Build Reliability Engineer

Aalo Atomics•Austin, TX

2d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Build Reliability Engineer at Aalo Atomics, you will own build-induced risk across the design, fabrication, assembly, inspection, and testing of reactor hardware. You will work hands-on with design engineers, manufacturing engineers, technicians, inspectors, test engineers, and suppliers to ensure that hardware is built correctly, performs as intended, and becomes more reliable with every build. This role bridges design intent and factory execution. You will develop production and inspection strategies, identify manufacturing risks before hardware reaches the floor, investigate failures and nonconformances, and drive durable corrective actions into both designs and processes. Your scope will include welded structures, machined parts, pressure and fluid-system components, tooling, and complex mechanical assemblies. Success means reducing defects and escapes without slowing the pace of learning or production.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent hands-on technical experience.
3+ years of experience in manufacturing, quality, or design engineering for complex hardware.
Hands-on experience supporting the fabrication, assembly, integration, inspection, or testing of mechanical hardware.
Ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, specifications, GD&T, and weld symbols.
Demonstrated experience investigating hardware or process failures and implementing effective corrective actions.
Experience developing or improving controlled work instructions, inspection plans, process controls, or manufacturing documentation.
Ability to analyze production and quality data and translate findings into practical engineering action.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, sound engineering judgment, and the ability to drive cross-functional work to closure.
Comfortable working with ambiguity and taking ownership in a fast-paced, hands-on factory environment.
Must be based in the United States.
Must be willing to work on-site at our headquarters in Austin or Georgetown Texas.
Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Persons in compliance with 10 CFR Part 810 and may not hold non-compliant foreign citizenships.

Nice To Haves

Experience in nuclear, aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor, or another regulated, high-reliability industry.
Familiarity with nuclear quality and fabrication requirements such as NQA-1, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, and applicable portions of ASME Sections III, V, or IX.
Experience with welding, machining, forming, mechanical assembly, pressure testing, cleanliness controls, or nondestructive examination.
Working knowledge of PFMEA, control plans, statistical process control, measurement system analysis, design of experiments, Lean/Six Sigma, 8D, or similar quality and problem-solving methods.
Experience scaling hardware from prototype or first-of-a-kind builds into repeatable production.
Experience with CAD, PLM, MES, or quality-management systems; proficiency with NX is a plus.
Proficiency with SQL, Python, Power BI, or other data-analysis and visualization tools.
Experience supporting supplier qualification, source inspection, or supplier corrective action.

Responsibilities

Own build-reliability risks for assigned hardware from design release through fabrication, assembly, inspection, test, and production ramp-up.
Partner with Design, Manufacturing, Quality, Test, Production, and Supply Chain to develop quality plans that identify key characteristics, process controls, inspection points, and acceptance evidence.
Lead process failure mode and effects analyses (PFMEAs), build-readiness reviews, first-article planning, and production prove-outs for new or changed hardware.
Develop and improve manufacturing, integration, assembly, welding, cleanliness, pressure-testing, and checkout processes; ensure critical processes are executed consistently across work centers and suppliers.
Review designs for manufacturability, inspectability, and testability; identify unnecessary complexity and drive design or requirement changes that improve reliability and production readiness.
Define clear work instructions, inspection strategies, tooling requirements, training needs, inspection processes, and data-collection plans for critical build processes.
Monitor first-pass yield, defect and escape trends, rework, process capability, and other production data to identify emerging risks and prioritize improvements.
Lead cross-functional investigations of production, inspection, and test failures using disciplined root-cause methods; implement and verify corrective actions that prevent recurrence.
Coordinate immediate containment of suspect or nonconforming hardware with Quality and Production while preserving Quality Control's independent inspection and acceptance authority.
Conduct recurring build-quality reviews to identify high-impact and repeat issues, communicate risk, and drive actions to closure.
Support the qualification and control of special processes, measurement systems, tooling, and suppliers as applicable to assigned hardware.
Maintain accurate, traceable engineering and production records in accordance with the Aalo Quality Manual and applicable nuclear quality requirements.