# Lead Engineer, Power Conversion at Forgeatomics

> Location unclear · Staff · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/ashby%3Aforgeatomics%3Addd57fea-2e24-4f5c-a82e-64cb78010b8e (read 2026-11-08).

## Facts (observed)

- Company: [Forgeatomics](https://alderhq.app/companies/forgeatomics)
- Location text: El Segundo
- Where it can be done from (inferred): Location unclear (evidence: "Location: El Segundo")
- Posted: 2026-07-17 (114 days ago)
- First seen by alder: 2026-11-04 · last verified: 2026-11-04
- Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times
- Apply on the employer's site: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/forgeatomics/ddd57fea-2e24-4f5c-a82e-64cb78010b8e
- Skills listed (inferred): Distributed systems

## Pay and sponsorship

- Posted pay: $140k–$190k per year (from the listing's pay field)
- Market band for similar posted roles (Los Angeles, n 173): p25 $179k, median $192k, p75 $205k

## Description (the employer's text)

### Forge Atomics

Humanity faces two critical challenges: securing reliable energy and aggressively lowering our environmental impact. At Forge, we believe nuclear fission is the key to solving both at once. Today Forge is developing the technology to rapidly scale the deployment of nuclear fission.

### Lead Engineer, Power Conversion

The Lead Engineer, Power Conversion is responsible for delivering the system that generates electricity from hot, high-pressure steam produced by our first nuclear reactor – Ember. The power conversion system includes a turbine and generator, high-power electrical systems interfacing with an electrical load, a regenerative feedwater heating train, condensate filtration and polishing, control electronics, heat rejection, and more. This role leads a team of mechanical, electrical, and controls engineers and initially reports directly to the CEO / Chief Engineer. The team will first deliver the system for Ember Mini, our subscale non-nuclear prototype, then a full-scale system ready for nuclear operations and high-rate production. Successful candidates will have previously demonstrated extreme ownership delivering complex electromechanical systems, and will be highly motivated to power humanity with abundant, clean energy.

### Responsibilities

Provide end-to-end ownership of power conversion system delivery for Ember Mini, Forge's subscale non-nuclear prototype

Deliver the same ownership at full scale for Ember, Forge's nuclear power plant, designing the system to be produced and deployed at a high rate

Drive conceptual design, architecture trades, and first-order sizing

Develop design requirements where definition is lacking

Perform in-depth first-principles analysis, including detailed system models, to assess and optimize the system design

Optimize development speed, cost, and system complexity

Design and execute development, acceptance, and qualification testing

Work with vendors to procure key systems such as the steam turbine

Partner with the production and site deployment teams to ensure the system can be manufactured and delivered at a high rate

Recruit, build, and lead a multi-disciplinary team of talented, passionate engineers to deliver your product

### Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or a related technical discipline

3+ years of engineering experience designing, analyzing, or building mechanical hardware

1+ years of direct leadership experience leading engineers

### Preferred Skills and Experience

Creative problem solver who can bring multiple disciplines together, with the ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data

Ability to work in a fast-paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere

Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication, and documentation skills

Strong sense of accountability and integrity

Demonstrated rapid growth; you've held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career

### Additional Requirements

Position will be based in the South Bay area of Los Angeles County and will require relocation if not already local. The position will be full-time in the office.

Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary

Ability to travel to suppliers and reactor construction sites in other states as necessary

### Compensation and Benefits

Pay range:

Lead Engineer: $140,000.00 - $190,000.00/per year + equity

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at Forge. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or stock options, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, paid vacation, paid parental leave, and various other perks. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

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Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/ashby%3Aforgeatomics%3Addd57fea-2e24-4f5c-a82e-64cb78010b8e and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.
