About Us:
Direct Kinetic Solutions (DKS) is a growing, innovative company specializing in the development and manufacturing of radioisotopic power sources. Our small but dynamic team is dedicated to advancing energy solutions and being at the forefront of this cutting-edge technology. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment where every team member can thrive and grow professionally.
Position Overview:
We are seeking a motivated and detail-oriented Product Development / Engineering Lead to join our team in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of radioisotopic power source manufacturing, contributing to projects that have a significant impact on energy innovation. As a key member of our team, you will play an integral role in supporting our manufacturing and automation processes, optimizing production efficiency, inventory management and data collection and ensuring high-quality standards.
As Product Development Lead, you’ll design the next generation of our devices, ensure they’re manufacturable at scale, and shape how we go from R&D to Commercialization. You’ll work closely with R&D scientists, the manufacturing team, and leadership to define and deliver real products with real use cases.
Key Responsibilities:
- Design and lead the development of radioisotopic products from prototyping through build of a scalable product
- Translate R&D output into manufacturable, reliable, and scalable product designs
- Drive product specifications, architecture, and design reviews
- Develop and maintain technical documentation: CAD, BOMs, requirements, test plans
- Be a key owner of ISO 9001 process for Design, Development and Manufacturing - you will actively shape our SOPs and drive organizational improvement
- Coordinate closely with Industrial Engineer to validate and iterate production processes
- Serve as the technical bridge between radiochemistry, engineering, and production
- Support business development by understanding the use case requirements (power, electronics, size, longevity) and delivering concept designs for customer validation to begin iterative design process, prototyping and manufacturing
- Contribute to team meetings and project planning sessions with innovative ideas and solutions
- Maintain a safe and organized work environment by adhering to 5S practices, safety protocols and company policies.
Who you are:
- You’re motivated by a challenge - we are a small team with a big mission, we are looking for someone who thrives in a dynamic, fast paced environment and doesn’t back down from a challenge.
- You strive for excellence and see setbacks as opportunities - we are constantly improving as we bring our first of a kind product to market, we believe that no solution is too out there and we are always open to looking at things from a different perspective. We value collaboration and see setbacks as opportunities to improve future design iterations.
- A leader - as the Product Development/Engineering Lead you will have a key role at the forefront of developing our technology, we are looking for a leader who steps up to coordinate efforts between our engineers and chemists and who people feel comfortable coming to with challenges.
Qualifications:
Required
- 10+ years of experience in hardware product development, ideally in a startup or deep-tech environment
- Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering or other relevant field; Masters/PhD preferred
- Demonstrated ability to take hardware from prototype to production
- Strong understanding of Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles
- Proficiency in CAD (e.g., SolidWorks, Fusion 360) and documentation tools
- Experience collaborating across disciplines (physics, materials, mechanical, electrical)
- Excellent communication and organizational skills
- Comfort working hands-on in lab and manufacturing environments
Preferred
- Background in energy tech, aerospace, medical devices, or nuclear systems
- Experience with radiation-hardened systems or compact power sources/ batteries
- Familiarity with safety and compliance standards (e.g., ISO, IEC, nuclear regs)
- Simulation or analysis tools (e.g., Microshield, Altium, Ansys, COMSOL)
Benefits:
- Competitive salary and performance-based bonuses
- Comprehensive health insurance
- 401K plan with company matching
- Opportunities for professional development and career advancement
- Collaborative and inclusive work environment