Thermo - Mechanical Design Engineer - Heat Pipes

Antares • Los Angeles, CA

5d • $112,000 - $150,000 • Onsite

About The Position

At Antares, our long-term mission is to make clean energy abundant from Earth to the Asteroid Belt. We’re fueled by the belief that advanced nuclear energy can strengthen our military, solve the climate crisis, elevate global living standards, and expand humanity's presence in outer space. To achieve our mission, we’re building mass-producible, inherently safe, deployable microreactors that can be used terrestrially, underwater, and in space.

As a Thermo-Mechanical Design Engineer, you will play a key role in the development, design, qualification, and deployment of advanced heat pipe systems for cutting-edge applications. You will work closely with the Heat Pipe Responsible Engineer and cross-functional teams to mature technologies from concept through production. The ideal candidate will drive innovation and ensure the highest standards in heat pipe technology, contributing to next-generation sustainable energy solutions.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related physics-based field
• 2+ years of experience in engineering, with a focus on thermal or heat transfer systems
• Demonstrated experience with thermal modeling software (e.g., COMSOL, ANSYS)

Nice To Haves

• Master’s in Nuclear Engineering, Thermal Sciences, or Mechanical / Aerospace Engineering
• Knowledge of materials science as it applies to alloy selection for heat transfer and structural properties
• 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
• 2+ years of experience in 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

Responsibilities

• Perform design, modeling, and analysis of heat pipe systems, ensuring compatibility with interfaces in their intended applications
• 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
• Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders to drive the execution of customer requirements into delivered hardware products
• Define operating procedures and limits for heat pipes to inform end users of performance envelope
• Investigate heat pipe failure and define reliability limits; integrate fixes rapidly

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level