking a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to design and validate mechanical systems for advanced nuclear technology. You will own major subsystems, drive performance and manufacturability, and mentor engineers while collaborating across disciplines.

The role requires hands-on CAD modeling, GD&T, and experience with FEA/CFD analyses. You will help scale products from concept to production in a fast-paced, autonomy-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 5+ years of mechanical design and product development experience.
• Proven track record delivering production-ready hardware.
• Expertise in CAD and drafting standards.
• Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical systems.
• Experience with FEA and CFD analyses.
• Excellent communication, technical documentation, and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design efforts for major subsystems, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost.
• Mentor junior engineers and review designs for consistency with standards.
• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and drawings with GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Perform structural, thermal, or fluid analyses to validate performance.
• Oversee prototype fabrication, assembly, and testing, refining designs.
• Collaborate with electrical, manufacturing, and systems engineers for integration.
• Work with vendors on DFM feedback, process selection, and quality control.
• Contribute to internal best practices for mechanical design and configuration management.

Skills

CAD proficiency

FEA/CFD analyses

Materials & manufacturing

Leadership & documentation

Root-cause analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering (preferred)

Tools

SolidWorks

Creo

NX

Job description

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable-unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team

As part of the Engineering organization, Mechanical Engineering designs and develops the mechanical systems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies. The team ensures designs are robust, manufacturable, and optimized for long-term performance.

The Role

We're seeking a highly skilled Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our engineering team and accelerate the frontier of advanced power generation. In this role, you'll be responsible for designing, developing, and validating mechanical systems and components that meet performance, manufacturability, and cost requirements. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams to bring innovative products from concept to production, and serve as a technical leader and mentor for less experienced engineers.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead mechanical design efforts for major subsystems, ensuring alignment between performance targets, manufacturability, and cost.
• Mentor junior engineers and review mechanical designs to ensure consistency with company standards and engineering rigor.
• Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings (SolidWorks, Creo, or NX), applying advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis.
• Perform structural, thermal, or fluid analyses (FEA and CFD) to validate system performance and reliability.
• Oversee prototype fabrication, assembly, and testing, and interpret results to refine designs and improve system performance.
• Partner with electrical, manufacturing, and systems engineers to drive integration and design optimization.
• Work closely with vendors to manage DFM feedback, manufacturing process selection, and quality control.
• Contribute to internal best practices for mechanical design, documentation, and configuration management.

You Will Be Successful in This Role If

• You take true ownership of major subsystems, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost in every design decision.
• You bring strong technical judgment to design trade-offs and know when to dig deeper versus when to keep moving.
• You apply analysis (FEA, CFD, hand calculations) appropriately, treating it as a tool for design decisions rather than a deliverable.
• You partner effectively with manufacturing and supplier teams, designing for what can actually be built and inspected.
• You mentor and develop other engineers, raising the technical capability of the team over time.
• You communicate and document clearly, leaving designs and design intent that other engineers can build on.
• You approach problems with a root-cause mindset, treating failures as opportunities to understand the system better.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design and product development.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering production-ready hardware.
• Expertise in CAD (SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar) and mechanical drafting standards.
• Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical systems.
• Experience performing or overseeing FEA and CFD analyses.
• Excellent communication, technical documentation, and leadership skills.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.
• Experience in high-performance or safety-critical systems (aerospace, energy, or defense).
• Deep understanding of DFM/DFA and reliability engineering.
• Familiarity with PLM/PDM tools and design control processes.
• Hands-on prototyping, testing, and validation experience.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to lead root cause investigations.

What We Offer

• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
• Unlimited PTO
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
• Generous PPE stipend
• High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
• Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
• Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
• The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).