Thermal Engineer

Last Energy, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Last Energy, a pioneering US technology company, seeks an experienced Mechanical Engineer to lead thermal-mechanical design for its advanced reactor components. You will own heat exchangers, piping, and pressure vessels, ensuring safety and performance while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team.

Requirements include a BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering with 7+ years in thermal/structural design, expertise in CAD tools (Inventor, SolidWorks, NX, Creo) and FE analysis (ANSYS, Abaqus).

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering with 7+ years of design under thermal and mechanical loading.
• Experience designing thermal systems components for power plants, nuclear, or complex industrial systems.
• Proficient in CAD tools for mechanical design of thermal components and assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptual design, analysis, and execution of thermal-mechanical components for our advanced power plant.
• Drive mechanical design of components subjected to thermal loading.
• Own heat exchangers, piping networks, fluid storage tanks, and pressure-boundary equipment with validation.
• Perform thermal and structural analyses to validate designs against pressure, temperature, and cyclic loading.
• Collaborate with structural engineers to ensure integrity, thermal performance, and safety.
• Translate thermal performance requirements into manufacturable hardware.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team to integrate thermal-mechanical solutions plant-wide.
• Support material selection, tolerancing, and design-for-manufacturing under high temp/pressure.

Skills

Thermal-mechanical design

Heat transfer

Finite element analysis

3D CAD

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

BS/MS in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

Autodesk Inventor

SolidWorks

Siemens NX

PTC Creo

ANSYS

Abaqus

Job description

Last Energy is a pioneering US technology company focused on fleet-wide deployment and operation of next-generation nuclear assets. We are revolutionizing nuclear power delivery for rapid deployment and scalability.

Key Duties & 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

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering or related field, with 7+ years of hands-on industry experience designing components under thermal and mechanical loading
• Proven experience as a Mechanical, Thermal, or Design Engineer working on thermal systems components within power plant, nuclear, or complex industrial systems
• Proficiency in 3D CAD software (e.g., Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, Siemens NX, PTC Creo) for mechanical design of thermal-mechanical components and assemblies
• Proficiency in analysis software (e.g., ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, SolidWorks Simulation) for structural and thermal stress analysis
• Solid working knowledge of heat transfer, thermodynamics, and mechanical design principles (fatigue, fracture, thermal expansion, pressure-boundary design)
• Experience with pressure vessel or piping design codes a strong plus (ASME BPVC Section III/VIII, B31.1/B31.3)
• Practical, hands‑on approach to problem‑solving with a bias toward manufacturable, deployable designs over purely academic analysis
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to work collaboratively in a cross‑functional, startup team environment