Mechanical Engineer, Reactor Structures

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 ay Forge is developing the technology to rapidly scale the deployment of nuclear fission.

As a structures engineer at Forge, you'll be responsible for designing and building reactor hardware such as the pressure vessel, containment, and structural elements for Ember, our pilot 25 MWe reactor. These designs must withstand the extreme temperature and pressure environments of our reactor while meeting regulatory requirements and being optimized for cost, mass, and manufacturability. Successful candidates will have previously demonstrated extreme ownership in delivering mechanical systems in fast-paced, high-reliability environments.

Design, build and test pressure vessels, containment structures, seismic isolation, and secondary structures for Ember, our pilot nuclear reactor

Carry out trade studies for optimal structural materials, balancing cost, mass, strength, corrosion resistance, and manufacturability

Validate reliability of designs with rigorous testing: thermal cycling, pressure cycling, shock, vibration, radiation embrittlement, and corrosion. Design experiments to ground analysis, develop fixturing, and create technical reports based on results

Work with manufacturers to understand process limitations and adapt designs for lead times and manufacturability

Collaborate with peers from different systems to develop designs that balance cost, efficiency, and deployment logistics

Support the assembly of your hardware in the factory, witness your designs being brought to life daily, and watch them power an abundant, clean future

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related technical discipline

1+ years of engineering experience designing, analyzing, and building mechanical hardware (internships and school project team experience qualify)

Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, enthusiasm for problem solving, and desire to enable abundant clean energy

Experience leading or working on an engineering competition team, i.e. Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Solar Car, Rocketry, Cubesat, or similar

Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information

Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints

Hands on experience designing, testing, and operating high‑pressure systems and pressure vessels

Experience with forging for large, high‑pressure vessels

Experience with welding processes, inspection, and qualification

Experience designing to the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code

Hands on experience with fluid, gas, or thermal systems

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 reactor construction sites in other states as necessary

Pay range:

Level I: $ - $/per year + equity

Level II: $ - $/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  may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of company stock or stock options, as…