Mechanical Design Engineer - In-Vessel Shielding

Mechanical Design Engineer - Reactor Internals (In-Vessel Shielding)

Location: Rockville, MD
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Overview

We are seeking a Mechanical Design Engineer to support the design, analysis, and development of reactor vessel internals, with a particular focus on in-vessel shielding components for advanced nuclear reactor systems.

This role will support the full product lifecycle, including concept development, detailed design, analysis, manufacturing support, testing, qualification, and commissioning. The successful candidate will work closely with multidisciplinary engineering teams to develop solutions that meet performance, safety, regulatory, and manufacturability requirements.

The ideal candidate will have a strong foundation in mechanical engineering design, component development, and engineering analysis, along with an interest in complex, safety-critical systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Design & Development:

• Develop mechanical concepts and component designs for reactor vessel internals and related nuclear systems.
• Support the design and development of structures, systems, and components (SSCs) used in advanced nuclear facilities.
• Produce and maintain 3D CAD models, engineering drawings, and associated design documentation.
• Perform design studies and trade-off evaluations to optimize performance, safety, reliability, and manufacturability.
• Contribute to the design and integration of complex assemblies within the reactor system.

Engineering Analysis:

• Perform engineering calculations and analyses to support design decisions, including structural, thermal, hydraulic, and mechanical assessments.
• Evaluate component performance against design requirements, technical specifications, and applicable codes and standards.
• Support sizing, qualification, and verification of components through analytical methods and engineering judgement.
• Assist in the development and validation of engineering methodologies and analytical tools.

Requirements & Integration:

• Work with systems engineers and key stakeholders to define and maintain design requirements, interfaces, and design bases.
• Coordinate design activities with internal engineering teams, suppliers, manufacturing partners, and other stakeholders.
• Support cross-functional integration across structural, thermal-hydraulic, reactor, and systems engineering disciplines.

Manufacturing & Testing:

• Support manufacturing readiness reviews and assess designs for manufacturability, assembly, and installation.
• Provide engineering support during fabrication, testing, inspection, and commissioning activities.
• Participate in component qualification and verification activities.

Documentation & Quality:

• Prepare technical reports, calculations, design basis documents, specifications, and engineering packages.
• Ensure all work is performed in accordance with applicable quality assurance and configuration management processes.
• Participate in design reviews, peer reviews, and independent technical assessments.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited institution.
• Approximately 5+ years of engineering experience in design, development, or analysis roles.
• Strong understanding of mechanical engineering fundamentals and engineering calculations.
• Experience developing mechanical systems, assemblies, or components.
• Experience using CAD and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software such as:
• Siemens NX
• SolidWorks
• Creo/Pro-Engineer
• Teamcenter
• Windchill
• Hands-on experience supporting hardware development, manufacturing, testing, or production activities.
• Ability to create clear technical documentation, calculations, and engineering reports.

Equivalent Experience:

• A Master's degree may substitute for up to two years of relevant experience.
• A PhD may substitute for up to three years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within the commercial nuclear, naval nuclear, energy, aerospace, or other highly regulated industries.
• Experience designing reactor internals, shielding systems, in-core structures, or other complex mechanical assemblies.
• Familiarity with high-temperature materials and operating environments.
• Experience designing components subjected to combined thermal, structural, seismic, and irradiation loading.
• Knowledge of materials commonly used in nuclear applications, including:
• Stainless steels
• Graphite
• Neutron shielding materials
• High-temperature alloys
• Familiarity with ASME codes, nuclear quality assurance requirements, and regulatory design frameworks.
• Experience supporting component qualification, verification, manufacturing, and testing programmes.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary engineering teams.