Thermofluids Engineering Manager

ORAU is conducting the search on behalf of Type One Energy for a permanent, full‑time Thermofluids Engineering Manager in Knoxville, TN.

Type One Energy is seeking a Thermofluids Engineering Manager to oversee, coordinate, and optimize the deployment of engineering resources across multiple technically complex programs. This role is critical to ensuring that engineering talent is effectively aligned with project priorities, schedules, and technical requirements while maintaining the highest standards of engineering quality.

The role operates within a matrixed engineering organization, working closely with Engineering Directors, Technical Leads, Project Managers, HR, and cross-functional stakeholders. The role combines people leadership, resource and capacity planning, and hands-on technical oversight.

While the role includes meaningful technical engagement, its primary emphasis is on people leadership and team development. In addition to overseeing resource management and fostering the growth and performance of the engineering team, the Engineering Manager will also contribute as a Senior Engineer when appropriate, participating in design reviews and ensuring the quality, accuracy, and integrity of engineering models, analyses, and drawings.

• Assign engineers to projects based on technical skill sets, experience level, and project priorities.
• Balance workloads across teams to ensure efficient utilization while avoiding burnout or skill misalignment.
• Continuously monitor resource capacity and utilization across ongoing and planned projects.
• Forecast future engineering resource requirements based on the project pipeline, program schedules, and business objectives. This includes estimates of personnel, software, computing requirements and other tools required to achieve project objectives.
• Work closely with the Director of Engineering to resolve resource conflicts and competing priorities across programs.

• Provide direct people leadership to assigned engineers, scientists, and technical staff.
• Support employee needs and serve as a point of escalation, representing team concerns and issues to HR and leadership.
• Facilitate performance management processes, including goal setting, feedback, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Ensure engineers are delivering effectively on assigned tasks and proactively address performance or engagement issues.
• Contribute to the cultivation of a Thermofluids Engineering team that can work seamlessly in collaboration both internally and with the rest of the organization.

• Maintain a deep understanding of the technical skills, strengths, and development areas of the engineering team.
• Identify missing, underrepresented, or critical skill sets required to meet current and future program needs.
• Partner with HR and Engineering leadership to support recruiting and onboarding of new engineers.
• Work with individual engineers to identify training and professional development needs and support their growth.
• Establish and maintain teams of excellence (e.g., computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer, cryogenics, vacuum etc.) to strengthen core engineering capabilities.

• Actively mentor junior and mid-career engineers to grow technical depth, rigor, and engineering judgment.
• Ensure that sound engineering practices, standards, and documentation requirements are consistently followed.
• Participate in technical and design reviews to ensure quality, completeness, and integration of engineering work.
• Review and provide oversight on engineering models, analyses, and drawings to maintain technical excellence.
• Promote continuous improvement in engineering processes, tools, and workflows.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (with a strong focus on Thermofluids Engineering), Engineering Physics, or a closely related discipline.
• 10+ years of experience in engineering design within complex technical environments.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading multidisciplinary engineering teams, with a demonstrated track record of guiding engineers through career progression and advancing them along the engineering career ladder
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Analytical mindset with the ability to forecast resource needs, manage capacity, and balance competing priorities
• Genuinely derive satisfaction from enabling team members to perform the core technical work.