Senior Mechanical Engineer — Fuel Handling System

Aalo Atomics; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 112,500 - 137,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Aalo Atomics is seeking a Senior Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and operate test infrastructure for Fuel Handling Systems. You’ll validate mechanical systems in challenging environments in a hands‑on role that blends engineering judgment with practical fabrication skills.

Based in Austin, TX, the role demands ownership, adaptability, and rapid iteration to move concepts to reality while supporting testing, qualification, and commissioning activities. Travel to test sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• 6+ years of hands‑on engineering experience.
• Experience with fabrication, assembly, or electro‑mechanical testing.
• Strong mechanical intuition and troubleshooting ability.
• Comfortable working with incomplete requirements and high ownership.

Responsibilities

• Design and build test rigs for mechanical, thermal, and fluid system validation.
• Execute tests on components such as valves, seals, hoists, and handling mechanisms.
• Develop test strategies for systems operating in sodium, inert gas, and high‑temperature environments.
• Instrument systems (pressure, temperature, force, radiation proxies, etc.) and collect high‑quality data.
• Diagnose failures and work with design engineers to iterate quickly.
• Perform hands‑on fabrication, assembly, and modification of test hardware.
• Develop procedures for testing sodium vaporization, sealing performance, and mechanism reliability.
• Document results and clearly communicate findings, risks, and blockers.
• Support system integration and commissioning efforts.
• Travel occasionally to test sites or reactor installations.

Skills

Hands-on engineering

Mechanical intuition

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field

Tools

Fabrication/assembly experience

Instrumentation & data acquisition

Job description

Senior Mechanical Engineer — Fuel Handling System

About this position

About Aalo Atomics

Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting‑edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.

About the role

As a Mechanical Engineer on the Fuel Handling System (FHS) team, you will design, build, and operate the test infrastructure required to validate complex mechanical systems operating in challenging environments. This includes mechanisms, sealing systems, sodium‑compatible components, and fluid systems used in fuel handling, cleaning, and storage.

You will play a critical role in turning concepts into reality—building test rigs, running experiments, diagnosing failures, and driving rapid iteration. This role is highly hands‑on and requires both engineering judgment and practical fabrication skills.

You will work in an environment where requirements are evolving and ambiguity is high. Success in this role requires ownership, creativity, and the ability to move quickly to unblock progress.

Responsibilities

• Design and build test rigs for mechanical, thermal, and fluid system validation


• Execute tests on components such as valves, seals, hoists, and handling mechanisms


• Develop test strategies for systems operating in sodium, inert gas, and high-temperature environments


• Instrument systems (pressure, temperature, force, radiation proxies, etc.) and collect high-quality data


• Diagnose failures and work with design engineers to iterate quickly


• Perform hands‑on fabrication, assembly, and modification of test hardware
  
• Develop procedures for testing sodium vaporization, sealing performance, and mechanism reliability


• Document results and clearly communicate findings, risks, and blockers


• Support system integration and commissioning efforts


• Travel occasionally to test sites or reactor installations

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field


• 6+ years of hands‑on engineering experience (industry, internship, or equivalent)


• Experience with fabrication, assembly, or electro‑mechanical testing


• Strong mechanical intuition and troubleshooting ability


• Comfortable working with incomplete requirements and high ownership

Preferred Experience

• Experience with fluid systems (valves, seals, hydraulics, or gas systems)


• Designing and building custom test rigs or experimental setups


• Experience with high‑pressure, high‑temperature, or hazardous systems


• Familiarity with instrumentation and data acquisition systems


• Experience diagnosing mechanical failures and root cause analysis


• Exposure to sodium systems, vacuum systems, or inert gas environments


• Hands‑on project experience (e.g., Formula SAE, robotics, lab systems, hardware startups)

Physical

• Comfortable working in a hands‑on lab and factory environment


• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs and stand for extended periods


• Willingness to perform hands‑on work including assembly, plumbing, and troubleshooting

Requirements

• Based in the United States


• Willing to work on‑site in Austin, TX

What We Offer

• Competitive salary starting at $125,000


• Paid Time Off

Additional Information

Aalo Atomics provides a collaborative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, intellectually challenging careers, and competitive compensation. Aalo Atomics is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Persons in compliance with 10 CFR Part 810 and may not hold non‑compliant foreign citizenships.