Senior Mechanical Engineer - Fusion Engine Design and Analysis

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop the mechanical design and 3D modeling of the fusion engine key systems, structures and components: chamber, first wall, blanket, vacuum chamber, piping.
• Lead mechanical design and thermal-structural analysis of key components such as the engine first wall and tritium breeding blanket, in steady-state and transient conditions.
• Optimize structures for heat removal, thermo-mechanical longevity, manufacturability.
• Evaluate the effects of cyclic heat flux, creep loading, fatigue loading on chamber components using relevant models, codes and standards to predict the operational lifespan of the fusion core.
• Account for effects of irradiation (displacement per atom and helium) in thermal mechanical analyses.
• Conducts thermal and structural analyses and parametric studies to validate and optimize materials choices and mechanical designs, capturing insights and results in technical documentation and reports.
• Participates in design reviews and risk matrix development, helping to identify technical gaps, track open action items, and incorporate feedback from various stakeholders into the design.
• Support and mentor other mechanical engineers, designers, and analysts working on other company priorities such as high power laser design, fusion target design.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in Mechanical, Aerospace, Materials, Nuclear, Structural or a related engineering discipline.
• 7+ years of experience in mechanical design and analysis of structural materials in chemical, power generation, oil & gas, nuclear, defense, or aerospace industries.
• Expert-level skills in mechanical design and computer-aided design (CAD).
• Expertise in finite element analysis using codes such as ANSYS or Abaqus applied for stress and thermal analysis.
• Knowledge of FEA and other spatial/time discretization techniques for partial differential equation (PDE) systems.
• Familiarity with application of numerical material models to metallic systems, structures and components.
• Experience with alloys and metals, high temperatures, high heat fluxes, and/or irradiation effects on materials.

About Inertia

Inertia is taking the most direct, scientifically-proven path to commercializing fusion, leveraging the only successful achievement of fusion ignition, using a process that was pioneered at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). With groundbreaking innovation, transformative technology, and multi-year investment, Inertia is committed to commercializing fusion energy in the next decade.