Mechanical Systems Engineer Jobs in Tennessee (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Systems Engineer

This role is responsible for executing rigorous systems engineering processes to support the design, integration, verification, validation, and lifecycle

management of complex nuclear systems from conceptual design through physical commissioning and operations turnover. Systems Engineer III applies INCOSE-aligned methodologies to manage multiple concurrent facility subsystems, ensuring all components work together effectively across the complete lifecycle, meet regulatory requirements, and are properly verified throughout the project. This position plays a critical role in requirements traceability management (RVTM/VTM), interface control, configuration baseline management, verification & validation (V&V) planning and execution, procedure development, and enterprise architecture for asset management. Systems Engineer III owns the end-to-end lifecycle from design inception through as-built verification and field commissioning for a set of assigned systems.

Core Systems Engineering Functions

• Apply systems thinking and a holistic approach to solve problems, analyze and design systems, considering the interdependencies and interactions between various components across the entire facility lifecycle.
• Manage multiple concurrent facility subsystems across design-to-installation lifecycle, owning the functional, allocated, and product baselines for each system and ensuring seamless integration across disciplines.
• Lead and manage systems engineering lifecycle efforts surrounding:
  • Operations Concept (OpsCon) development.
  • Stakeholder and operational analysis.
  • Requirements management.
  • Functional design interface definition.
  • System architecture development.
  • Physical product definition, interface management, and change control.
  • System verification and validation (V&V) planning and execution.
• Author, maintain, and manage Requirements Verification Traceability Matrices (RVTM/VTM) as the source of truth linking stakeholder needs, system requirements, design specifications, and physical verification tests across multiple subsystems.
• Develop, author, review, and maintain enterprise-level engineering procedures that govern design control, configuration management, verification & validation, and engineering quality assurance processes across the organization.
• Create and maintain enterprise architecture documentation for asset management, including system baselines, interface documents, and configuration management records that support lifecycle control from design through operations.
• Govern cross-functional Interface Controls (commonly ICDs) to manage critical dependencies between process equipment, structural elements, industrial automation networks, and facility utilities (e.g., HVAC, power distribution, chemical supply systems).
• Participate in the identification and monitoring of technical risks and the development of risk mitigation strategies using formal methodologies (FMEA, FMECA).
• Plan, develop, and execute comprehensive Verification & Validation (V&V) activities including:
  • Design Verification Record preparation and closure.
  • V&V Plan development and execution across all lifecycle phases.
  • Test plan creation, review, and approval.
  • Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT) planning, witnessing (in some cases), and approval.
  • Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) planning and execution.
  • Acceptance criteria definition and validation.
  • Inspection, analysis, demonstration, and test method application.
  • As-built vs. as-designed verification to confirm physical installations match approved digital models and design requirements
• Manage technical baselines across diverse architectural and engineering groups, ensuring that modifications to process equipment, utilities, automation systems, or structural elements are analyzed for systemic impacts before execution.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary Configuration Control Board (CCB) to manage design variations, prevent scope creep, and ensure rigorous change management.
• Execute field engineering change control during construction and installation phases to govern modifications made during physical commissioning and prevent cascading system failures or interface conflicts.
• Manage requirements traceability from stakeholder needs through design specifications, procurement documents, and verification activities using JAMA as the primary requirements management platform (IBM DOORS or similar experience considered transferable).
• Work across engineering disciplines to ensure effective integration of system components and subsystems, serving as the coordination layer between process, civil, EI&C, and safety teams.

Job Profile Minimum Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or other engineering-related discipline from an ABET-accredited institution required.

Technical Skills & Knowledge

• Proficiency using requirements management software (JAMA or IBM DOORS preferred).
• Experience managing Requirements Verification Traceability Matrices (RVTM) and performing requirements decomposition across multiple system levels.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain end-to-end traceability from stakeholder needs through design specifications and physical verification tests.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent facility subsystems across the complete design-to-operations lifecycle.
• Proven ability to identify and resolve interface conflicts before they become field issues.
• Experience participating in Engineering Change Control, governing modifications made during design, fabrication and installation phases.
• Proven ability to verify that final, physically installed hardware matches approved digital models and design requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and execute V&V Plans.
• Experience creating test plans, test cases, and acceptance criteria for physical testing.
• Proven experience writing, reviewing, and maintaining engineering procedures and work instructions.
• Experience with JIRA or similar project management and workflow management tools.
• Ability to manage technical scope, coordinate multiple contributors, and track action items across multiple concurrent subsystems.
• Knowledge of System Lifecycle Processes (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288:2023).
• Experience with technical risk assessments and management methodologies (FMEA, FMECA, HAZOP).

Additional Job Description: Level III

Level Tasks/Responsibilities

• Execute the core tasks and responsibilities listed in the Job Profile Tasks/Responsibilities section of this document, under minimal supervision.
• Provide ownership, responsibility, and accountability over technical scope involving the coordination of multiple individual contributors working in a specific area.

Level Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or other engineering-related discipline from an ABET-accredited institution required.
• Five years of experience in an engineering role required.
  • A master's degree in engineering or related field (may include a combination of experience obtained through an academic institution, e.g., design projects, research, or design teams, as well as professional experience) may be in lieu of two years of experience.
  • A Ph.D. in engineering or related field (may include a combination of experience obtained through an academic institution, e.g., design projects, research, or design teams, as well as professional experience) may be in lieu of three years of experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) or Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) – preferred but not required.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in relevant discipline.
• Experience in nuclear fuel cycle facilities, small modular reactors (SMRs), or advanced reactor design.
• Prior experience working within NQA-1 or ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience with nuclear regulatory compliance (NRC, DOE).
• Experience applying systems engineering in production/manufacturing environments or capital construction projects.
• Demonstrated success managing 5+ subsystems from design inception through physical commissioning.

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Follow up with Taylor Brantley Sr. Recruiter

This is a Permanent position based out of Oak Ridge, TN.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $80.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Oak Ridge,TN.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 27, 2026.

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