Mechanical Engineer

Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting‑edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors.

Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.

Aalo Atomics is seeking a Mechanical Engineer I to support the design, build, testing, and fabrication of reactor systems and supporting infrastructure. This role is a chance to own complex mechanical hardware through the full lifecycle — concept and requirements, detailed design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and commissioning. You will work closely with controls, manufacturing and operations to manage system interfaces and outcomes.

The work is hands‑on: expect to split your time between CAD, the shop floor, and the test lab. The ideal candidate has solid mechanical design fundamentals paired with a demonstrated track record of real world electro‑mechanical builds.

• Design mechanical components, mechanisms, and assemblies supporting advanced reactor technology, working under the direction of senior engineers.
• Develop 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, bills of materials, and interface documentation.
• Integrate actuators, drives, encoders, limit switches, and sensors into mechanical designs, and work with controls engineers on motion, interlock, and instrumentation requirements.
• Perform hand calculations and supporting structural, thermal, and mechanism analyses to size and justify designs.
• Build, instrument, and operate test rigs used to validate mechanisms, seals, and fluid system components.
• Work with machinists, welders, technicians, and vendors to get parts built and to keep designs practical and manufacturable.
• Develop tooling, fixtures, work instructions, and inspection plans for prototype and production hardware.
• Write and maintain test procedures, calculation notes, and design documentation.
• Travel occasionally to test sites, vendors, or the reactor installation.

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a related field.
• 1–3 years of hands‑on engineering experience (industry, internship, co‑op, or strong project equivalent).
• Demonstrated experience designing and building physical hardware.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD platforms such as Solid Works, NX, Creo, or similar.
• Working understanding of GD&T, tolerance stack‑ups, and engineering drawing practice.
• Experience with mechanical fabrication, assembly, or electro‑mechanical testing.
• Comfortable wiring up instrumentation and reading basic schematics.
• Strong mechanical intuition and a willingness to learn by doing.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and a high degree of ownership.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Experience integrating actuators, motors, gearboxes, encoders, or position sensors into working mechanisms.
• Built custom test rigs, machines, or experimental setups in school, prior jobs, or personal projects.
• Experience with mechanisms: linkages, latches, drives, robotic or remotely operated equipment.
• Experience with fluid, gas, or vacuum systems (valves, seals, plumbing, hydraulics).
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems and basic controls or PLC interfaces.
• Hands‑on project experience (e.g., Formula SAE, robotics, rocketry, hardware startups, machine shop work).
• Welding, machining, or fabrication skills.

• Based in the United States
• Willing to work on‑sitein Austin, TX

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