Lead Engineer, Power Conversion

Humanity faces two critical challenges: securing reliable energy and aggressively lowering our environmental impact. At Forge, we believe nuclear fission is the key to solving both at once. Today Forge is developing the technology to rapidly scale the deployment of nuclear fission.

The Lead Engineer, Power Conversion is responsible for delivering the system that generates electricity from hot, high-pressure steam produced by our first nuclear reactor - Ember. The power conversion system includes a turbine and generator, high-power electrical systems interfacing with an electrical load, a regenerative feedwater heating train, condensate filtration and polishing, control electronics, heat rejection, and more. This role leads a team of mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers and initially reports directly to the CEO / Chief Engineer. The team will first deliver the system for Ember Mini, our subscale non-nuclear prototype, then a full-scale system ready for nuclear operations and high-rate production. Successful candidates will have previously demonstrated extreme ownership delivering complex electromechanical systems, and will be highly motivated to power humanity with abundant, clean energy.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end ownership of power conversion system delivery for Ember Mini, Forge's subscale non-nuclear prototype
• Deliver the same ownership at full scale for Ember, Forge's nuclear power plant, designing the system to be produced and deployed at a high rate
• Drive conceptual design, architecture trades, and first-order sizing
• Develop design requirements where definition is lacking
• Perform in-depth first-principles analysis, including detailed system models, to assess and optimize the system design
• Optimize development speed, cost, and system complexity
• Design and execute development, acceptance, and qualification testing
• Work with vendors to procure key systems such as the steam turbine
• Partner with the production and site deployment teams to ensure the system can be manufactured and delivered at a high rate
• Recruit, build, and lead a multi-disciplinary team of talented, passionate engineers to deliver your product

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related technical discipline
• 3+ years of engineering experience designing, analyzing, or building mechanical hardware
• 1+ years of direct leadership experience leading engineers

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Creative problem solver who can bring multiple disciplines together, with the ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
• Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication, and documentation skills
• Strong sense of accountability and integrity
• Demonstrated rapid growth; you've held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career

Additional Requirements

• Position will be based in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County and will require relocation if not already local. The position will be full-time in the office.
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
• Ability to travel to suppliers and reactor construction sites in other states as necessary

Compensation and Benefits

Pay range:

• Lead Engineer: $140,000.00 - $190,000.00/per year + equity

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Forge. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or stock options, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation, paid parental leave, and various other perks. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

Forge is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Forge is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant's capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.