Senior Mechanical Engineer 1 - Nuclear

Sargent & Lundy•Metairie, LA

1d•$82,380 - $125,860•Hybrid

About The Position

This role offers a hybrid work arrangement, allowing for three days in the office and two days remote. The position involves nuclear power plant systems design, including the preparation or review of modification packages, functional mechanical drawings, engineering analyses, technical specifications, procurement documents, vendor bid evaluations, and studies for operating nuclear power plants. Additionally, the engineer will develop cost estimates for client work scopes, visit client sites for interface and presentations, and lead engineering project teams. The role emphasizes leadership in leveraging modern tools like automation and AI to enhance workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs. This includes directing process-improvement work, guiding the use of AI tools, and ensuring results are checked. The position is within Sargent & Lundy's Nuclear Power Group, a leader in nuclear engineering, design, and licensing since 1954, focusing on small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced reactor technology (ART), reactor restart projects, life extensions, digital modernization, coal-to-nuclear conversions, and international new-build projects. The company is committed to safety, innovation, and sustainability, providing solutions that power communities globally while reducing emissions.

Requirements

BS or MS in Mechanical or Chemical Engineering from an ABET accredited program with academic coursework in thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfers
A minimum of 5 years of experience in the power industry
Working knowledge of codes, standards, and regulations that apply to mechanical engineering design of nuclear power plants
Willing or able to lead others who use modern tools
Expected to lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs

Nice To Haves

PE license
Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs
Additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows

Responsibilities

Be involved in nuclear power plant systems design, including preparation or review of modification packages for operating nuclear power plants
Be involved in nuclear power plant systems design, including preparation or review of functional mechanical drawings and/or drawings for nuclear power plant systems
Be involved in nuclear power plant systems design, including preparation or review of engineering analyses and evaluations to support modifications and operation of plant systems
Be involved in nuclear power plant systems design, including preparation or review of technical specifications and procurement documents for plant equipment
Be involved in nuclear power plant systems design, including preparation or review of vendor bid evaluations for plant equipment
Be involved in nuclear power plant systems design, including preparation or review of studies and options evaluations for modifications to operating nuclear power plants
Develop engineering cost estimates for small to mid-sized client-requested work scopes
Visit client office and/or plant site locations to interface with the client and make presentations related to engineering tasks and status
Lead engineering project teams
Lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs
Direct automation and process-improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation
Guide when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked