Mechanical Engineer (Advanced Manufacturing & Reactor Hardware)

Mechanical Engineer (Advanced Manufacturing & Reactor Hardware)
Work Location: Waterloo, ON (5 days/week - Mon-Fri)
About Canadian Strategic Missions Corp. (CSMC)
Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation is building the capabilities that will shape Canada's future in space, defence, and energy. We focus on developing dual use systems that address critical challenges here on Earth while enabling sustained human activity beyond it.
In a short time, CSMC has established real momentum. We have secured significant government investment to advance next generation micro nuclear reactors in partnership with leading institutions, alongside expanding a portfolio of technologies designed for remote environments, national defence, and future space missions. These efforts reflect a broader ambition to deliver reliable power and critical infrastructure where it matters most.
Our work is grounded in close collaboration with government and guided by a clear sense of purpose: to build sovereign capability at a time when it has never been more important. We care deeply about execution, long term impact and earning the trust required to deliver systems that will service Canada and its allies for decades.
CSMC is a company for builders. We are a group of people drawn to hard problems, meaningful impact and the opportunity to shape systems that matter at a national and global scale. We are building a team that thrives in ambiguity, values execution, and is motivated by mission and impact.
About the Role
CSMC is seeking a highly capable Mechanical Engineer to support the design, development, fabrication, and qualification of advanced reactor hardware and other mission-critical mechanical systems.
This role is not focused on supporting mature production lines. Instead, you will work from first principles to determine how complex hardware should be designed, manufactured, assembled, inspected, tested, and scaled. You will collaborate closely with engineering, suppliers, fabricators, and manufacturing partners to bring hardware from concept through prototype and into production readiness.
The ideal candidate combines strong mechanical engineering fundamentals with deep practical knowledge of fabrication, welding, machining, materials selection, and manufacturing processes. You should be comfortable evaluating multiple manufacturing approaches, identifying technical risks, and developing practical solutions for high-integrity hardware operating in demanding environments.
This position is ideal for someone who thrives in fast-moving environments, brings structure to ambiguity, and enjoys building complex hardware from the ground up.
Key Responsibilities
Mechanical Design & Hardware Development
Design and develop pressure-boundary components, welded assemblies, structural systems, and mechanical hardware.
Translate engineering requirements into practical, manufacturable hardware solutions.
Create engineering drawings, specifications, manufacturing packages, and technical documentation.
Perform design trade studies considering manufacturability, cost, performance, quality, and schedule.
Apply Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design for Assembly (DFA) principles throughout hardware development.
Support design reviews and technical decision-making activities.
Manufacturing Development
Develop manufacturing strategies for pressure vessels, welded structures, machined parts, and mechanical assemblies.
Evaluate manufacturing routes including:
Plate rolling
Forming
Machining
Welding
Heat treatment
Casting
Forging
Cladding
Determine which operations should be performed internally versus outsourced.
Develop manufacturing work instructions, build procedures, and fabrication documentation.
Design or support the development of tooling, fixtures, and assembly methods.
Welding, Fabrication & Pressure Systems
Support development of pressure-boundary and structural hardware.
Work directly with fabricators and suppliers to ensure manufacturability and weldability.
Participate in weld design reviews and fabrication planning activities.
Support development of inspection, testing, and qualification programs.
Ensure fabrication approaches align with applicable codes, standards, quality requirements, and safety expectations.
Prototype Builds & Testing
Support fabrication, assembly, integration, and qualification of prototype hardware.
Develop testing plans and validation strategies.
Troubleshoot fabrication, assembly, and performance issues.
Analyze test results and implement design improvements.
Support first-article inspections and manufacturing readiness reviews.
Supplier & Program Support
Identify and qualify suppliers, fabricators, machine shops, and manufacturing partners.
Collaborate with procurement and supply chain teams on supplier selection and technical evaluations.
Support manufacturing readiness, process capability development, and supply chain qualification activities.
Participate in technical reviews with external partners and stakeholders.
Continuous Improvement & Quality
Identify manufacturing risks and implement mitigation plans.
Lead structured root-cause investigations and corrective actions.
Support quality initiatives including:
PFMEA
Control plans
NCR investigations
Process qualification activities
Analyze production and test data to identify bottlenecks, variability, and improvement opportunities.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Minimum 4 years of experience designing and developing fabricated or welded mechanical systems.
Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes including:
Welding
Machining
Fabrication
Forming
Mechanical assembly
Experience working with:
Low-alloy steels
Carbon steels
Stainless steels
Aluminum alloys
Strong understanding of:
GD&T
Tolerance stack-ups
Materials selection
Manufacturing drawings
Design documentation

Employment type
Full-Time

Work arrangement
No