Senior Mechanical Engineer – Thermal/Structural Analysis

Location: Idaho Falls, ID; Austin, TX

Department: Engineering

Position Overview

We are seeking a Senior Engineer with expertise in Structural and Stress Analysis to join our dynamic team. This role involves performing mechanical analyses of reactor components, ensuring structural integrity under various operating conditions, and contributing to the design of our innovative reactor systems.

What you'll do

• The Senior Mechanical Engineer – Thermal/Structural Analysis will lead advanced analyses for reactor systems, focusing on FEA, CFD, and ASME Section III compliance. 
  This role ensures mechanical integrity, structural stability, adequate performance, and design safety across key reactor components. 

Responsibilities 

• Lead detailed structural analysis and identify failure modes of reactor components and systems (stress, fatigue, creep, seismic, and coupled thermal- and fluid-structural behavior). 

• Develop and validate FEA and CFD models to support design, performance, and safety decisions. 

• Conduct ASME Section III mechanical design and pressure-boundary analyses. 

• Collaborate with design, manufacturing, and licensing teams to optimize designs for performance, safety, manufacturability, and cost. 

• Support test plan development, data analysis, and design verification. 

• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to developing internal analysis standards. 

• Document and communicate analytical results for regulatory/licensing submissions and internal records. 

• Support verification and validation (V&V) efforts in accordance with software quality

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in Mechanical, Structural, or Nuclear Engineering. 

• 10+ years experience in structural and thermal analysis of complex systems (nuclear, aerospace, or similar). 

• Expertise with FEA tools (ANSYS, Nastran, Abaqus 

• Strong knowledge of ASME Section III and related nuclear design codes. 

• Understanding of materials behavior in high-temperature and radiation environments. 

• Proven communication and leadership skills; experience mentoring other engineers. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with sodium-cooled or advanced reactor systems. 

• Familiarity with CFD tools (Fluent, STAR-CCM+, etc.) 

• Familiarity with NRC licensing processes and QA/QC standards. 

• Background in modular manufacturing or pressure-boundary component design. 

• Proficiency with Siemens NX / Simcenter 3D or similar integrated modeling environments.

Why Join Aalo Atomics?

• Be part of a mission-driven team aiming to redefine the future of clean energy.
• Work on cutting-edge technology with the potential for global impact.
• Competitive compensation package, including equity options.
• Opportunities for professional growth and advancement in a rapidly scaling company.

About the Company

About Aalo Atomics

Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting-edge safety, modularity, and efficiency. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.