About Company
Actalent is seeking a highly skilled Mechanical Design Engineer III to support critical nuclear hardware development. This role is centered on the creation and implementation of First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) hardware design, specifically for nuclear plant modifications and component design. As a senior-level individual contributor, you will be responsible for the entire design lifecycle—from initial 3D modeling and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to final documentation under rigorous Nuclear Quality Standards.
Job Details
| Role: | Mechanical Design Engineer III |
| Salary: | 45 USD – 55 USD/hour |
| Location: | Wilmington, North Carolina, USA (Fully Remote) |
| Job Type: | fulltime |
| Posted Date: | 03/03/2026 |
| Application Deadline: | Mar 7, 2026 |
Job Description
A “Level III” Engineer in the nuclear sector is a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You are working on “mission-critical” systems where there is zero margin for error. Designing FOAK (First-of-a-Kind) hardware means you are essentially an inventor within a highly regulated framework. You will be solving problems that don’t have existing blueprints, requiring a balance of high-level creativity and disciplined adherence to safety protocols.
Requirements
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from an accredited university.
- Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in mechanical design.
- Software: Expert proficiency in Autodesk Inventor and FEA software.
- Technical Standards: Deep knowledge of Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) and familiarity with nuclear-grade quality requirements.
- Fabrication: Demonstrated experience in providing support to fabrication and manufacturing teams.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Hardware Development: Prepare complex 3D models and engineering drawings using Autodesk Inventor.
- FOAK Implementation: Lead the development of unique, first-generation hardware solutions and the associated technical documentation.
- Structural Analysis: Perform FEA and other engineering analyses to ensure designs meet high-stress performance requirements.
- Nuclear Compliance: Ensure all designs and specifications adhere strictly to Nuclear Codes and Standards.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Present designs during peer and leadership reviews, incorporating feedback to optimize performance and safety.
- Procurement & Fabrication: Provide technical oversight and support throughout the fabrication process to ensure design integrity is maintained in the final build.
How to Apply?
Role Summary
A “Level III” Engineer in the nuclear sector is a Subject Matter Expert (SME). You are working on “mission-critical” systems where there is zero margin for error. Designing FOAK (First-of-a-Kind) hardware means you are essentially an inventor within a highly regulated framework. You will be solving problems that don’t have existing blueprints, requiring a balance of high-level creativity and disciplined adherence to safety protocols.
Company Culture & Insights
Actalent is a global powerhouse in engineering services, supporting many of the Fortune 500. The culture is built on Scale, Innovation, and Speed. In the nuclear division, the environment is exceptionally detail-oriented. Because this is a fully remote position, Actalent looks for engineers who are highly self-managed, possess excellent digital communication skills, and can maintain the rigor of “Nuclear Quality” without direct physical supervision.
Why We Recommend This Job
- High Pay for Remote Work: At $45 – $55/hour, this is a highly competitive rate for a remote mechanical role, especially considering the specialized nuclear domain experience you will gain.
- Niche Industry Value: Nuclear engineering experience is a “career moat.” Once you have established a track record of meeting Nuclear Codes, your market value in the energy sector becomes incredibly high.
- FOAK Exposure: Working on First-of-a-Kind hardware is a resume highlight that signals you are capable of high-level R&D and innovation.
Career Growth Potential
The “Engineer III” level is often the final step before moving into high-level leadership:
Project Management: Utilizing your procurement and fabrication experience to manage large-scale nuclear plant modifications.
Senior Staff/Lead Engineer: Overseeing entire project lifecycles and mentoring Level I and II designers.
Engineering Manager: Transitioning from technical execution to managing the Tooling and Analysis teams.
Skills You’ll Gain
| Category | Competencies |
| Technical | Advanced Inventor modeling, High-fidelity FEA, GD&T Mastery. |
| Regulatory | Nuclear Codes & Standards, Nuclear Quality Assurance (NQA-1). |
| Operational | FOAK Documentation, Procurement Support, Fabrication Liaison. |
Salary & Benefits Info
- Hourly Rate: $45.00 – $55.00 (Contract).
- Benefits: Includes Medical, Dental, Vision, and a 401(k) Retirement Plan (Pre-tax and Roth).
- Perks: Fully remote work model, Life Insurance, and Short/Long-term Disability coverage.
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
Frequently Asked Interview Questions
- Nuclear Standards: “Walk me through your experience with Nuclear Codes. How do you handle a design conflict where a performance goal threatens a safety requirement?”
- FOAK Hardware: “Describe a time you designed a part from scratch with no previous reference. How did you validate that the design would work before it hit the fabrication floor?”
- FEA/Analysis: “How do you correlate your FEA results with real-world physical testing? Tell me about a time your analysis prevented a failure.”
- GD&T: “How would you apply GD&T to a part that requires a high-precision fit but will be fabricated using standard nuclear-grade casting or welding?”
Behavioral & Culture Questions
- Remote Accountability: “How do you maintain the standard of ‘Nuclear Quality’ while working remotely? How do you ensure your documentation is flawless for a team that isn’t in the same room as you?”
- Peer Review: “How do you handle a design review where senior leadership suggests a fundamental change to your 3D model? Walk me through your feedback-incorporation process.”
- Ethics: “In the nuclear industry, documentation is as important as the design. Tell me about a time you identified a documentation error in a project. How did you correct it?”
Workforce Diversity Statistics
Actalent and the broader Nuclear/Mechanical Engineering sectors in the U.S. provide a clear snapshot of the current workforce. According to 2024-2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry-wide diversity reporting:
Mechanical Engineering Gender Representation:
- Total Workforce: Women represent 9.4% of Mechanical Engineers in the U.S.
- Growth: This number has seen a steady 0.5% annual increase as companies like Actalent push for more inclusive STEM recruitment.
U.S. Racial & Ethnic Diversity in Engineering:
- White: 68.2%
- Asian: 15.1%
- Hispanic / Latinx: 8.9%
- Black / African American: 5.4%
- Other (Multiple or Native American): 2.4%
Actalent specifically emphasizes its status as an Equal Opportunity Employer, maintaining a consultant network of 30,000+ professionals that reflects global diversity across North America and Europe.