Description

We are seeking a skilled and motivated mechanical design engineer to join our molten salt fabrication
team. This hands-on role involves designing and prototyping systems, components and structure
associated with halide salt production, working directly with high-temperature molten salts,
operating specialized equipment, building custom salt machinery and equipment and generally
supporting industrial-scale production of molten salt products.

The ideal candidate will have extensive design and fabrication experience, capacity for mechanical
analyses including but not limited to stress distribution, vibration, fatigue and other failure modes,
pressure, and thermal shock. They must also be comfortable working in both laboratory and industrial
environments with high-temperature systems and have experience building components and structures, recording data,
communicating results through both oral and written communication, designing and implementing a
variety of tests on structural components and systems, and managing buildouts of industrial
processes. A PE license is highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Molten Salt Handling
• Work in a multidisciplinary team to install and operate a high temperature molten salt fabrication processes. 
• Design and prototype systems, structures, and components of molten salt fabrication facilities.
• Work with a team to complete complex tasks and accurately characterize results.
• Assist in HAZOP reviews and ECM of the process equipment.
• Set up, operate, and maintain high-temperature industrial equipment.
• Operate, maintain, and repair inert atmosphere glove boxes.

Requirements

Qualifications: 

Required: 

• Bachelors or masters degree in mechanical engineering plus 10+ years of industry experience
• CSWP or proven competency in CAD.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Strict adherence to laboratory and industrial safety and chemical safety protocols.
• Experience designing, prototyping, and troubleshooting a variety of mechanical components
• Ability to wear full-body personal protective equipment (PPE) properly for 90 minutes at a time. 

Preferred: 

• Candidates with a PE license that can sign off on engineering designs.
• Certifications for CAD or similar drawing/design software.
• Experience with a variety of machining and fabrication methods/techniques.
• Familiarity with laboratory and industrial software/data systems. 

Core Technical Skills

Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Nonlinear thermal-structural coupling
- Creep, fatigue, and plastic deformation modeling
- Transient thermal cycling simulation
- Experience with ANSYS Mechanical, Abaqus, or COMSOL Multiphysics
Stress & Fatigue Analysis
- High-cycle and low-cycle fatigue under thermal gradients
- Ratcheting, creep-fatigue interaction, and hold-time effects
- Use of ASME Section VIII Division 2 fatigue methods
- Life prediction per API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 (Fitness for Service)
Pressure Vessel & High-Temperature Design
- Detailed knowledge of ASME Section VIII Div. 1 & Div. 2
- Familiarity with Section II (Materials), Section IX (Welding Qualifications), and Section V (NDE)
- Design by Analysis (DBA) per ASME Div. 2 Part 5
- Experience with allowable stress extrapolation beyond tabulated temperature ranges
Materials Engineering
- Metallurgy of nickel alloys, Hastelloy, Inconel, and stainless steels
- Corrosion and embrittlement mechanisms in fluoride or chloride molten salts
- Grain growth, creep, and sensitization at sustained high temperatures
Ability to interpret creep rupture data and Larson-Miller parameters
Thermal-Mechanical Systems Analysis
- Heat-transfer modeling (conduction, convection, and radiation)
- Transient startup/shutdown cycle modeling
- Thermal stress due to gradients and local discontinuities
- Coupled CFD-FEA simulation for localized hotspots
Failure Modes and Life Prediction
- Experience with fatigue crack growth (Paris Law) and fracture mechanics
- Corrosion-assisted cracking and creep rupture models
- Development of inspection intervals based on damage accumulation
 
Analytical & Computational Expertise

• Proficiency in Python/Matlab for life-cycle modeling or custom material property interpolation
• Knowledge of ASME allowable stress extrapolation for non-listed materials or extended temperature ranges
• Statistical reliability and uncertainty quantification (Monte Carlo, probabilistic FEA)
• Familiarity with high-temperature design codes (ASME Section III, RCC-MRx, or HBB for nuclear applications) 
     

Bonus Skills

• Familiarity with Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) or Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) vessels
• Experience with salt chemistry control, oxygen getters, and corrosion mitigation
• Knowledge of weld metallurgy and post-weld heat treatment at elevated temperatures
• Thermal insulation system design and finite-volume heat-flux evaluation

Work Environment: 

• Exposure to high temperatures, chemical handling, and in-glovebox operations.
• Full-body personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn as required.
• Training will be provided for specific procedures and equipment operation. 

Compensation and Benefits: 

• Benefits and Competitive salary commensurate with experience.
• Paid time off and professional development opportunities.