Mechanical Tooling Engineer

Join us in our mission to commercialize fusion energy About Type One Energy

Type One Energy Group is mission-driven to provide sustainable, affordable fusion power to the world. Established in 2019 and venture-backed in 2023, the company is led by a team of globally recognized fusion scientists with a strong track record of building state-of-the-art stellarator fusion machines, together with veteran business leaders experienced in scaling companies and commercializing energy technologies.

If you are searching for the best new ideas and share our vision, join us as a Mechanical Tooling Engineer. This is what you need to know:

Location:

Knoxville, TN

Salary:
Highly Competitive Plus Benefits

Contract:

Permanent, full time

Reporting to: VP Stellarator Maintenance & Inspection Services

Tooling Engineers will play a pivotal role in the design, development, and implementation of complex mechanical systems and tooling solutions critical to our fusion energy programs. This role focuses on design and development of jigs, fixtures, rigging devices, machining/welding equipment and related tooling related to fabrication, assembly and eventually maintenance on components. Ultimately our work supports assembly, maintenance, repair and overhaul of high-precision manufactured and assembled fusion components.

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on engineer with demonstrated experience developing tooling. Experience with automation or remotely operated systems is a plus. The successful candidate will contribute to both early‑stage design and detailed manufacturing support, bringing practical, scalable solutions to complex engineering challenges in extreme environments.

This position requires a unique combination of technical fluency and project discipline. The ideal candidate will have deep familiarity with engineering development processes—particularly those involving mechanical systems potentially with electrical integration, software and hardware controls.

Ultimately, this role is pivotal to enabling our technical and programmatic success — ensuring that complex engineering efforts are delivered predictably, transparently, and in alignment with the company’s broader fusion energy development roadmap.

• Support the design and integration of mechanical tooling, fixtures, and tooling systems used for assembly, component handling, maintenance and inspection.
• Design and qualify remote or automated systems for operation in constrained, hazardous, or high-radiological environments.
• Review, guide, and validate designs created by peers and external suppliers to ensure technical excellence and manufacturability.
• Support FMEA, DFMA, and risk assessments for critical hardware and assemblies.
• Collaborate with suppliers and internal teams to support fabrication, assembly, and qualification of mechanical systems.
• Develop and execute test plans to validate tool performance, quality execution, and automation repeatability.
• Author detailed engineering drawings, procedures, and specifications in compliance with quality and safety standards.
• Contribute to process development documentation, design reviews, and configuration control processes.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, manufacturing process development, or tooling engineering.
• Proven expertise in one or more of the following areas:
• Welding tooling or weld process development (e.g., TIG, EB, laser, or friction stir welding).
• Tooling and system design for remote or automated operations (e.g., robotic arms, manipulators, or teleoperated systems).
• Integration of sensors, controls, or actuation systems into complex mechanical designs.
• Proficiency with 3D CAD tools (Solid Works, Siemens NX, or similar) and PLM/PDM systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles, precision tolerancing, and manufacturing processes.

• Experience designing equipment or processes for high‑radiological or nuclear environments, or for other extreme service conditions.
• Familiarity with automation, robotics, or mechatronic…