Mechanical Design Engineer

Work Location: Hybrid (with as-needed travel to Oak Ridge, Tennessee and/or Santa Clara, California)

Rate: Not Defined / need Candidate’s requested rate

Hours: 40+

The required qualifications are as follows:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical Engineering or a related field (e.g., Materials or Nuclear Engineering)

• 5–10 years of experience taking mechanical systems from concept through detailed design, analysis, fabrication, and deployment

• Experience with custom mechanical design for high-temperature or heavy industrial applications (nuclear, petrochemical, mining, or similar)

• Expert-level proficiency in CAD software (Siemens NX, CATIA, SolidWorks, or similar) including 3D model generation and 2D fabrication drawings

• Broad familiarity with engineering principles and strong systems engineering intuition

• Working knowledge of material selection for high-temperature alloys and corrosion-resistant metals, including related manufacturing and joining techniques

Position Details: 

• Develop and own the mechanical design of process and system components within client’s nuclear fuel recycling facility

• Design and validate high-temperature (>500°C) and corrosion-resistant electrochemical process equipment suitable for high-radiation environments

• Incorporate design-for-automation principles to enable remote handling, inspection, and maintenance of systems and components

• Collaborate cross-functionally with nuclear, electrochemical, I&C, automation, and quality assurance engineering teams to define requirements and ensure regulatory compliance

• Lead and participate in formal design reviews; provide and integrate multidisciplinary technical feedback

• Generate and maintain 3D CAD models, 2D fabrication drawings, and bills of materials within controlled PDM/PLM environments

• Prepare clear and traceable engineering documentation including design rationales, functional requirements, and regulatory submissions

• Collaborate with fabrication partners and vendors to refine designs for manufacturability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability

• Support equipment prototyping, testing, and commissioning at the client’s recycling development and deployment sites

Strongly Preferred:

• Experience with electrochemical manufacturing processes such as electroplating, electrowinning, or pyro-processing

• Experience designing for high-temperature (>500°C) operation or corrosive molten salt environments

• Experience designing for radiation tolerance or remote maintenance in nuclear or space systems

• Familiarity with design for automation, including integration with robotics and control systems

• Experience with heavy industrial or pilot-scale systems requiring high reliability and extended maintenance intervals

• Proficiency in ANSYS or similar FEA/CFD simulation software for structural and thermal analysis

• Knowledge of GD&T and design for manufacturability best practices

• Experience with balance of plant facility design and integration with automated process systems

• Commercial or governmental nuclear project experience