About this opportunity
Enercon lists this Principal Mechanical Equipment and Glovebox Design Engineer opportunity in kennewick, Washington. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Overview
Join ENERCON Federal Services' Advanced Design and Manufacturing (ADM) team and play a pivotal role in designing advanced specialty equipment that supports some of the nation’s most complex nuclear, cleanup, and next-generation energy missions. In this role, you’ll engineer first‑of‑a‑kind (FOAK) mechanical systems—including gloveboxes, hot cells, shielded enclosures, remote-operated equipment, and custom facility upgrades—helping the DOE and SMR developers solve their most demanding challenges.
Our Federal Services team delivers specialized engineering services across multiple Department of Energy (DOE) facilities and sites, including HVAC, hydraulic, and piping system design. Your work directly supports legacy nuclear waste cleanup, site stewardship, safe radiological waste handling, and the development of future nuclear technologies. This exciting role offers flexibility in the following office locations:
Kennewick, WA
Naperville, IL
Overland Park, KS
Responsibilities
Design FOAK & Specialty Nuclear Equipment: Engineer gloveboxes, hot cells, containment systems, shielding structures, remote-handling mechanisms, and other specialty nuclear equipment. Develop complex mechanical and electromechanical mechanisms, process/piping systems, transportation & handling containers, and facility upgrade solutions.
Advanced 3D Modeling & Detailed Design: Create high-fidelity 3D CAD models using SolidWorks (preferred), Inventor, or CREO (6+ years recommended). Produce build-to-print drawings, fabrication packages, and reverse-engineered models for legacy equipment. Incorporate manufacturability, assembly sequencing, ergonomics, and maintenance access into all designs.
Mechanical Analysis & Engineering Calculations: Perform FEA including structural, thermal, CFD, vibrational, modal, fatigue, creep, and buckling analyses. Conduct mechanical system calculations and design justification in accordance with DOE/NRC requirements.
Fabrication, Installation & Testing Support: Support prototype builds, manufacturing, and installation. Prepare and execute Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) plans, commissioning test plans, and operational readiness support. Interface with fabricators, machinists, and field engineers to resolve issues and optimize designs.
Nuclear Codes, Standards & Quality: Apply advanced knowledge of ASME NQA-1, ASME BPVC Sec III/VIII, CGD processes, NRC regulations, IEEE, ASTM, AWS, and AGS and stringent configuration control. Ensure compliance with DOE nuclear facility safety and design requirements.
Collaboration, Leadership & Client Interaction: Mentor junior engineers and serve as a technical lead on multidisciplinary project teams. Engage directly with DOE clients, national laboratories, and plant engineering teams. Conduct onsite system walkdowns and translate operational and safety needs into engineered solutions. Communicate clearly with clients through documentation, presentations, and technical reviews.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university
10+ years of mechanical system design experience (DOE/nuclear strongly preferred)
6+ years of advanced CAD experience (SolidWorks preferred; Inventor/CREO acceptable)
Expertise in: Mechanism design, containment systems, gloveboxes, shielding, piping/systems, manufacturing & fabrication support
Build-to-print design and reverse engineering
FOAK/specialty equipment development
Experience with one or more of the following codes and standards: AGS, AISC, ACI
ASTM C1533, ASTM C1554, ASTM C
IAEA Safety Standards
Strong experience supporting fabrication, installation, commissioning, and FATs.
Advanced FEA skillset (structural, thermal, CFD, dynamic, modal, fatigue, creep, buckling)
Understanding of nuclear-relevant materials and materials science considerations.
Strong communication, documentation, and client-facing skills
Ability to travel up to 10% for site walkdowns and client support
Preferred experience with: Thermal-hydraulic analysis
HVAC, hydraulic, or piping system design
AFT FATHOM / ARROW / IMPULSE, AutoPIPE, HVAC airflow/load software
Professional Engineering (PE) license strongly preferred
Must be a U.S. Citizen
Compensation Range
USD $120,000.00 - USD $185,000.00 /Yr.
Additional Information
ENERCON Services, Inc. (ENERCON) is powered by people who make a difference. We offer rewarding careers in a culture built on excellence, innovation, and growth.
The compensation range listed is a good-faith estimate of the compensation expected for this position at the time of posting. Actual compensation will be determined based on job‑related skills, experience, geographic location, and internal equity.
Some positions may be performed remotely in one or more U.S. states. Compensation is aligned with applicable pay transparency requirements and reflects expected compensation at the time of posting.
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without current or future employer sponsorship. We ask all candidates this question to better understand work authorization and any potential sponsorship needs. Employment is contingent upon passing pre-employment and random drug/alcohol screenings, background checks, and annual motor vehicle record reviews per company and client policies.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
AI Disclosure & Accommodations
ENERCON may use AI or automated tools to assist with application review and communication.
Human Decisions:All final hiring decisions are made solely by human reviewers.
Your Rights:To request an accommodation or opt out of any automated review and/or communication, email before applying.
Opting out will not negatively impact your candidacy.
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Worksite address
kennewick, WA, 99536, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.