Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer, PDM

Realta Fusion Inc; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation package

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

Flexible paid time off (PTO)

Job summary

Realta Fusion Inc in Madison, Wisconsin, is seeking a Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer to lead the development of innovative fusion energy systems. This role is critical to Realta’s technology road-map, focusing on systems engineering and design for our pilot plant, Hammir.

The ideal candidate will have a BS in Mechanical Engineering and extensive experience with PDM tools like SolidWorks. Benefits include competitive compensation, comprehensive health coverage, and flexible PTO.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years’ work experience in Mechanical Engineering or related field.
• Experience with building information modeling (BIM) in Revit or similar.
• Experience navigating PDM and engineering needs for ERP and quality management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead 3D model development for large mechanical assemblies.
• Interface with science and engineering teams for fusion device development.
• Synthesize and present technical work to project teams and leadership.

Skills

Expert-level understanding of enterprise PDM/PLM and CAD tools

Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills

Strong working knowledge of processes for prototyping and large-scale manufacturing

GD&T and P&ID proficiency

Education

BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field

Tools

SolidWorks

Siemens

ANSYS

COMSOL

PTC products

Job description

The Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer, PDM will work with Realta’s engineering and scientific teams to provide critical engineering and design input on Realta’s technology development roadmap. The Senior Mechanical Systems Engineer, PDM will be a critical contributor to Anvil – Realta’s reactor scale simple magnetic mirror and primary technology development platform – and Realta’s first-of-a-kind fusion pilot plant, Hammir.

Realta Fusion is a rapidly growing start-up developing magnetic mirror fusion energy systems to address the biggest challenge of our time – tackling global climate change while ensuring a sufficient energy supply for at least ten billion people on (and off) earth. We are building a team with diverse talents dedicated to making fusion energy a real solution to humanity’s most pressing problem.

Responsibilities

• Lead the 3D model development and facilities integration of large mechanical assemblies from conceptual design through installation and commissioning.
• Interface with science and engineering teams to aid design, development, and deployment of fusion devices.
• Work closely with engineering leadership to develop, roll out, continually improve, and enforce engineering standards and best practices.
• Define user accounts and permissions, host PDM and CAD training, establish role‑based access control, and manage engineering software licenses and seats.
• Set up and maintain PDM vaults, data cards, workflows, templates, macros, and revision control systems.
• Mentor and train staff, uphold engineering rigor and design quality, and collaborate across multi‑disciplinary teams to standardize PDM workflows.
• Communication: Synthesize and present technical work internally and externally, communicate daily with project teams and leadership to support programmatic needs.
• Safety: Contribute to the establishment of company safety standards and lead implementation of these standards within R&D and Engineering team.
• Culture and Values: Foster a positive and inclusive work environment that aligns with the company's mission, values, and sustainability goals, promoting innovation, collaboration, and employee engagement.

Required Qualifications

1. Education: BS in Mechanical Engineering or a related field, plus 5‑8 years’ work experience
2. Expert‑level understanding of enterprise PDM/PLM and CAD tools, such as SolidWorks, Siemens, ANSYS, COMSOL, and PTC products
3. Experience with building information modeling (BIM) in Revit, Navisworks, or other
4. Experience navigating PDM and engineering needs in the selection and development of ERP, EAM, and quality management systems
5. Strong working knowledge of processes for prototyping and large‑scale manufacturing, especially Design for Manufacturing (DfM), Design for Assembly (DfA), and documentation of as‑built systems
6. GD&T and P&ID proficiency within ASME standards
7. Collaboration: Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal, public presentation) to collaborate effectively with colleagues, external partners, and stakeholders

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Master’s Degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• Professional Engineering (PE) license
• Experience in designing for and working within radiation environments, including associated software such as MCNP and OpenMC
• Experience with metrology, inspection, quality control, and test methods related to manufacturing using CMMs, laser trackers, FARO arms, or other test equipment
• Experience with cryogenic systems for ultra‑high vacuum applications
• Experience with high‑voltage systems, megawatt‑scale heating and cooling systems, and specialty materials for fusion or particle accelerator applications
• Experience with nuclear Commercial‑Grade Dedication (CGD) or related standards

Compensation and Benefits

What we are working on is hard... and hugely important. Realta Fusion is assembling a talented team bound together by a passion to solve humanity’s biggest challenge with first‑of‑a‑kind technology. Additionally, Realta offers:

• Competitive compensation package, including equity stock options
• Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, plus a retirement savings plan
• Flexible paid time off (PTO) to support work‑life balance
• Work and live in Madison, Wisconsin — one of America’s most livable and vibrant cities

We value diversity as a critical factor in innovation and believe a diverse team is necessary to solve the toughest problems. We aim to create an inclusive environment that unleashes the full creativity of our team members from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals based on merit and without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable laws.