Mechanical Design Engineer

About Valar Atomics

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. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team 

As part of the Engineering organization, Mechanical Engineering designs and develops the mechanical systems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies. The team ensures designs are robust, manufacturable, and optimized for long-term performance. 

The Role

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.

Key Responsibilities

• 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, or 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 Will Be Successful in This Role If

• You take true ownership of major subsystems, balancing performance, manufacturability, and cost in every design decision.