Senior Mechanical Engineer
Valar Atomics
hawthorne, ca, usa
Posted on Oct 18, 2025
We’re seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Mechanical Design Engineer to join our engineering team to accelerate the frontier of advanced power generation. In this role, you’ll be responsible for designing, developing, and validating mechanical systems and components that meet performance, manufacturability, and cost requirements. You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams to bring innovative products from concept to production.
Key Responsibilities
- System Ownership: Lead mechanical design efforts for major subsystems, ensuring alignment between performance targets, manufacturability, and cost.
- Technical Leadership: Mentor junior engineers and review mechanical designs to ensure consistency with company standards and engineering rigor.
- Design Execution: Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings (SolidWorks, Creo, or NX), applying advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis.
- Engineering Analysis: Perform structural, thermal, and fluid analyses (FEA/CFD) to validate system performance and reliability.
- Prototyping & Testing: Oversee prototype fabrication, assembly, and testing; interpret results to refine designs and improve system performance.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with electrical, manufacturing, and systems engineers to drive integration and design optimization.
- Supplier & Manufacturing Interface: Work closely with vendors to manage DFM feedback, manufacturing process selection, and quality control.
- Design Process Development: Contribute to internal best practices for mechanical design, documentation, and configuration management.
Qualifications
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or related field (Master’s preferred).
- 8–10 years of experience in mechanical design and product development.
- Proven track record of designing and delivering production-ready hardware.
- Expertise in CAD (SolidWorks, Creo, NX, or similar) and mechanical drafting standards.
- Strong knowledge of materials, manufacturing processes, and mechanical systems.
- Experience performing or overseeing FEA/CFD analyses.
- Excellent communication, technical documentation, and leadership skills.
Preferred:
- Experience in high-performance or safety-critical systems (aerospace, energy, or defense).
- Deep understanding of DFM/DFA and reliability engineering.
- Familiarity with PLM/PDM tools and design control processes.
- Hands-on prototyping, testing, and validation experience.
- Strong analytical mindset with the ability to lead root cause investigations.
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation and benefits package.
- Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
- A collaborative, high-performance engineering culture.
- Access to cutting-edge design tools and prototyping facilities.
- The chance to make a tangible impact on next-generation energy systems.