Director of Mechanical Engineering, Numenor (Reactor)

Valar Atomics•Torrance, CA

1d•$240,000 - $325,000

About The Position

Valar Atomics is seeking a Director, Mechanical for its Numenor reactor program. This role will build and lead the program’s mechanical engineering organization, including engineering managers and responsible engineers. The scope includes mechanically dominated systems such as the reactor, control rods, helium pressure boundary and services, HVAC, and Citadel. The Director will lead mechanical engineering from the first reactor unit through scaled production. The role combines hands-on technical authority and a hardware-first approach with the rigor and control needed to ensure the design basis is met. Responsibilities span mechanical design decisions, design reviews, procurement and hardware delivery, testing, commissioning, team leadership, and coordination with other plant disciplines.

Requirements

10 or more years of mechanical engineering experience on complex hardware, such as pressure systems, heat transfer equipment, mechanisms, or large structures.
Hands-on experience as a technical authority who signs off designs, sets margins, and owns design decisions.
Experience leading mechanical scope for first-of-a-kind hardware from concept through build, test, and commissioning.
Strong foundation in stress analysis, thermal design, materials, and pressure vessel and piping codes.
Experience managing mechanical engineering teams, including managers, and key vendor relationships across multiple project phases.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

Nice To Haves

Experience with high-temperature, high-pressure systems, such as pressure vessels, heat exchangers, and piping.
Experience delivering first-of-a-kind hardware from design through build and test in aerospace, power generation, oil and gas, or defense.
Experience with helium or other gas systems, including sealing, leak tightness, and rotating equipment.
Experience with precision mechanisms and actuators, including associated qualification testing.
Working knowledge of ASME pressure vessel and piping codes, including Section VIII and B31.3.
Experience designing for manufacture and scaling from prototype to series production.
Nuclear industry experience in commercial, defense, or national laboratory settings.
Mechanical PE license.

Responsibilities

Own the mechanical design basis for the reactor, primary helium loop, cavity cooling, helium services, plant modules, and related systems.
Make final technical decisions on design acceptability, margins, materials, and code selection.
Run design reviews and make gate decisions from concept through design freeze.
Take designs through procurement specifications, factory build, assembly, and integrated testing.
Set the test and verification strategy with the V&V lead and support commissioning through first operation.
Design for manufacture and repeatability so that each unit can be built faster than the previous one.
Build, lead, and mentor the mechanical engineering organization, including engineering managers and system responsible engineers.
Manage mechanical scope, schedule, and budget within the reactor program.
Lead mechanical team structure and staffing as the program scales.
Coordinate with systems engineering, safety, IC&E, quality, and supply chain to maintain an integrated plant design.

Benefits

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
Opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up