Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Reactor Factory

About the Company

Humanity faces two critical challenges: securing reliable energy for everyone and aggressively lowering our environmental impact. Nuclear fission is the key to solving both at once, and our client is actively developing the technology to rapidly scale the deployment of nuclear fission today.

This is a direct hire, permanent placement position for a client of AdAstra Talent Advisors. This position is based in El Segundo, CA. More company details will be shared during an initial call.

The Opportunity

As Sr. Manufacturing Engineer, Reactor Factory, you'll lead manufacturing and test of machined components, welded pressure vessels, compact heat exchangers, and other reactor system components to rapidly ramp production of our client's first nuclear reactor.

You'll own the factory's highest-impact projects — standing up new production cells and driving the continuous improvement and innovation required to achieve high-quality and high-rate throughput — while setting the technical bar for the manufacturing engineering team.

Successful candidates will have previously demonstrated extreme ownership in simplifying, innovating, or otherwise improving products and/or production lines and processes, and will be highly motivated to power humanity with abundant, clean energy.

Responsibilities

• Provide end-to-end ownership of high-rate reactor production line design, bring-up, operations, and improvements for the factory's most complex, highest-impact areas
• Perform hands-on design for manufacturability engineering during the reactor development cycle; act as primary liaison between design and production teams
• Own reactor component manufacturability from first prototype builds through introduction into high-rate manufacturing
• Contribute to design reviews as an expert in design for manufacturability, design for inspectability, yield and cost improvements, supplier assessments, and quality control
• Act as primary point of contact for non-conforming product — troubleshooting, root cause, failure investigation, and corrective actions
• Lead initial supply chain development for critical materials and outside processes (forgings, plate and tube stock, specialty fabrication)
• Own the design and validation of fixtures, tooling, and new technology introduced to the production line
• Prepare engineering documentation for the development-to-production transition — assembly procedures, test/inspection procedures, SOPs, process travelers, BOMs, and mechanical drawings
• Lead continuous improvement efforts on established production lines and products
• Perform structured root cause analysis of in-process failures
• Provide training and mentorship to junior manufacturing engineers, setting the standard for technical rigor across the team

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in manufacturing engineering, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering, or related discipline
• 3+ years of engineering experience developing manufacturing processes or designing, building, or testing hardware

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strong ability to use data and analysis to make fast data-driven decisions
• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals and core manufacturing processes
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles, even with partial information
• Hands-on shop experience (machining, welding, fabrication, assembly) and comfort with GD&T
• CNC programming/CAM workflows, process control and capability analysis, or production line ramp-up experience
• Experience acting as a technical lead — scoping work, reviewing designs and processes, guiding other engineers to successful outcomes
• Experience at a nimble engineering organization requiring a scrappy, entrepreneurial approach under tight time or budget constraints
• Experience building hardware, or a passion for contributing to a work product that operates in the real world
• Demonstrated rapid growth — successive positions of increasing responsibility, getting up to speed quickly, and accomplishing something meaningfully difficult early in your career

Note: this role is one of three levels on the Manufacturing Engineer, Reactor Factory track (Level I, Level II, and Sr.) — leveling is determined based on experience and interview performance.

Logistical Requirements

• On-site in El Segundo, CA
• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary
• Ability to travel to suppliers and reactor construction sites in other states as necessary

U.S. Person Requirement

Requires U.S. Person status per export control regulations (10 CFR Part 810). Candidates who are citizens of countries not on Part 810 Appendix A cannot currently be considered, even with a green card.

Competitive Compensation

Competitive cash compensation plus meaningful early-stage ownership grant. Compensation is determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data; individual pay may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities, and internal equity.

Benefit Highlights

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid vacation and paid parental leave
• Long-term incentives via company stock/stock options, plus an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Potential discretionary bonuses

Equal Opportunity

Our client is an equal opportunity employer, evaluating qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.

About AdAstra

AdAstra Talent Advisors is a headhunting and talent advising firm focused on the Climate, Space, and Defense sectors of Hard Tech. We specialize in pairing highly technical and executive talent with some of the world's leading Hard Tech startups.

At AdAstra, we catalyze the innovations that future generations depend on by placing the right people in the right seats. Our dedicated work enables inconceivable technology from Earth, to the stars. And it's all because of trailblazing talent like you - those driven to do what's never been done before.

We care about long term relationships with both candidates and companies. Even if the role we initially discuss isn't a perfect fit, it's likely we'll have something relevant to share with you in the future.

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