Lead Mechanical Designer, Turbomachinery
Lead the mechanical design of turbomachinery for clean nuclear power generation at a pioneering energy startup.
Posted by employer 1 week ago
First seen on Joblaze 1 week ago
Last verified on the company career page 1 day ago
Skills & Technologies
What you'll build
- Lead group of 4-5 mechanical designers
- Own all aspects of bringing assigned components to test and to full scale production
- Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings
- Select component materials
Must have
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- Minimum 10 years of experience as a mechanical designer
- Demonstrated track record of bringing precision mechanical assemblies into production
- Demonstrated success in leading groups of engineers on large technical projects
Nice to have
- Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- Experience with basic structural, thermal, and rotordynamic analysis
- Experience with turbomachinery mechanical design
- Experience in gas turbines, gearboxes, gas compressors, turbopumps, generators, or turboexpanders
- Experience with supercritical C02
Practical constraints
- Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States
Requirements
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Education
- Bachelor's degree
- Visa
- Sponsorship available
Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement.
Benefits
Joblaze summary
The Lead Mechanical Designer for Turbomachinery at Valar Atomics is tasked with overseeing the mechanical design of both static and rotating components for power generation systems, specifically focusing on a supercritical CO2 power cycle. This role requires expertise in 3D CAD modeling and a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, with a preference for candidates who have experience in turbomachinery design and a background in mechanical or aerospace engineering. Ideal candidates will have at least ten years of experience and a proven track record of leading engineering teams on complex projects. As an early hire, this position offers the chance to significantly influence design de
Joblaze insights
- Listed 9 days ago — first seen on Joblaze October 31, 2026. Last confirmed on Valar Atomics's careers page November 8, 2026.
- Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$127,500).
- Starts above 81% of 214 comparable lead other roles in United States we track (median $150,000 across 75 companies).
- NX appears in 0.3% of 639 comparable lead other roles in United States; Solidworks appears in 0.2% of 639 comparable lead other roles in United States.
Quick facts
- What's the salary range?
- Valar Atomics lists $200,000–$295,000 for this role.
- How much experience is required?
- At least 10 years of relevant experience for this Lead Mechanical Designer, Turbomachinery role.
- What's the tech stack?
- Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Creo, NX, Solidworks.
- Does Valar Atomics sponsor work visas for this role?
- Yes — the posting indicates visa sponsorship is available for the right candidate.
- What seniority level is this role?
- Valar Atomics targets lead candidates for this position.
- Is this full-time or contract?
- Full-time for this Lead Mechanical Designer, Turbomachinery role at Valar Atomics.
From the original posting
The Team
As part of the Engineering organization, Power Conversion develops the technologies that efficiently transform reactor-generated heat into usable electrical power. The team focuses on maximizing system performance, reliability, and commercial viability.
The Role
Valar Atomics is seeking a lead turbomachinery mechanical designer to join the turbomachinery team and advance power generation capability. In this role, you’ll be responsible for the mechanical design of static and rotating components of Valar’s power generation turbomachinery. You’ll lead a team of 4-5 designers to define a manufacturable, high efficiency, robust design. As an early hire in turbomachinery, you will be able to directly influence design decisions on the system architecture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead group of 4-5 mechanical designers in the design of Valar’s first supercritical CO2 power cycle
- Own all aspects of bringing assigned components to test and to full scale production
- Develop detailed 3D CAD models, assemblies, and engineering drawings (SolidWorks, Creo, or NX), applying advanced GD&T and tolerance analysis.
- Select component materials that balance capability versus lead time and cost considerations
You Will Be Successful in This Role If
- You are excited to be a part of a complex novel product from the beginning
- You thrive in ambiguous environments without defined turbomachinery design best practices
- You want to be part of turbomachinery design beyond a singular siloed discipline
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- Demonstrated track record of bringing precision mechanical assemblies into production
- Demonstrated success in leading groups of engineers on large technical projects
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes and good judgement of when to use them
- Minimum 10 years of experience as a mechanical designer
- Excellent judgement in material selection
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Master's degree in Mechanical or Aerospace Engineering
- Experience with basic structural, thermal, and rotordynamic analysis
- Experience with turbomachinery mechanical design
- Experience in gas turbines, gearboxes, gas compressors, turbopumps, generators, or turboexpanders
- Experience with supercritical C02
Standard company text repeated across Valar Atomics's postings is omitted here.