Thermo-Mechanical Engineer, Heat Exchanger

Antares • Los Angeles, CA

1d • $145,000 - $190,000 • Onsite

About The Position

As a Thermo-Mechanical Design Engineer, you will help develop, design, qualify, and deploy advanced heat exchanger systems for energy applications. You will work with Responsible Engineers and cross-functional teams to mature designs from concept through production. The role calls for mechanical design fundamentals, thermal engineering knowledge, and hands-on hardware development experience to deliver reliable, high-performance heat exchangers and associated piping systems.

The position is based at Antares's facility in Torrance, California, a new 322,000-square-foot site with open spaces for collaboration, research and development, and production. The role may require long hours and weekend work to support critical milestones.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related physics-based field.
• At least 2 years of experience in mechanical or thermal engineering, preferably involving heat exchangers, pressure-containing equipment, or high-temperature systems.
• Demonstrated experience with mechanical CAD design and engineering analysis tools such as SolidWorks, NX, ANSYS, or COMSOL.
• Understanding of heat transfer fundamentals, fluid mechanics, thermal stresses, and structural mechanics.
• Understanding of piping and pressure-containing component design, including pressure loads, thermal expansion, and mechanical interfaces.
• Knowledge of materials science as it applies to material selection, thermal properties, and structural performance.
• Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, qualifying refugee, or qualifying asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations, to conform with U.S. Government export regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or Thermal Sciences.
• Demonstrated experience in heat exchanger design, analysis, manufacturing, and testing.
• Experience with high-temperature (500°C+) systems, including thermal expansion, creep, fatigue, and material compatibility considerations.
• Experience with thermal and structural finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
• Experience designing high-temperature piping systems, manifolds, and associated mechanical components.
• Experience evaluating piping flexibility, thermal stresses, and loads at equipment connections using analytical or simulation tools.
• Familiarity with heat exchanger and piping fabrication methods, including welding, brazing, and other joining processes.
• Experience designing pressure-containing components and familiarity with applicable ASME codes and standards, such as ASME BPVC Section VIII, ASME B31.1, or B31.3.
• Experience developing and executing hardware validation tests, including pressure, thermal cycling, and performance testing.
• Understanding of nuclear safety standards, quality requirements, and regulatory considerations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across engineering, manufacturing, materials, quality, and testing teams.

Responsibilities

• Perform mechanical design, modeling, and analysis of heat exchanger systems, ensuring thermal performance, structural integrity, and compatibility with system interfaces.
• Design and analyze heat exchanger inlet and outlet piping, manifolds, and associated mechanical interfaces, ensuring compatibility with system performance and installation requirements.
• Evaluate thermal stresses, differential thermal expansion, pressure loads, piping flexibility, and mechanical loads transmitted between heat exchangers, piping, and supporting structures.
• Support the development of manufacturing methods, including material selection, fabrication processes, joining techniques, and assembly of heat exchanger and piping components.
• Design and support development of test articles, test stands, and procedures to validate thermal performance, structural integrity, and operational life.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders to translate system requirements into manufacturable and reliable hardware products.
• Support the design and integration of piping connections, flanges, weld joints, supports, and other fluid-system components, considering manufacturability, assembly, inspection, and maintenance.
• Define operating limits and performance envelopes for heat exchanger systems.
• Investigate hardware failures, identify root causes, and implement design improvements to enhance performance and reliability.

What This Job Offers

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