Mechanical Engineer

Avalanche Energy is a Washington-based startup building compact, deployable fusion systems through rapid hardware iteration. Rather than pursuing fusion as a single grid-scale outcome, Avalanche develops transportable fusion machines designed to be built, tested, and operated on short cycles, turning real hardware into steady progress. This approach enables near‑term applications that demand extreme energy density and endurance—starting with fusion neutron production for radioisotope power and other defense and space uses—while advancing the underlying fusion platform.

Backed by U.S. government programs and a team experienced in delivering complex systems, Avalanche is focused on building fusion that runs in the real world, not just on paper.

You are energized by hands‑on problem solving and building real hardware. You enjoy working in a lab or machine shop, fitting parts together, chasing leaks, and making stubborn systems behave. You are comfortable moving between CAD modeling, design analysis, and elbows‑deep assembly and troubleshooting. You are motivated by delivering solutions to complex problems in aggressive timelines. You care about clean designs, well‑toleranced parts, and systems that work reliably under real‑world conditions.

You take pride in hardware that performs because the fundamentals were done right.

Avalanche Energy is seeking a Mechanical Engineer to design, build, and maintain the mechanical systems that support our compact fusion devices. You will work directly on vacuum hardware, structural assemblies, thermal management systems, and supporting laboratory infrastructure, contributing to experiments that are designed, built, and iterated rapidly.

This is a deeply hands‑on role. You will be responsible for everything from CAD modeling and component selection to fabrication, assembly, testing, and troubleshooting under demanding conditions. The work spans precision vacuum systems, structural design, thermal and high‑voltage management, and integration with experimental hardware. You will be working with materials ranging from stainless steels to refractory metals and ceramics. This is not a desk job or a simulation‑first role—this is lab‑centered engineering focused on getting complex mechanical systems to work, reliably and repeatably.