Mechanical Engineering Senior

Senior Mechanical Engineer
At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. We're seeking a highly skilled Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our engineering team and accelerate the frontier of advanced power generation. In this role, you'll be responsible for designing, developing, and validating mechanical systems and components that meet performance, manufacturability, and cost requirements. You'll work closely with cross-functional teams to bring innovative products from concept to production, and serve as a technical leader and mentor for less experienced engineers.
Lead mechanical design efforts for major subsystems, ensuring alignment between performance targets, manufacturability, and cost.
Mentor junior engineers and review mechanical designs to ensure consistency with company standards and engineering rigor.
Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings (SolidWorks, Creo, or NX), applying advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis.
Perform structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (FEA and CFD) to validate system performance and reliability.
Oversee prototype fabrication, assembly, and testing, and interpret results to refine designs and improve system performance.
Partner with electrical, manufacturing, and systems engineers to drive integration and design optimization.
Work closely with vendors to manage DFM feedback, manufacturing process selection, and quality control.
Contribute to internal best practices for mechanical design, documentation, and configuration management.
You take true ownership of major subsystems, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost in every design decision.
You partner effectively with manufacturing and supplier teams, designing for what can actually be built and inspected.
You communicate and document clearly, leaving designs and design intent that other engineers can build on.
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design and product development.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering production-ready hardware.
• Expertise in CAD (SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar) and mechanical drafting standards.
• Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical systems.
• Experience performing or overseeing FEA and CFD analyses.
• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field.

Experience in high-performance or safety-critical systems (aerospace, energy, or defense).
Deep understanding of DFM/DFA and reliability engineering.
Familiarity with PLM/PDM tools and design control processes.
Hands-on prototyping, testing, and validation experience.
Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
Comprehensive medical benefits
Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders
The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up
We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.
S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).