Advanced Reactor System Code Analyst

Idaho National Laboratory • Idaho Falls, ID

3d • $95,256 - $234,336 • Onsite

About The Position

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring an Advanced Reactor System Code Analyst for its MFC Reactor Engineering department in Idaho Falls. The team works a 9x80 schedule, with every other Friday off. The role characterizes thermal, reactor kinetic, and overall system behavior of advanced reactor structures, systems, and components across normal operations, planned transients, reactivity insertion events, natural phenomena hazards, and accident conditions. It develops and evaluates predictive models to support nuclear safety analyses, fundamental safety functions, and advanced reactor demonstration activities at INL.

Requirements

• Level 3: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or another related technical discipline, plus 5 years of relevant experience; or an advanced degree in mechanical engineering or another related degree, plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a closely related field from an ABET-accredited program.
• Level 4: Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or another related technical discipline, plus 9 years of relevant experience; or an advanced degree in mechanical engineering or another related degree, plus 6 or more years of relevant experience, or a closely related field from an ABET-accredited program.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy Q clearance; U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities

• Analyze advanced reactor core behavior and overall system response under normal operating conditions, planned transients, natural phenomena hazards, reactivity insertion events, and accident conditions.
• Develop accurate and appropriately conservative analytical models to verify that advanced reactor designs satisfy applicable acceptance criteria, safety requirements, and design requirements.
• Apply the Evaluation Model Development and Assessment Process, including defining model requirements, developing models, validating model performance, and demonstrating that evaluation models are adequate for their intended applications.
• Support, coordinate, and perform confirmatory calculations and startup planning in thermal-hydraulic, reactor kinetic, and system analysis to support facility-specific and reactor-specific safety basis analyses.
• Plan, schedule, and track reactor analyses, startup testing, and verification activities to validate analytical work, confirm system performance, and support safe reactor operations.
• Develop and apply reactor system models using analytical tools and system codes such as RELAP5-3D, SAM, GOTHIC, TRACE, MOOSE-based applications, or comparable analysis software.
• Provide technical support for project planning related to new reactor design, evaluation, acceptance, and startup.
• Coordinate with reactor design, nuclear safety, structural analysis, criticality safety, radiation protection, and other contributing organizations; work with external reactor designers and U.S. Department of Energy organizations, including DOE Idaho Operations Office and DOE Headquarters.
• Document analytical methods, assumptions, model inputs, results, uncertainties, and conclusions in accordance with applicable quality assurance requirements and Laboratory policies and procedures.
• Participate in evaluating and resolving complex engineering problems and contribute to technical decisions using sound engineering judgment, validated analytical methods, and established Laboratory procedures.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to a 4.8% match for regular positions, or self-contribute access for postdoctoral positions
• Paid time off (personal leave)
• Employee Education Program, including tuition assistance for eligible positions
• Comprehensive relocation package

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level