Senior Thermal Mechanical Engineer
Job Summary
This role involves performing complex thermal and finite element mechanical analyses for nuclear fuel rod components. The engineer will establish operating limits, maintain fuel performance codes, and ensure design adequacy while collaborating with cross-functional technical teams. The position requires adherence to NRC regulations and high-quality engineering standards.
Responsibilities
- Perform heat transfer and FEA mechanical analyses
- Establish fuel product operating limits
- Maintain and develop fuel performance codes
- Document engineering analyses for regulatory compliance
Required Skills
- Nuclear fuel analysis
- Thermal-mechanical analysis
- Python & FORTRAN
- NRC regulatory knowledge
Job Details
Essential Responsibilities:
- Perform coupled heat transfer and finite element mechanical analyses for fuel rod pellet and cladding.
- Collaborate with fuel mechanical design experts, material scientists, and nuclear/thermal-hydraulic analysis engineers to ensure product performs within licensed and GNF performance expectations.
- Establish thermal mechanical operating limits for new and existing fuel product lines.
- Assist in the evaluation of fuel behavior for generic and plant-specific transient analyses.
- Support fuel operations and address customer issues related to fuel pellets and cladding.
- Interpret operational and test data to drive improvements in modeling and methodologies.
- Maintain and develop the fuel performance code.
- Provide well-written, well-organized documented engineering analyses to assure design adequacy.
- Maintain and develop technical design procedures associated with fuel rod design/analysis activities.
- Provide support in addressing nuclear industry needs and trends.
- Present to internal/external customers and nuclear regulators on fuel performance.
- Assist the team technical leader and functional manager to plan, status, and execute projects.
- Perform work with high quality in accordance with NRC regulations, customer requirements, and business quality assurance standards.
- Effectively communicate and collaborate with other team members on technical issues.
Basic Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree in an engineering discipline from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum 8 years of experience in a technology or engineering role.
- Minimum 4 years of experience in thermal-mechanical or nuclear fuel analysis.
- Requires access to U.S. export-controlled information.
Desired Qualifications:
- Master's Degree or greater in an engineering discipline.
- Prior nuclear industry knowledge/experience.
- Prior experience with writing submittals to the NRC.
- Proven track record of problem-solving ability and complex engineering analyses.
- Experience with Python and FORTRAN.
- Strong communication skills and capable of articulating specific technical topics.
- Ability to work effectively within a highly collaborative environment.