Principal Mechanical Equipment and Glovebox Design Engineer

Enercon Services, Inc.•Kennewick, WA

About The Position

Join ENERCON Federal Services' Advanced Design and Manufacturing team to design advanced specialty equipment supporting nuclear cleanup and next-generation energy missions. The role engineers first-of-a-kind (FOAK) mechanical systems, including gloveboxes, hot cells, shielded enclosures, remote-operated equipment, and custom facility upgrades for DOE and small modular reactor developers. Work supports DOE facilities and sites, legacy nuclear waste cleanup, site stewardship, safe radiological waste handling, and future nuclear technologies. The listed office locations are Kennewick, Washington; Naperville, Illinois; and Overland Park, Kansas. The engineer develops mechanical and electromechanical systems, produces detailed CAD designs and fabrication packages, performs engineering analyses, and supports fabrication, installation, testing, and commissioning. The position applies nuclear codes, standards, quality requirements, and configuration control. It also includes technical leadership, mentoring, client interaction, and onsite system walkdowns. Travel up to 10% is required for site walkdowns and client support. The role requires a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, at least 10 years of mechanical system design experience, and at least 6 years of advanced CAD experience. DOE or nuclear experience is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship and authorization to work in the U.S. without current or future employer sponsorship are required. Compensation is listed at USD $120,000–$185,000 per year.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university.
10 or more years of mechanical system design experience; DOE or nuclear experience is strongly preferred.
6 or more years of advanced CAD experience; SolidWorks is preferred, with Inventor or CREO acceptable.
Expertise in mechanism design, containment systems, gloveboxes, shielding, piping/systems, and manufacturing and fabrication support.
Experience with build-to-print design, reverse engineering, and FOAK/specialty equipment development.
Experience with one or more of the listed codes and standards: AGS, AISC, ACI, ASTM C1533, ASTM C1554, ASTM C1725-17, or IAEA Safety Standards.
Strong experience supporting fabrication, installation, commissioning, and Factory Acceptance Tests.
Advanced FEA skills in structural, thermal, CFD, dynamic, modal, fatigue, creep, and buckling analyses.
Understanding of nuclear-relevant materials and materials science considerations.
Strong communication, documentation, and client-facing skills.
Ability to travel up to 10% for site walkdowns and client support.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future employer sponsorship.
Employment is contingent on passing pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings, background checks, and annual motor vehicle record reviews, as required by company and client policies.

Nice To Haves

DOE/nuclear mechanical system design experience.
Professional Engineer (PE) license; strongly preferred.
Thermal-hydraulic analysis experience.
HVAC, hydraulic, or piping system design experience.
Experience with AFT FATHOM, AFT ARROW, AFT IMPULSE, AutoPIPE, or HVAC airflow/load software.
SolidWorks experience; preferred over Inventor or CREO.

Responsibilities

Design FOAK and specialty nuclear equipment, including gloveboxes, hot cells, containment systems, shielding structures, remote-handling mechanisms, and other specialty equipment.
Develop mechanical and electromechanical mechanisms, process and piping systems, transportation and handling containers, and facility upgrade solutions.
Create high-fidelity 3D CAD models using SolidWorks, Inventor, or CREO; produce build-to-print drawings, fabrication packages, and reverse-engineered models for legacy equipment.
Incorporate manufacturability, assembly sequencing, ergonomics, and maintenance access into designs.
Perform structural, thermal, CFD, vibrational, modal, fatigue, creep, and buckling FEA, along with mechanical system calculations and design justification under DOE/NRC requirements.
Support prototype builds, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, and operational readiness.
Prepare and execute Factory Acceptance Test plans and commissioning test plans.
Work with fabricators, machinists, and field engineers to resolve issues and improve designs.
Apply nuclear codes, standards, quality requirements, and configuration control; ensure compliance with DOE nuclear facility safety and design requirements.
Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical lead on multidisciplinary project teams.
Engage with DOE clients, national laboratories, and plant engineering teams; conduct onsite system walkdowns and translate operational and safety needs into engineered solutions.
Communicate with clients through documentation, presentations, and technical reviews.
Travel up to 10% for site walkdowns and client support.