Mechanical Design Engineer II

About the role

You will serve as the Responsible Engineer for the mechanical design and development of hardware that supports reactor electronic systems at Antares. Your work will directly enable the deployment of clean energy from terrestrial applications to the Asteroid Belt by creating robust and deployable microreactor hardware. You will own the end-to-end mechanical design cycle for electronic hardware assemblies, ensuring designs are released into production efficiently and correctly. This role requires close collaboration across disciplines to translate electrical and control requirements into manufacturable mechanical solutions. You will be responsible for defining system layouts, enclosure requirements, and thermal and environmental considerations that protect sensitive electronics in demanding conditions. The position involves managing the complete product definition, from initial concept through verification and field support, ensuring reliability and manufacturability. You will create and maintain the engineering artifacts that drive production, ensuring that every bracket, cable management feature, and structural support is precisely defined.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Design and develop mechanical hardware for reactor electronic systems, including enclosures, equipment racks, mounting hardware, cable management, and structural support assemblies.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, manufacturing drawings, bills of materials (BOMs), and engineering documentation to support fabrication and product release.
• Perform engineering calculations and analyses to validate the structural, thermal, and environmental performance of mechanical hardware.
• Collaborate with electrical, controls, manufacturing, and test engineers to define mechanical interfaces, packaging layouts, and installation requirements.
• Support prototype fabrication, testing, design verification, supplier engagement, hardware deployment, and the resolution of manufacturing, assembly, and field issues.
• Maintain engineering configuration within the Product Data Management (PDM) system and participate in design reviews throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Define packaging solutions that address nuclear radiation shielding, thermal management, vibration isolation, and EMI/EMC considerations for electronic assemblies.
• Develop detailed designs for sheet metal, machined, welded, and fabricated components using advanced design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA) principles.
• Manage engineering data, revisions, and document control within a Product Data Management (PDM) or Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system to ensure traceability.
• Conduct structural and thermal analysis using engineering tools such as ANSYS, Femap, COMSOL Multiphysics, or equivalent FEA software to verify designs.
• Interface with supply chain and manufacturing teams to optimize production processes, ensure quality, and resolve assembly or field issues.
• Lead design reviews and communicate technical information clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders across the organization.
• Ensure mechanical designs meet verification plans and regulatory standards for nuclear, aerospace, and defense applications.
• Contribute to the development of standardized hardware platforms that can be scaled across multiple microreactor products.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related engineering discipline as a foundational requirement for this position.
• Bring a minimum of 2+ years of professional experience designing and developing mechanical hardware for electronic systems, including enclosures, mounting hardware, racks, or structural support assemblies.
• Demonstrate hands-on experience creating 3D CAD models, detailed engineering drawings, and bills of materials (BOMs) for production hardware to communicate design intent accurately.
• Apply engineering calculations to size and validate mechanical components and support structures, ensuring designs meet performance and safety criteria.
• Utilize geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) to specify requirements and guide the fabrication and inspection of machined and fabricated components.
• Employ standard manufacturing processes for fabricated and machined components, ensuring designs are practical and cost-effective to produce.
• Manage engineering documentation, revisions, and product structures within a Product Data Management (PDM) or Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system to maintain data integrity.
• Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary engineering teams, including electrical, controls, manufacturing, and test engineers, while conveying technical details to diverse audiences.
• Navigate complex engineering constraints related to nuclear radiation shielding, thermal management, vibration isolation, and electromagnetic compatibility in demanding environments.
• Maintain strict configuration control and traceability of design changes throughout the product development lifecycle to ensure compliance and reliability.
• Contribute to defining system layouts, enclosure requirements, and installation requirements in collaboration with controls and test engineering teams.
• Support the resolution of manufacturing, assembly, and field issues by providing timely design updates and technical guidance to cross-functional partners.
• Prepare engineering analyses and verification activities that align with prototype fabrication, testing, and design verification objectives.
• Engage with suppliers and manufacturing partners to ensure designs are optimized for fabrication, assembly, and quality control.

Nice to have

• Hold a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related engineering discipline for advanced technical depth.
• Apply experience designing electronic enclosures, equipment racks, mounting hardware, and structural support assemblies for demanding operating environments that involve radiation, heat, and vibration.
• Leverage knowledge of electronic packaging principles, including thermal management, vibration isolation, EMI/EMC considerations, nuclear radiation shielding, cable management, and environmental sealing.
• Perform structural and thermal analysis using engineering tools such as ANSYS, Femap, COMSOL Multiphysics, or equivalent FEA software to de-risk designs before prototyping.
• Implement design for manufacturing and assembly (DFMA) strategies for sheet metal, machined, welded, and fabricated components to streamline production.
• Utilize Product Data Management (PDM) or Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems to control engineering data, revisions, and bill of materials at scale.
• Contribute domain-specific experience in the nuclear, aerospace, defense, robotics, or related high-tech manufacturing sectors to accelerate program execution.

Practical notes

The role is based in Los Angeles and requires in-person presence. The position is full-time and eligible for standard employment authorization. Travel may be required for design reviews, supplier visits, or testing activities as project needs dictate. This role is subject to applicable U.S. export control and nuclear regulatory requirements.