Mechanical Equipment Design Engineer – Uranium Process Systems

Oak Ridge, TN | Hybrid | Relocation Available

Design, Build, and Commission Equipment for Advanced Uranium Processing

Nano Nuclear Energy is seeking a Mechanical Equipment Design Engineer to develop and commission specialized equipment supporting uranium conversion and deconversion technologies. This is a hands-on engineering opportunity to turn process requirements into practical equipment designs and work directly on assembly, commissioning, troubleshooting, and scale-up.

Reporting to the VP of Fuel Technologies, you will collaborate with process engineers, equipment fabricators, and suppliers to develop reliable, maintainable equipment for laboratory and demonstration-facility operations.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Own equipment development: Translate process requirements into mechanical designs, specifications, layouts, and equipment interfaces.
• Work beyond the design office: Participate directly in equipment assembly, commissioning, troubleshooting, and modification.
• Solve complex engineering challenges: Address materials compatibility, corrosion, thermal performance, containment, and mechanical reliability.
• Influence technology scale-up: Help develop equipment that supports the transition from laboratory work to demonstration-scale operations.
• Collaborate with vendors and technical teams: Evaluate equipment proposals, review fabrication drawings, and support testing and commissioning.

What You’ll Do

• Design and specify process equipment, including reactors, vessels, furnaces, kilns, powder-handling systems, gas and vacuum systems, condensers, scrubbers, and modular process skids.
• Translate temperature, pressure, flow, reaction, solids-handling, and containment requirements into fabricable, operable equipment designs.
• Participate in equipment fabrication reviews, assembly, installation, alignment, leak testing, commissioning, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Address corrosion, erosion, thermal expansion, sealing, insulation, fatigue, contamination control, and other equipment reliability challenges.
• Design for maintainability, cleanout, inspection, decontamination, component replacement, and remote handling where appropriate.
• Prepare procurement specifications, evaluate vendor proposals, review drawings, and support factory and site acceptance testing.
• Evaluate scale-up effects on heat transfer, mixing, solids transport, gas distribution, residence time, and process performance.
• Maintain controlled engineering documentation and assess design changes for process, safety, and product-quality impacts.

What You’ll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master's degree in mechanical engineering or a closely related discipline.
• Experience designing process equipment for chemical, nuclear, ceramic, high-temperature, vacuum, powder-processing, or specialty manufacturing systems.
• Hands-on experience building, modifying, commissioning, maintaining, or troubleshooting laboratory, pilot, or demonstration-facility equipment.
• Strong knowledge of pressure and temperature systems, thermal equipment, gas systems, rotating or solids-handling equipment, mechanical interfaces, fabrication methods, and maintainability.
• Experience developing equipment specifications and working with fabricators, machine shops, integrators, or equipment vendors.
• Ability to prepare and maintain engineering calculations, drawings, equipment lists, interface requirements, and commissioning records.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with nuclear fuel-cycle or radiological process equipment.
• Familiarity with fluorine or UF6 service, corrosion-resistant materials, gloveboxes, confinement systems, or vacuum equipment.
• Experience with high-temperature furnaces, rotary equipment, powder feeders, dryers, kilns, or gas-solid reaction systems.
• Experience developing modular pilot plants or skid-mounted process equipment.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hybrid work arrangement in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• Relocation package available.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401(k) with up to 5% company match.
• Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and paid parental leave.
• Mentorship, technical leadership, and professional development opportunities.

E3 - Senior Engineer I $110k-$160k

E4 - Senior Engineer II $135k - $185k

E5 - Principal Engineer I $160k - $215k

E6 - Principal Engineer II $185k -$255k

Equal Opportunity Employer

NANO Nuclear Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply.