Turbomachinery Mechanical Designer

About Valar Atomics At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level. The Team As part of the Engineering organization, Power Conversion develops the technologies that efficiently transform reactor-generated heat into usable electrical power. The team focuses on maximizing system performance, reliability, and commercial viability. The Role  Valar Atomics is seeking a turbomachinery mechanical design engineer to join the turbomachinery team and advance power generation capability. In this role, you’ll be responsible for the mechanical design of static and rotating components of Valar’s power generation turbomachinery. You’ll be working with cross-functional team members to define a manufacturable, high efficiency, robust design. As an early hire in turbomachinery, you will be able to directly influence design decisions on the system architecture.  Key Responsibilities  Lead mechanical design of assigned components across the power conversion discipline  Facilitate required analyses to further the design and procurement of your components.  Own all aspects of bringing assigned components to test and to full scale production  Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings (SolidWorks, Creo, or NX), applying advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis.  Select component materials that balance capability versus lead time and cost considerations  Interface with internal and external machine shops to develop a manufacturable design  You Will Be Successful in This Role If  You are excited to be a part of a complex turbomachinery product from the beginning  You thrive in ambiguous environments without defined turbomachinery design best practices  You want to be part of turbomachinery design beyond a singular siloed discipline  Basic Qualifications  Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering  Excellent judgement in material selection for new components  Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and good judgement of when to use them  Minimum 3 years of experience as a mechanical designer  Experience with high temperature components and materials  Preferred Skills and Experience  Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering  Experience with material selection of high temperature metals  Experience with basic structural or thermal analysis for component sizing  Experience with turbomachinery mechanical design  Experience in gas turbines, gas compressors, turbopumps, or turboexpanders  Experience with supercritical C02  What We Offer   Competitive base salary  Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company  Comprehensive medical benefits  Unlimited PTO Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite  Generous PPE stipend High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy  Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement  Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders  The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up Equal Employment Opportunity Statement Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law. We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).Salary$140,000—$215,000 USD