Mechanisms Engineer

About the role:

Applied Atomics is seeking a Mechanisms Engineer to design, develop, and validate the critical mechanisms that control reactivity, actuate safety systems, and enable reliable operations of our reactor systems. You will solve complex mechanical and electromechanical challenges involving precision motion, high-temperatures, radiation environments, fail-safe actuation, and long-life reliability. This is a broad, hands-on hardware role. You will perform concept development, trade studies, material and component selection, detailed structural and thermal analysis, tolerance stack-ups, manufacturing process development, and qualification testing.  

This role is ideal for someone who wants to own major hardware systems, thrives in a fast-paced build environment, and wants to help define and scale a first-of-a-kind (FOAK) nuclear product.  

Why we need you

We are transitioning nuclear energy from a theoretical science into a practical reality, and that requires practical problem-solvers. We need engineers who are eager to take direct responsibility for their work and see it through to completion. Your role will be critical in transforming complex designs into safe, reliable, and operational power plants that will operate for decades to come. 

What you will do

Key Responsibilities 

• Ownership of critical mechanisms, including but not limited to reactivity control mechanisms, safety systems actuators, release mechanisms, and high-reliability motion systems.  
• Lead trade studies and concept development to meet functional, safety, and reliability requirements. 
• Perform detailed analyses to determine structural integrity and performance margins through both hand calcs and finite element tools. 
• Evaluate loads, stresses, deflection, natural frequencies, fatigue life, wear, and friction. 
• Conduct tolerance analysis, GD&T application, stack-ups, and mechanism performance modeling. 
• Develop manufacturing processes, assembly sequences, and integration procedures for mechanisms.  
• Define and manager Bills of Materials (BOMs), component specifications, and configuration control.  
• Conduct design-for-manufacturability and design-for-assembly reviews with suppliers and internal teams.  
• Develop test plans for subcomponents and full mechanism-level testing.  
• Execute hardware bring-up, functional qualification tests, endurance tests, and failure analysis.  
• Identify and develop vendors for machined parts, actuators, materials, and specialized components.  
• Work with suppliers to understand manufacturing capabilities, tolerances, and lead times.  
• Prepare written reports, drawings & sketches, and technical documents. 
• Interface daily with nuclear engineering, materials, systems engineering, control/electronics, thermal-fluids, and product integration teams.  

Additional Responsibilities 

• Take end-to-end responsibility for your projects, from initial concepts through to deployment and ongoing operations
• Partner closely with our multidisciplinary team of experienced engineers to tackle complex, cross-functional challenges
• Deliver high-quality work steadily and safely, ensuring every solution meets our rigorous quality standards while also for solving scalability issues in the future
• Continually improve our internal engineering processes, documentation, and tools to support the team as we scale

What you bring to the table

Need to haves: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field. 
• 4+ years of experience designing mechanisms (2+ years w/ MS). 
• Strong proficiency in structural analysis using both hand calcs and finite element tools (ANSYS, Abaqus, FEMAP, etc.). 
• Experience with CAD tools (NX, SolidWorks, Creo, etc.). 
• Demonstrated understanding and application of GD&T. 
• Experience through full product lifecycle: concept --> detailed design --> build --> test. 
• Ability to operate across multiple cross-functional teams.  
• Strong written and oral communication skills; able to explain complex topics simply.  
• Self-starter, ownership mentality, and ability to drive tasks from concept to completion 

Nice-to-haves:

• Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field.  
• Experience taking hardware into production or operating environments with tight reliability margins.  
• Experience with electromechanical components (motors, solenoids, encoders, drives). 
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory standards (ASME, NRC regs., 10 CFR 50, etc.). 
• Prior experience with FOAK (first-of-a-kind) or advanced reactor development programs.  

BENEFITS & PERKS FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES 

• Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees.  
• Medical / Vision / Dental (details forthcoming). 
• Flexible PTO policy. 
• Hybrid and remote work options depending on role.  
• Other benefits to be announced at offer stage.  

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time. This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls.  Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.