Engineer I/Engineer II - Safety Analysis Applications (Nuclear)

Duke Energy Corporation • Huntersville, NC

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Duke Energy’s Nuclear Fuels Engineering department is seeking an Engineer I or Engineer II for its Safety Analysis Applications group. The group develops, maintains, and executes in-house methodologies for Duke Energy’s pressurized water reactor fleet, including computer simulations of containment response during transients and accidents described in UFSAR Chapter 6. Its methodologies support analyses for proposed power uprates and 24-month fuel-cycle transitions. Additional work includes ECCS hydraulic simulations, emergency procedure setpoints, Emergency Operating Facility technical support, LOCA analysis vendor interface, and transient validation of training simulators.

The position performs complex transient thermal-hydraulic simulations and safety analyses for Duke Energy reactors, including emergent plant support. The engineer analyzes containment temperature and pressure response to postulated pipe breaks using NRC-approved codes and plant models; develops, qualifies, and maintains safety-analysis computer codes; and prepares accurate calculation files, technical reports, and correspondence. The work also involves collaboration with internal, industry, vendor, and regulatory personnel; technical training; and working with Regulatory Compliance on Licensing Amendment Request packages. The engineer helps develop and license improved safety-analysis methods that can improve thermal margin or plant operational margins, and plans work to meet station and NRC requirements and project or reload licensing schedules.

This role requires strong analytical skills, attention to detail, technical curiosity, continuous learning, and the ability to work in a team-oriented environment across site and corporate organizations. The work environment is hybrid, with two days in the office and two days remote in a typical four-day, 10-hour workweek. Employees must live within 50 miles one way of their designated Duke Energy facility and reside in the greater Charlotte area. Some travel to company sites, industry sites, and conferences or meetings is required, as is occasional off-hours emergent work. The position may include Emergency Response Organization duties, callouts, and an on-call rotation.

Requirements

• Nuclear Engineer I: Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program; applicants may be considered with appropriate progress toward receiving the degree by May 2027. A master's degree in Engineering may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• Nuclear Engineer I: 0–2 years of engineering experience.
• Nuclear Engineer II: Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program. A master's degree in Engineering may be considered in lieu of a bachelor's degree in Engineering.
• Nuclear Engineer II: 2–4 years of engineering experience and at least 1 year of nuclear experience.
• Ability to achieve nuclear-site Unescorted Access/Security clearance.
• Must reside in the greater Charlotte area and within a reasonable commute (no greater than 50 miles one way) of the designated Duke Energy facility.
• Must be able to work in the hybrid arrangement, typically four 10-hour days, with two days in the office and two days remote.
• Occasional off-hours emergent work may be required.
• The position may require Emergency Response Organization responsibilities, including callouts with a defined response time and an on-call duty rotation requiring Fit for Duty.
• In lieu of one year of nuclear experience, a selected candidate is subject to oversight and written approval authority of a designated qualified individual until fully qualified.
• Must be able to work lawfully in the United States without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Fundamentals of Engineering Certificate and/or Professional Engineer license.
• Experience with safety-analysis codes such as RETRAN, RELAP, and GOTHIC, or equivalents.
• Experience with nuclear fuel and PWR safety analysis.
• Familiarity with basic systems of a Westinghouse or B&W NSSS reactor.
• Experience developing and supporting License Amendment Requests and 50.59 Evaluations.
• Linux workstation experience.
• Computer programming experience, such as FORTRAN, Python, or VBA.
• Knowledge of thermal-hydraulic calculations, including heat transfer, flow modeling, single-failure analysis, and NPSH analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex transient thermal-hydraulic simulations and analyses for Duke Energy’s PWR reactors, including emergent plant support.
• Analyze containment temperature and pressure responses to postulated pipe breaks using NRC-approved codes and plant models.
• Prepare accurate calculation files, technical reports, and correspondence.
• Develop, qualify, and maintain computer codes used in safety analysis.
• Collaborate and interface with internal, industry, vendor, and regulatory personnel.
• Participate in technical training activities.
• Work with Regulatory Compliance to create or review Licensing Amendment Request packages.
• Develop and help license improved safety-analysis methods to improve thermal margin or provide plant operational margins.
• Plan work to produce high-quality deliverables that satisfy station and NRC requirements and meet reload licensing or project commitments.
• Perform reload and containment analyses using NRC-approved methodologies.

Benefits

• Competitive pay and benefits.
• Relocation assistance, as applicable.
• Access to onsite dining, a medical clinic, and a fitness center at the Charlotte headquarters.

What This Job Offers

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