Head of Mechanical Engineering

• Define mechanical engineering strategy from experimental devices through commercial deployment
• Own technical decisions for structural systems, vacuum vessels, thermal management, materials selection, and mechanical integration
• Lead design reviews and approve critical mechanical systems ensuring alignment with physics requirements, safety standards, and manufacturing constraints
• Partner with physics and other engineering teams to translate requirements into mechanical designs
• Build, lead, and mentor mechanical engineering team
• Establish technical standards, design processes, and engineering best practices
• Recruit top talent and develop engineering capabilities across the organization
• Lead mechanical design of vacuum vessels, structural systems, thermal management, and component integration
• Drive integration with magnets, plasma heating equipment, diagnostics, and control systems
• Oversee structural analysis, thermal analysis, and simulations to validate and optimize designs
• Ensure designs accommodate nuclear, safety, and regulatory requirements
• Deliver mechanical engineering scope on schedule and budget for experimental campaigns and pilot plant development
• Manage engineering budget, resource allocation, and capital equipment investments
• Drive design-for-manufacturing initiatives to reduce costs and accelerate production
• Represent mechanical engineering capabilities to investors, partners, and technical stakeholders
• Collaborate with national laboratories, universities, and industry partners on systems development
• Engage with vendors and manufacturing partners to advance fabrication capabilities

• BS in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
• 15+ years mechanical engineering experience in hardware-intensive industries (aerospace, energy, advanced manufacturing, accelerators)
• 5+ years leading engineering teams of 5+ people
• Track record delivering complex mechanical systems from concept through commissioning
• Deep expertise in structural mechanics, vacuum systems, thermal management, and mechanical design
• Proficiency with CAD (SolidWorks, NX, CATIA) and FEA tools (ANSYS, Abaqus)
• Experience with high-performance materials, pressure vessels, and extreme environmental applications
• Knowledge of mechanical codes and standards (ASME BPVC, AWS)
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering teams
• Strong communication skills across technical and business audiences
• Demonstrated success solving first-of-a-kind engineering challenges
• Comfortable in fast-paced startup environments with incomplete information and schedule pressure

Advanced degree preferred

• Competitive compensation package, including equity stock options
• Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, plus a 401(k)
• Flexible paid time off (PTO) to support work-life balance