Mechanical Design Engineer - Valve Design

Job Title:

Mechanical Design Engineer - Valve Design

Job Description

This role provides mechanical engineering support for the design and development of high‑reliability mechanical systems, with a primary focus on valves and valve systems for gas piping and pressurized steam generator systems, specifically helium circulation. You will take concepts from early development through analysis, prototyping, testing, and into production, ensuring all systems, structures, and components perform their intended function and meet technical specifications and requirements.

This position offers the opportunity to work on cutting‑edge clean energy technologies within a growing, well‑funded organization.

Responsibilities

* Develop mechanical and physical concepts and support the development of processes to create or identify structures, systems, and components for use in high‑reliability, safety‑focused products and facilities.

* Identify, collect, and document applicable requirements, interfaces, design bases, and criteria by coordinating with key stakeholders and systems engineers, and by identifying applicable industry codes and standards.

* Plan and perform analyses of structures and systems to verify that they can perform their intended functions and meet all technical specifications and design requirements.

* Perform engineering computations using hand calculations and analytical tools for structural, thermal, hydraulic, and other scoping calculations as directed by project leads and systems engineers.

* Develop innovative mechanical solutions to refine and deploy concepts, technologies, and designs for mechanical systems including valves, pressure vessels and piping, electromechanical systems and sensors, mechatronics and automation systems, and components using exotic and high‑temperature materials such as graphite and advanced alloys.

* Integrate design activities across internal engineering team members, partners, and suppliers, and perform scoping and sizing calculations to down‑select design features that satisfy design requirements using guidance from consensus codes and standards.

* Create and maintain CAD‑generated engineering models and associated design data throughout the product development lifecycle.

* Support assessments of mechanical systems for manufacturability, assembly, and integration considerations, collaborating closely with project leads and manufacturing teams.

* Write and develop design documentation, including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings in accordance with applicable procedures.

* Develop Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and support qualification of the analytical toolset.

* Perform work in accordance with quality procedures for design and configuration management to ensure project quality requirements are consistently met.

* Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables and data to support robust design decisions.

* Exercise hardware ownership, including oversight of manufacturing and testing activities, to ensure that developed hardware meets design intent and performance requirements.

* Maintain a professional demeanor and clear, respectful communication in all interactions and forms of correspondence.

Essential Skills

* Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related discipline such as aerospace, nuclear, or chemical engineering from an accredited institution.

* 5-15 years of experience in mechanical engineering, mechanical design, or closely related fields.

* Hands‑on experience with actual hardware and the full product development lifecycle through to production or fabrication, ideally at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 or higher and Manufacturing Readiness Level (MRL) 5 or 6 or higher.

* Demonstrated experience with valve design, including gas valves and gas piping systems; experience with check valve design for helium circulation or similar applications is strongly preferred.

* Experience designing and developing complex mechanical or fluid systems, assemblies, or components, such as valves, gas piping, and pressurized systems.

* At least two years of experience developing…