Manager, Mechanical Design

Valar Atomics is a nuclear energy company focused on scaling high-temperature gas reactors (HTGRs) for grid-independent industrial applications. The company is developing what it calls gigasites, large-scale facilities housing hundreds of nuclear reactors intended to power heavy industry, data centers, hydrogen production, and clean hydrocarbon fuel synthesis. Their reactor design uses TRISO fuel, a graphite moderator, and helium coolant, a combination the company highlights for its strong safety profile and proliferation resistance. By operating outside the traditional electricity grid, Valar Atomics aims to unlock economies of scale that have historically eluded the nuclear industry. Valar Atomics' mission centers on making nuclear energy the cheapest and most reliable energy source in the world, with a particular emphasis on decarbonizing industrial processes and enabling clean fuel production. Their hydrogen output, generated via a sulfur-iodine thermochemical cycle, can be combined with captured CO2 to produce synthetic hydrocarbons through a modified Fischer-Tropsch process, offering a pathway to drop-in clean fuels. The company also targets the surging power demands of AI data centers, which are projected to require over 200 additional terawatt-hours of grid power by 2030. The company is currently advancing its Ward 250 project, a test reactor being developed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the San Rafael Energy Research Center, and the State of Utah, with a target go-live date of July 4, 2026, America's 250th birthday. The reactor has already been physically transported to Emery County, Utah, with logistical support from the U.S. military. Four executive orders issued under the Trump administration provided a mandate supporting the project's accelerated deployment timeline.

About Valar Atomics

At Valar Atomics, we're redefining what's possible in energy. Our mission is to make clean, high-temperature nuclear power scalable—unlocking abundant energy for industry, hydrogen, and next-generation manufacturing. We are a team of builders, engineers, and operators who believe nuclear energy should be fast to deploy, factory-made, and built for the real world. Our first pilot plant in Orangeville, Utah will demonstrate how advanced nuclear systems and fuel fabrication can power the future. Joining Valar Atomics means becoming part of a company where autonomy, ownership, and impact exist at every level.

The Team 

As part of the Engineering organization, Mechanical Engineering designs and develops the mechanical systems, components, and equipment that power Valar's advanced nuclear technologies. The team ensures designs are robust, manufacturable, and optimized for long-term performance.

The Role 

The Manager of Mechanical Design leads a shared mechanical design team that supports efforts across fuel equipment design, high-temp-gas-reactor design, and turbomachinery design. This role is for a hands-on engineering leader who can build a cross functional team that spans a variety of engineering disciplines, and context switch quickly between programs at Valar. Candidates from oil & gas, aerospace propulsion, or industrial turbomachinery are strongly preferred. Nuclear background is a plus, not a prerequisite.  

Key Responsibilities 

• Build and lean an in-house Mechanical Design organization, including hiring, organizational design, technical standards, and development of mechanical designers 

• Own the highest level assemblies, bills of materials, and layouts for all of our projects 

• Manage software selection, templates, workflows, and cross-functional decision making 

• Collaborate with our in-house software engineering team on interfaces between models, supply chain systems, and manufacturing systems 

• Define and enforce requirements for 3D modelling and 2D drawings 

You Will Be Successful in This Role If 

• You have previously led high functioning Mechanical Design organizations 
• You are comfortable designing plumbing, harnessing, machined components, and large assemblies 
• You enjoy working across disciplines and organizing stakeholders through design detail 
• You are passionate about good modelling, GD&T, and collaborating with many different groups 

Basic Qualifications 

• 5+ years of experience in mechanical design, including piping, tubing, harnessing, and complex assemblies 
• 2+ years of experience managing a mechanical design team 
• Deep expertise in Solidworks, NX, or a similar program 
• Deep expertise in PLM software and working in a manufacturing environment 
• Proven ability to build teams, hire strong designers, and deliver on aggressive schedules 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Experience with ASME BPVC and ASME B31 design 
• Experience working in the nuclear industry 
• Experience in startup or rapid-growth environments 
• Experience owning plant level models and driving design reviews at the plant level 

What We Offer  

• Competitive base salary 
• Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company 
• Comprehensive medical benefits 
• Unlimited PTO
• Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite 
• Generous PPE stipend
• High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy 
• Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement 
• Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders 
• The opportunity to help build and scale transformative energy technology from the ground up

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Valar Atomics is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status under applicable law.

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder).