Senior Reliability Engineer

Oak Ridge Associated Universities•Knoxville, TN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

ORAU is conducting the search on behalf of Type One Energy for a permanent, full‑time Senior Reliability Engineer in Knoxville, Tennessee. Type One Energy Group is mission-driven to provide sustainable, affordable fusion power to the world. Established in 2019 and venture-backed in 2023, the company is led by a team of globally recognized fusion scientists with a strong track record of building state-of-the-art stellarator fusion machines, together with veteran business leaders experienced in scaling companies and commercializing energy technologies. If you are searching for the best new ideas and share our vision, join us as a “ Senior Reliability Engineer ”. Type One Energy applies proven advanced manufacturing methods, modern computational physics and high-field superconducting magnets to develop its optimized stellarator fusion energy system. Its FusionDirect development program pursues the lowest-risk, shortest-schedule path to a fusion power plant over the coming decade, using a partner-intensive and capital-efficient strategy. Type One Energy is committed to community engagement in the development and deployment of its clean energy technology.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Reliability Engineering, or a related discipline.
10+ years of experience in reliability engineering or closely related roles.
Hands-on experience applying reliability analysis techniques (FMEA, FTA, RBD, life-data analysis).
Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and system-level interactions.
Experience working with complex, high-reliability systems in industries such as energy, nuclear, aerospace, defense, semiconductors, or advanced manufacturing.
Ability to analyze data, identify trends, and translate findings into actionable engineering recommendations.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement reliability engineering methodologies for fusion systems, subsystems, and components.
Perform reliability analyses including: Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA / FMECA) Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) Reliability Block Diagrams (RBD)
Support probabilistic risk assessments and system-level reliability modeling.
Collaborate with engineering teams to influence design decisions early in the development lifecycle to improve reliability, maintainability, and serviceability.
Review designs, specifications, and test plans to identify reliability risks related to materials, tolerances, interfaces, thermal loads, radiation, vacuum, cryogenic conditions, and high-power operation.
Support development and execution of qualification, acceptance, and stress testing programs.
Analyze test and operational data to identify failure trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
Lead or support root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and corrective action planning.
Support commissioning and early operations by monitoring system performance and failure data.
Develop maintenance and inspection strategies informed by reliability analysis.
Contribute to spare parts strategies, maintenance intervals, and long-term lifecycle planning.