Lead Mechanical Engineer 1 - Mission Critical

Responsibilities

This position allows for a hybrid arrangement with a mix of work from home and in the office.

 

This is a lead-level engineering position that offers a variety of challenging opportunities in Mechanical Engineering and will provide an excellent opportunity for career advancement.

• Lead Mechanical design engineering efforts on a multi-disciplined project design team and apply mechanical engineering expertise to the design and analysis of special purpose equipment, pressure vessels, and interfacing systems, controls, and structural support elements
• Prepare and review complex calculations
• Prepare and review mechanical systems/equipment designs
• Prepare documented design input for drawing production (i.e., P&IDs, machine layouts, general arrangements, etc.)
• Prepare and review equipment specifications
• Communicate with vendors via clearly written and complete specifications
• Prepare and review reports/studies
• Develop single-discipline/simple-scope project budgets, schedules, and project work plans; monitor own work to ensure it is completed within budget and on schedule
• Interface directly with customers in project meetings
• Mentor junior engineers

Qualifications

Must be a U.S. Citizen; Dual citizenship with a country other than the U.S. does not qualify.

 

Essential skills and experience:

• Must be able to obtain US Government security clearance
• BSME or MSME degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited program with a strong academic background and interest in thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, machine design, or thermal systems
• 10+ years of progressive responsible experience in mechanical engineering ideally in a nuclear environment
• Experience with producing engineering designs and analysis for piping, pressure vessels, HVAC, and/or radioactive material handling systems
• Working knowledge of Codes, Standards, and Regulations that apply to mechanical engineering design (eg., ASME B31 piping Codes, ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, ASME AG-1)
• Experience with Finite Element Analysis or advanced engineering software (e.g., ANSYS, AutoPIPE, Datacor/AFT flow simulation, Hourly Analysis Program, Trace 700)

• Experience with CAD software (e.g., Solidworks, Inventor, Microstation, AutoCAD)

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Valued but not required skills and experience:

• Professional Engineer License (PE)
• DOE experience preferred; commercial or Navy
• Field engineering and construction experience

• Programming or scripting (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Mathcad, advanced Excel)

• Experience with glovebox and hot cell design

Technology & Innovation

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to lead others who use modern tools:

• You are expected to lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost-effective designs.
• Leaders in these roles often direct automation and process-improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation and guiding when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked.
• Overseeing engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs, is valued but not required.
• We also value additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI-enabled engineering workflows.

About Sargent & Lundy

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well-being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace, offering comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support our team members in every aspect of their lives. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why we are proud to provide competitive, award-winning benefits. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

 

Health & WellnessFinancial BenefitsWork-Life Balance

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back-Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA

• 401(k)
• Pre-Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus

• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$118,023 - $180,313

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well-being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

About This Business Unit

Sargent & Lundy’s Government Services Division provides cutting-edge engineering design and consulting support to the management and operating contractors for US Department of Energy (DOE) sites and national laboratories. Specifically, we support the DOE Environmental Management Directorate as well as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) laboratories and sites. What does this mean? You can be a part of multi-discipline design teams supporting projects cleaning up the environmental damage associated with the legacy nuclear weapons production complex and/or preserving our country’s nuclear deterrent. Sargent & Lundy’s personnel design facilities, systems, and equipment that treat, store, and dispose of nuclear waste as well as systems that safely handle and process nuclear material. This mission-critical work is meaningful and challenging–work you can be proud of.

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.