Design Manufacturing - Fission

About Zap Energy

Zap is advancing the next generation of nuclear power technology across fusion, fission and hybrid applications. Built on an integrated platform of high-energy-density physics and pulsed power, liquid metals and advanced materials, and compact, modular systems, Zap is building the foundational technologies needed to deploy the energy sources of the future.

Zap Energy is seeking a Senior Design for Manufacturing Engineer to support the Zap Modular Reactor (ZMR) program. In this role, you will be responsible for manufacturability and producibility in the design process for a liquid metal‑cooled fission reactor, ensuring that the design is buildable, inspectable, and scalable. The near‑term focus is first‑of‑a‑kind producibility while maintaining a longer‑term horizon toward mass production.

• Design for Manufacturing & Producibility:
  Serve as the design‑side advisor of manufacturing, ensuring producibility is designed in early. Influence geometry, tolerances, materials, and joining/process selection before design freeze. Apply DFM, DFA, and DFX methods, GD&T and tolerance stack‑up analysis, and process risk assessment (PFMEA) to reduce build risk, rework, and non-conformance.
  • Section VIII, Division 1 Vessels
  • Section III, Division 5 Vessels
  • ASME B31.3 Piping
  • Liquid Metal Pumps
  • Liquid Metal Heat Exchangers
  • Other bespoke, high‑temperature components
• Design‑to‑Cost & Cost Reduction:
  Lead up‑front design‑to‑cost and cost‑reduction strategy across ZMR components. Establish should‑cost baselines, identify cost drivers in material, geometry, and process, and drive value‑engineering and producibility trades that lower total cost without compromising quality or code compliance.
• Tooling & Process Strategy:
  Recommend and advise manufacturing and tooling strategy as design inputs including process concepts, fixturing approaches, and their implications for geometry and tolerancing.
• Scale‑Up & Producibility at Volume:
  Build and maintain longer‑term mass‑production horizon by informing design‑for‑volume and producibility‑at‑volume constraints into the design. Provide forward‑looking throughput, capacity, and make/buy considerations as design inputs, while the near‑term emphasis remains FOAK producibility.
• Cross‑Functional
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Work with design, manufacturing, testing, and integration teams to ensure manufacturability and to feed producibility and cost insight back into the design.
• Quality Assurance:
  Perform work within a graded quality assurance program. Identify and recommend right‑sized, producible solutions that improve execution efficiency, especially across cross‑organizational functions related to quality assurance.

• Education:
  
  Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field from an ABET‑accredited program is required.
• Technical
  
  Experience:
  
  At least 8‑10 years of experience in design for manufacturing, producibility, or manufacturing/process engineering of hardware subject to industrial codes and standards. Experience with regulated, low‑volume, high‑consequence hardware (nuclear, aerospace, or defense) is strongly preferred.
• Technical
  
  Skills:
  
  Expertise in DFM, DFA, and DFX practice; proficiency in GD&T and tolerance stack‑up analysis; PFMEA and process risk assessment; ability to lead design‑to‑cost and should‑cost analysis; working knowledge of manufacturing and fabrication processes (welding, machining, additive manufacturing); familiarity with ASME Codes & Standards; familiarity with mass manufacturing processes; proficiency in CAD software.
• Communication:
  Excellent technical writing skills and the ability to clearly present complex information to both internal and external stakeholders, including regulators.
• Licenses/Certifications:
  
  Professional Engineer (PE) license, formal DFMA/DFM training, or Six Sigma certification is a bonus.

• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and ethical standards in engineering, including the ability to infuse this commitment throughout the organization.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with…