Mechanical Design Engineer (Fuel Recycling)

Location: Santa Clara, California, United States

Salary: $80,000–$155,000 per year

Company

hirify.global develops advanced fission power plants, nuclear fuel recycling technologies, and radioisotope supply chains to provide clean, reliable energy.

What you will do

• Own the mechanical design of process and system components for nuclear fuel recycling facilities.
• Design and validate electrochemical molten salt equipment operating above 500°C and in high-radiation environments.
• Apply design-for-automation principles for remote handling, inspection, and maintenance.
• Create and maintain 3D CAD models, 2D fabrication drawings, bills of materials, and controlled PDM/PLM documentation.
• Lead design reviews and collaborate with nuclear, electrochemical, controls, automation, robotics, quality, and licensing teams.
• Support prototyping, testing, commissioning, fabrication-partner coordination, and equipment deployment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in Mechanical Engineering or a related field such as Materials or Nuclear Engineering.
• 5–10 years of experience taking mechanical systems from concept through detailed design, analysis, fabrication, and deployment.
• Experience designing custom equipment for high-temperature or heavy industrial applications.
• Expert proficiency with 3D CAD and 2D fabrication drawings using tools such as Siemens NX, CATIA, or SolidWorks.
• Knowledge of material selection, high-temperature alloys, corrosion-resistant metals, manufacturing, and joining techniques.
• Strong systems engineering, technical communication, documentation, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Nice to have

• Experience with electroplating, electrowinning, pyroprocessing, or corrosive molten salt environments.
• Experience designing for radiation tolerance, remote maintenance, robotics, control systems, or lights-out operations.
• Experience with heavy industrial or pilot-scale equipment and long maintenance intervals.
• Experience with ANSYS or similar FEA/CFD tools, GD&T, design for manufacturability, or balance-of-plant integration.
• Experience in commercial or governmental nuclear projects.

Culture & Benefits

• Startup environment with fast-paced, iterative work and minimal hierarchy.
• Collaborative, multidisciplinary culture centered on shared ownership and transparency.
• Flexible time off and flexible work hours.
• Equity, competitive pay, 401(k), health insurance, and FSA.
• Employment may be contingent on drug screening and may include testing in accordance with company policy and applicable laws.