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
Pay: $80.00 - $95.00 per hour
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Oak Ridge, TN 37830
