Principal Turbomachinery Engineer

Principal Turbo machinery Engineer

Radiant is seeking a Principal Turbo machinery Engineer to serve as the Responsible Engineer for the turbo machinery within our nuclear‑driven power generation system. This role owns the mechanical design, integrity, and performance of the core rotating assembly at the heart of our 1MW closed‑loop Brayton cycle.

You will define and drive the mechanical architecture of high‑speed rotating hardware operating at extreme temperatures, pressures, and rotational speeds. As a deeply technical individual contributor, you will set direction for rotor dynamics, structures, bearings, seals, and system integration while working closely with electrical, thermal, and manufacturing teams.

This is a hands‑on, high‑ownership role focused on technical excellence, sound engineering judgment, and delivering reliable, production‑ready turbo machinery.

• Serve as Responsible Engineer for the turbo machinery mechanical system
• Own the mechanical architecture and design strategy for high‑speed rotating assemblies (up to ~30 krpm)
• Lead rotor dynamics, structural integrity, and life analysis for rotating components and assemblies
• Define and flow down requirements from system‑level constraints including thermal, structural, and operational environments
• Make key technical decisions on rotor layout, shafting, bearings, seals, materials, and clearances
• Ensure designs meet performance, reliability, safety, and regulatory requirements
• Establish and uphold standards for mechanical design rigor, analysis quality, and documentation

• Lead detailed design of turbo machinery components including rotors, shafts, housings, and support structures
• Test and validate rotordynamic systems, driving model correlation, risk reduction, and performance verification
• Perform and review structural and thermal analysis to ensure integrity under high‑speed and high‑temperature operation
• Define tolerances, fits, stack‑ups, and alignment strategies for precision rotating assemblies
• Partner with electrical engineering on alternator rotor integration, including electromagnetic and structural coupling

• Partner closely with turbo machinery aero, motor design, thermal, manufacturing, and test teams
• Ensure seamless integration between turbine, compressor, and alternator subsystems
• Drive clear interface definitions across mechanical, electrical, and thermal boundaries
• Collaborate with manufacturing to ensure designs are producible, inspectable, and scalable
• Engage with suppliers on technically critical components and design decisions

• Support assembly, integration, and test of turbo machinery hardware
• Define validation strategies including spin testing, thermal testing, and system‑level operation
• Lead root cause analysis and drive design iteration for test failures or performance gaps
• Remain hands‑on in hardware bring‑up, troubleshooting, and refinement

• Act as a subject matter expert in turbo machinery mechanical design and rotating systems
• Provide technical guidance and design reviews across the team without direct people management responsibility
• Influence engineering direction through deep expertise, data‑driven decisions, and strong judgment
• Contribute to technical roadmap, risk identification, and mitigation strategies

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related field
• 8+ years of experience designing high‑speed rotating machinery (turbines, compressors, or similar systems)
• Deep expertise in structural analysis and mechanical design of turbo machinery
• Experience with bearings, seals, and high‑speed shafting design
• Expert‑level proficiency with analysis tools (e.g., ANSYS) and advanced use of NX and Teamcenter for complex design, simulation, and product lifecycle management
• Strong understanding of tolerancing, GD&T, and precision mechanical assembly
• Experience owning hardware through design, build, and test cycles
• Hands‑on experience with assembly, integration, and troubleshooting of turbo machinery
• Strong system‑level thinking and mechanical intuition
• Excellent engineering judgment…