Job Information
Actalent Heat Exchanger Design Engineer in Rockville, Maryland
Job Title: Heat Exchanger Design Engineer
Job Description
This role focuses on the design and development of heat exchangers and other thermal management systems for advanced, high-reliability programs. The engineer leads thermal systems design from initial concept through detailed design, prototyping, testing, and final delivery into manufacturing. The position combines hands-on mechanical engineering, thermal analysis, and systems integration to create high-safety, high-quality products that meet stringent industry standards.
Responsibilities
Design heat exchangers and thermal management systems for advanced high-reliability applications, from concept through production and manufacturing.
Develop high-level thermal systems concepts and refine them into detailed mechanical designs that meet performance, safety, and reliability requirements.
Lead or support the engineering design, integration, and commissioning of systems and prototype designs to reduce risk and advance technology readiness level (TRL).
Develop mechanical and physical concepts, and support the development of processes to create or identify mechanical solutions for testing and verification efforts.
Gather, analyze, and document applicable requirements, interfaces, design basis, and design criteria in coordination with key stakeholders and systems engineers.
Identify and apply relevant industry codes and standards under the direction of project leads and systems engineers.
Plan and perform analyses to assess mechanical system performance and ensure systems meet technical specifications and design requirements.
Develop innovative mechanical solutions to refine and deploy concepts, technologies, and designs, including work on prototype products made of stainless steel and graphite.
Integrate design activities across engineering team members, partners, and suppliers, ensuring cohesive and aligned design solutions.
Perform scoping and sizing calculations to downselect design features and ensure compliance with design requirements using guidance from consensus codes and standards.
Create and maintain CAD-generated engineering models to support design, analysis, and documentation.
Support the assessment of mechanical systems and prototypes for manufacturability, assembly, and integration at the direction of project leads.
Write and develop design documentation, including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings, in accordance with applicable procedures.
Develop Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and support the qualification of the engineering toolset.
Perform work in accordance with quality procedures for design and configuration management to ensure project quality requirements are met.
Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables and technical data.
Oversee hardware ownership, including manufacturing and testing oversight, to ensure designs are successfully realized in production.
Support the progression of products through the full lifecycle, from early-stage development to manufacturing readiness (MRL) and advanced TRL levels.
Essential Skills
Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree in mechanical engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited institution.
At least 5–10 years of experience in similar industries and roles involving mechanical design and development in high-reliability, high-quality, or high-safety programs.
Specific experience and proficiency in heat exchanger design for various industry applications.
Demonstrated experience in thermal systems design and thermal management, including thermal analysis and thermal design.
Experience with steam generator design; experience with steam turbines is considered a strong plus.
Proficiency with engineering hand calculations to validate and support design decisions.
Experience taking products through the full lifecycle into manufacturing, including advanced MRL and TRL levels.
Hands-on experience designing, manufacturing, integrating, and testing mechanical systems, assemblies, and components.
At least one year of hands-on experience developing and delivering hardware or manufacturing processes in a production environment.
Proficiency with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software; experience with Siemens NX and Teamcenter is preferred, though other CAD/PLM tools are acceptable.
Ability to plan and perform mechanical and thermal analyses to ensure systems meet performance and design requirements.
Ability to interpret and apply industry codes and standards relevant to mechanical and thermal systems, including pressure vessels and related equipment.
Additional Skills & Qualifications
Experience working on high-reliability or government programs.
Previous industrial experience, particularly with pressure vessels, steam generators, and steam turbines.
Experience with mechanical or fluid systems design, including piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID).
Experience assessing mechanical systems and prototypes for manufacturability, assembly, and integration.
Familiarity with nuclear or other highly regulated industries is beneficial.
Experience with design documentation, including technical reports, calculations, and engineering drawings in a formal configuration-controlled environment.
Exposure to developing and executing Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and engineering models.
Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to develop innovative mechanical solutions under stringent safety and reliability constraints.
Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional engineering teams, partners, and suppliers across the product lifecycle.
Work Environment
This position is primarily office-based within an engineering-focused environment that emphasizes rigorous design, analysis, and documentation practices. Work involves extensive use of CAD and PLM tools such as Siemens NX and Teamcenter, along with other engineering software for calculations and analysis. The engineer collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams, suppliers, and manufacturing partners to transition designs into production. The organization is growing rapidly and benefits from significant private and public funding, with plans to transition to a public company, offering exposure to cutting-edge, high-reliability thermal and mechanical technologies in a structured, quality-driven setting.
Job Type & Location
This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Rockville, MD.
Pay and Benefits
The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $90.00/hr.
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)
Workplace Type
This is a fully onsite position in Rockville,MD.
Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on May 6, 2026.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
At Actalent, diversity and inclusion are a bridge towards the equity and success of our people. DE&I is embedded into our culture through:
Hiring diverse talent
Maintaining an inclusive environment through persistent self-reflection
Building a culture of care, engagement, and recognition with clear outcomes
Ensuring growth opportunities for our people
Actalent is an equal opportunity employer.
About Actalent
Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services. For more than 40 years, we’ve helped visionary companies advance their goals. Headquartered in the United States, our teams span 150 offices across North America, EMEA, and APAC—with four delivery centers in India led by 1,000+ extraordinary employees who connect their passion with purpose every day.
Our Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, and Chennai delivery centers are hubs of engineering expertise, with core capabilities in mechanical and electrical engineering, systems and software, and manufacturing engineering. Our teams deliver work across multiple industries including transportation, consumer and industrial products, and life sciences. We serve more than 4,500 clients, including many Fortune 500 brands. Learn more about how we can work together at actalentservices.com.