Thermofluids Engineer

Last Energy is a nuclear energy company that designs, builds, owns, and operates small modular reactors (SMRs) for industrial and commercial customers. The company's flagship product, the PWR-20, is a 20 MWe pressurized water reactor that is fully modular and factory-produced, enabling faster and more cost-effective deployment than traditional nuclear power plants. Last Energy serves as a behind-the-meter independent power producer, supplying reliable baseload electricity to energy-intensive industries including data centers, metals production, food and beverage, pulp and paper, chemicals, and cement manufacturing. The company's mission centers on making nuclear power radically simpler and more accessible by removing the burden of development, financing, and operations from customers through a power purchase agreement model. This approach aligns nuclear energy deployment with the urgent need for resilient, low-carbon power, particularly as demand from AI infrastructure and industrial growth accelerates. Last Energy's use of proven reactor technology combined with proprietary steel containment systems is designed to streamline licensing and reduce construction timelines. Last Energy represents a new generation of nuclear developers focused on decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial sectors with firm, emissions-free power. By standardizing and modularizing the entire plant through factory manufacturing, the company aims to bring predictable costs and schedules to a sector historically challenged by both, positioning SMRs as a practical climate solution at commercial scale.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Lead the conceptual design, analysis, and execution of critical thermal system components and loops for our advanced power plant systems.

Drive multiscale thermal-fluid analysis for complex internal turbulent flows, balancing high-fidelity CFD models with efficient system-level codes to validate and optimize designs.

Own the development and validation of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and system-level thermal-hydraulic models to ensure structural stability, performance, and design safety across key reactor components.

Contribute directly to the design and optimization of critical thermal components including heat exchangers, piping networks, fluid storage tanks, and other pressure-boundary equipment based on rigorous thermal performance requirements.

Collaborate daily with a multidisciplinary team (Mechanical, Nuclear, and Systems Engineers) to integrate thermal-fluid solutions into cohesive, plant-level designs.

Perform structural, thermal, and fluid analyses using advanced simulation tools (FEA, CFD) to validate and optimize designs for manufacturability and deployment speed.

Operate autonomously, driving projects from concept to analysis and final design verification in a startup culture that values speed, ingenuity, and accountability.

Qualifications

Proven experience as a Thermofluids Engineer (or similar analytical role) focusing on the development and analysis of thermal systems components within power plant, nuclear, or complex industrial systems.

Expert proficiency in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software (e.g., ANSYS Fluent, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM) and system-level thermal-hydraulic codes.

Adept at solving complex thermal and fluid dynamics challenges utilizing advanced techniques and simulation software.

Strong foundational knowledge of heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics, with a deep understanding of internal turbulent flow phenomena.

Ability to perform in-depth multiscale analyses of heat transfer at both the component and system levels.

Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with a focus on delivering high-quality, actionable results.

Strong communication skills and a willingness to work collaboratively in a cross-functional, startup team environment.