Mechanical Engineer (High-Speed Machinery)
About The Position
At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. Welcome to BWXT We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth, collaboration, and technical excellence. At our Oak Ridge, Tennessee Enrichment Operations site, you will join teams working at the forefront of advanced nuclear manufacturing, precision engineering, and mission‑critical national security programs. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, you’ll find opportunities to challenge yourself, partner with seasoned experts, and contribute to innovation shaping the future of nuclear technology. Our work requires a wide range of skills, and we welcome candidates from diverse backgrounds and career stages who share a passion for meaningful impact and technical advancement. As our Mechanical Engineer for High-Speed Machinery, you will own the design, development, analysis, and execution of critical rotating subsystems for the BWXT portion of the DUECE centrifuge program. You will work closely with rotodynamic engineers, composites specialists, analysts, and manufacturing teams to deliver high-speed rotating machinery supporting mission-critical nuclear enrichment operations.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Physics (BS + 10 yrs, or MS + 5 yrs).
- Experience with turbomachinery, turbines, compressors, electric motor rotors, or gearboxes.
- Proficiency with Abaqus, ANSYS, or NASTRAN for FEA.
- Experience with Campbell diagrams, critical speed analysis, and gyroscopic models.
- Knowledge of rotor dynamics phenomena and prediction techniques.
- Understanding of thermal-structural coupling and rotor/casing growth.
- Strong documentation and communication skills.
- Must be a U.S. citizen with ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance.
Nice To Haves
- MS in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis in dynamics/vibration.
- Aerospace, defense, or turbomachinery experience.
- Background with bearings, rotordynamics, and reliability engineering.
- HPC experience for large analysis workloads.
- Scripting in Python, MATLAB, or APDL.
- Experience correlating FEA predictions to test data.
- Familiarity with ASME Y14.5 GD&T.
- Experience with 1D fluid-network tools and rotating component design.
Responsibilities
- Lead mechanical design and development for high-speed rotating systems.
- Evaluate rotodynamics including critical speeds, Campbell diagrams, frequency response, and stability.
- Coordinate interface design and stiffness modeling with composites teams.
- Perform complex FEA including transient, nonlinear, gyroscopic, and thermal-mechanical simulations.
- Develop models predicting rotor/casing growth, interference fits, and fatigue behavior.
- Produce engineering documentation including design reports and analysis packages.
- Support prototype builds, hardware testing, and correlation with analysis predictions.
- Collaborate across engineering disciplines to resolve mechanical issues.
- Drive full lifecycle ownership of rotating hardware.
- Participate in gated reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
- Ensure compliance with engineering standards and DOE/NNSA requirements.
Benefits
- Competitive salary and benefits.
- Flexible schedules and PTO (as applicable).
- Professional development opportunities.
- Inclusive and collaborative culture.
- Mission-driven work tied to national security.
- Continuous learning in high-speed machinery engineering.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
