About the TeamAs a Materials Engineer II, you'll aid in the development and qualification of all
materials in Antares' reactor systems. This will consist of developing experiments,
processes, and quality control as well as working with vendors and collaborators to
identify and rectify critical gaps in material behavior at our operating conditions.
This position requires the ability to learn quickly and develop a deep understanding
of a wide range of materials - including ceramics and metallic alloys - such that you
become the go-to subject matter expert at the company. The ideal candidate will
apply fundamental knowledge of materials science to the practical applications of
manufacturing in a fast-paced environment while also pushing innovation for the
next generation of materials - driving Antares to be a recognized leader in nuclear
materials
Roles and Responsibilities:- Partake in the development and qualification for all materials in the reactor,
including lifetime testing, cross-institutional collaboration, and property
evaluation - Design and conduct physical, thermal, and mechanical testing of materials
that replicates the reactor environment - Employ statistical methods to systematically evaluate effects of process
variables and environmental effects on materials properties - Conduct materials characterization including root cause investigations of failure
modes - Interface with manufacturing, neutronics, mechanical, testing, and quality
engineers to integrate materials into the overall system, define limits to
operating conditions based on material properties, and optimize processes
Basic Qualifications:- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, or a
related field - 2+ years of experience in materials engineering
- Proficiency in optical or electron microscopy as well as mechanical property
evaluation - Experience with Materials characterization including root cause investigations of failure
modes
Preferred Skills & Experience:- 5+ years demonstrated experience as part of integrated team in a production
setting - Knowledge of radiation effects in materials
- Knowledge of stainless steel, Ni based superalloys, and ceramics
- Knowledge of Graphite or other nuclear materials
- Coatings experience
- Exceptional communication skills to work effectively across teams and convey
technical information to non-specialists
Additional Requirements:- Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones
Location- We are located in Torrance, CA in a 322,000 square foot, brand new facility featuring large open spaces for team collaboration, R&D, and production, as well as easy access to the 405, 105, and 110 freeways. Our facility is in the heart of Los Angeles' vibrant emerging tech ecosystem alongside many other high growth startups and enterprises.
CultureAt Antares, we like to specifically tie each role to our founding document's set of values-here are the top five cultural values we think you should believe at your core to be successful:
- Think in Systems - Energy and Defense are complex ecosystems with numerous stakeholders with competing priorities, conflicting policies, perverse incentives, and emergent and path-dependent properties. First principles thinking alone is insufficient. Think probabilistically and then take action. "If you want to be certain, then you are apt to be obsolete." Over-optimizing the components often degrades the system
- Obsess over the End User - The customer and end user are often not the same. We will never build globally competitive commercial products if we lose sight of our end users and their entire interaction with the product life cycle
- Be Unconstrained by Convention - Our only limits are the laws of physics. Many, even experts, will say what we are working on is impossible. They said the same about SpaceX reusing rockets. Generationally impactful companies, by definition, must accomplish the seemingly impossible. If it were easy, it would have already been done. Never shy away from a solution because it has never been tried before, and never choose to do something because that's "how it's always been done"
- Go Where the Work Is - Never miss a chance to meet a customer, user, or stakeholder face to face, even if that means hopping on a plane. If you can't make it, find a teammate who can channel your intentions and go in your place. Deep work can be done from anywhere, but we believe teams are built in person, and aim to maximize our time together
- Operate in the Grey - Embrace nuance in pursuit of truth. Question every fundamental assumption
