Senior Thermo - Mechanical Engineer (Responsible Heat Pipe Engineer)

Antares • Los Angeles, CA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

As the Responsible Engineer for Heat Pipes, you will play a critical role in the development, design, and implementation of advanced heat pipe systems for cutting-edge nuclear microreactors. This position requires a deep understanding of thermal engineering and heat transfer in extreme environments, with a focus on reliability, safety, and efficiency. The ideal candidate will drive innovation and ensure the highest standards in nuclear heat pipe technology, contributing to next-generation sustainable energy solutions

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or physics
• 5+ years of experience in high energy hardware (combustion devices, turbomachines, rankine cycles, hypersonics, etc)
• Proficiency in thermal modeling software (e.g., COMSOL, ANSYS)
• Knowledge of materials science as it applies to alloy selection for heat transfer and structural properties

Nice To Haves

• Master’s or PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering
• Experience focusing on heat pipes or heat transfer systems, preferably in nuclear or high-reliability sectors.
• Demonstrated knowledge in simulation of high temperature 2-phase flow fields
• Demonstrated expertise in heat pipe design, analysis, manufacturing, and test
• Strong understanding of nuclear safety standards, testing protocols, and regulatory requirements
• Experience in nuclear thermal or other high temperature (500°C+) systems, including prior work with heat pipe technology
• Experience with sodium purification and material handling
• Exceptional communication skills to work effectively across teams and convey technical information to non-specialists
• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, modeling, and analysis of heat pipe systems, ensuring compatibility with R1’s core design, primary heat exchanger, and internal interfaces
• Support development of manufacturing methods for prototyping and mass manufacturing of heat pipes
• Support development of test articles, stands, and procedures for validating the limits of heat pipe performance and life characteristics
• Interface with core, reactor vessel, and primary heat exchanger parts and owners to integrate heat pipes into the overall R1 system
• Define operating procedures and limits for heat pipes to inform reactor control system integration
• Investigate heat pipe failure and define reliability limits; integrate fixes rapidly

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees