Fluid Systems Engineer – Heat Exchangers

Fluids Systems Engineer – Heat Exchangers

Radiant is seeking a highly motivated Fluid Systems Engineer with a deep understanding of heat exchanger design to join our engineering team. This role focuses on developing and optimizing heat exchangers across a range of thermal systems, balancing high-performance heat transfer with design for manufacturability (DFM), cost-efficiency, and reliability. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with both thermal-fluid analysis and practical mechanical design, and will work cross-functionally with manufacturing, supply chain, and the secondary cooling loop development teams. 

Responsibilities and Duties:   

• Design various types of heat exchangers (e.g., shell-and-tube, plate-fin, air-cooled, printed circuit) for the Kaleidos secondary cooling loop based on system requirements, from concept through prototyping and production. 
• Develop detailed CAD models and manufacturing drawings using Siemens NX. 
• Conduct thermal-fluid simulations (e.g., using ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL, or proprietary tools) to predict heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics, while optimizing fluid paths, fin geometry, and flow distribution for high performance and efficiency. 
• Integrate DFM principles early in the design process to minimize cost, reduce complexity, and ensure scalability. 
• Engage with vendors and suppliers to evaluate component feasibility and cost effectiveness. 
• Ensure designs meet applicable codes, standards (e.g. ASME Section VIII), and regulatory requirements. 
• Participate in design reviews and technical discussions. 

Required Qualifications and Skills:  

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in mechanical engineering or a related field. 
• 3+ years of experience in heat exchanger or fluid component design in a high-performance hardware environment. 
• Strong mechanical design skills and CAD proficiency (e.g., NX, SolidWorks, or equivalent). 
• Proficiency with thermal, fluid, and/or structural analysis tools (e.g. STAR-CCM, ANSYS, or similar). 
• Demonstrated experience applying DFM principles in a product development environment. 
• Excellent communication and technical documentation skills. 

Desired Qualifications and Skills:   

• Prior experience with supercritical CO2 applications. 
• Experience designing recuperators or compact heat exchangers in nuclear, aerospace, or high-temperature process industries. 
• Familiarity with high-temperature alloys and fabrication techniques such as diffusion bonding and welding. 
• Working knowledge of ASME codes relevant to heat exchangers and nuclear components. 
• Experience with design for manufacturability (DFM) and working directly with vendors on prototype development. 
• Basic programming knowledge (e.g. Python, C++, or equivalent).

Additional Requirements:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as necessary to accomplish our mission. 
• Must work 100% onsite at El Segundo HQ.