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Mechanical Engineer

Oak Ridge National Laboratory
United States, Tennessee, Oak Ridge
1 Bethel Valley Road (Show on map)
Apr 22, 2026

Requisition Id16301

Overview:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation's most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

Purpose:

The Advanced Engineering Technologies (AET) Group is seeking a dedicated applied mechanical engineer. This position will involve machine design and process engineering in a research and development atmosphere requiring both analytical and hands-on activities. Projects range from new equipment detailed design and tooling, to small consulting tasks.

With technical guidance from a senior level Mechanical Engineer, you will be involved in supporting the following:

  • Contribute to engineering deliverable development such as drawings, reports, specifications, and studies.
  • Perform routine research and develop recommendations for equipment and/or materials selection.
  • Hands-on construction of mission equipment
  • Prepare basic engineering calculations following standard methods and principles used in similar engineering analysis.
  • Utilize and develop an understanding of industry codes and standard practices.

AET resides within the Nuclear Nonproliferation Division (NND) at Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL).The NND is a division operating within the National Security Sciences Directorate at ORNL. NND staff contributes world class research, technology development, risk assessment, and systems analysis related to nonproliferation and counterproliferation. The division activities play a vital role in implementation of national policy issues that strive to ensure global nuclear security.

One of the major focus areas of the AET group is the development of advanced approaches to operation, characterization, and analysis of nuclear fuel cycle processes. The group specializes in the application of engineering principles supporting the characterization of processes and related materials. The AET group collaborates and works with staff from other groups within NND and ORNL to assure the full expertise of fuel cycle processes are applied to meet sponsor needs.

Major Duties / Responsibilities:

The successful candidate, in collaboration with other principal investigators and project management at ORNL, will participate in the design, fabrication, assembly, and operation of dynamic test stands. In this position the candidate will be expected to effectively interact with various ORNL staff as well as internal and external sponsors. The candidate is expected to work in a team environment with co-workers and management as well as independently; to fully document work performed in the forms of technical reports, papers and presentations; and to participate in the development of research proposals. Excellent communication skills including verbal, presentation, and writing skills are required. The successful candidate will interface with principal investigators, management, engineers, fabricators, modelers and test campaign personnel.

Required Qualifications:

  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering
  • Experience with solid modeling and design software packages
  • Experience in the machine design, fabrication and or tooling design
  • Machining and fabrication shop experience
  • The ability to work flexible hours and travel is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • A B.S. Mechanical Engineering and a minimum of 5 years (MS+3) of related experience
  • Demonstrated experience in the design, fabrication, and operation of test stands and/or complex mechanical systems
  • Demonstration of design and process team experience as well as experience in process development & control
  • Manufacturing environment quality experience
  • Experience in maintaining high levels of process documentation and quality assurance are desired
  • TS/SCI Clearance

This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program. In addition, due the SCI, you may be also be subject to random polygraph testing.

This position is a full-time staff position.

Remarks:

Technical questions should be directed to Preston Cloud, 865-341-8208

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.

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