Fuel Mechanical Engineer III OR Senior Fuel Mechanical Engineer

Duke Energy•Charlotte, NC

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

Fuel Mechanical Performance is part of Duke Energy’s Nuclear Fuels Engineering Division, headquartered at the General Office in Charlotte. The group performs fuel mechanical and thermal analyses, provides plant support for nuclear-fuel-related issues, and oversees nuclear fuel fabrication and manufacturing engineering and quality assurance. This position involves resolving complex analytical problems and plant support issues, with assignments across both analysis and plant support. The successful candidate is expected to develop proficiency in both areas, work effectively in a team-oriented, supplier- and customer-focused environment, and demonstrate strong communication and collaboration skills. The position supports Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet and requires engineering expertise in fuel mechanical performance, fuel and core component design, fuel examinations, manufacturing oversight, and quality. The role is hybrid after onboarding, combining remote and onsite work. Employees must live within a reasonable commute—no more than 50 miles one way—of their assigned Duke Energy facility and are generally expected to report onsite an average of three full workdays per regular workweek. Work is primarily in a general office and secondarily in plant environments. The schedule is flexible, typically four 10-hour days, with two days in the office and two remote. Additional hours, occasional off-hour emergent work, travel, and potential emergency-response duties may be required. Candidates must live within one hour of a nuclear site and be able to obtain nuclear site unescorted access/security clearance. Depending on the successful applicant’s qualifications, the hiring manager may fill the position at a higher level within the job hierarchy. The posting describes qualifications for Nuclear Engineer III and Senior Nuclear Engineer levels. Relocation assistance may be provided, as applicable.

Requirements

Meet the minimum ANSI requirements identified in Nuclear Operating Fleet Administrative Procedure AD-LS-ALL-0011, Confirmation of Regulatory Guide 1.8 Personnel Qualifications.
For the Nuclear Engineer III level: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering from an ABET-accredited program, or a master's degree in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering with a bachelor's engineering degree in another discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
For the Nuclear Engineer III level: minimum of 4 years of engineering experience and 1 year of nuclear experience. A candidate without the year of nuclear experience is subject to oversight and written approval authority of a designated qualified individual until fully qualified.
For the Senior Nuclear Engineer level: Bachelor of Science in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering, or a master's degree in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering with a bachelor's engineering degree in another discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
For the Senior Nuclear Engineer level: minimum of 6 years of engineering experience, or 5 years of engineering experience with state registration as a Professional Engineer, and 1 year of nuclear experience. A candidate without the year of nuclear experience is subject to oversight and written approval authority of a designated qualified individual until fully qualified.
Ability to work lawfully in the United States without current or future employment-based immigration sponsorship.
Ability to obtain nuclear site unescorted access/security clearance.
Live within one hour of a nuclear site.
Hybrid employees must live within a reasonable commute of their designated Duke Energy facility, no greater than 50 miles one way.
A selected candidate may be subject to oversight and written approval authority of a designated qualified individual until fully qualified, typically about one year depending on whether prior training can be credited.
May be required to have Emergency Response Organization responsibilities, including callouts with a defined site response time and an on-call duty rotation requiring fitness for duty.
May be required to wear personal protective equipment such as a hardhat, safety glasses, and safety shoes.

Nice To Haves

Fundamentals of Engineering Certificate and/or Professional Engineer license.
Ability to organize and self-manage multiple tasks.
Unix and/or Linux workstation experience.
Computer programming experience, such as FORTRAN, Python, or VBA.
Proficiency in project management principles.
Experience in the electric utility industry.
Experience running fuel and crud computer software analysis tools such as PAD, COPERNIC, VIPRE, or BOA.
Experience with nuclear fuel vendor manufacturing oversight, surveillance, and evaluation.
Knowledge of thermal-hydraulic calculations, including heat transfer, flow modeling, nuclear fuel component materials, and fuel composition.
Proficiency in researching engineering and design issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations, and preparing and presenting recommendations.
Good written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

Provide engineering and technical expertise and guidance to identify, analyze, and resolve routine problems in fuel mechanical performance.
Support business goals and objectives through effective planning, organizing, estimating, scheduling, and monitoring of work activities, collaborating with higher-level employees or management.
Prepare accurate technical reports, correspondence, documentation, calculations, and sketches to resolve technical problems.
Support company goals and represent the company positively and professionally.
Perform complex fuel rod mechanical analyses, including rod internal pressure, fuel melt, and cladding corrosion analyses, using NRC-approved methodologies.
Perform crud and corrosion risk analyses using industry-standard methods, tools, and software.
Plan and support examinations and characterization of new and irradiated fuel.
Review fuel design and manufacturing process changes and approve or reject them.
Develop fuel and core component design specifications.
Perform core component management and lifetime analyses and tracking.
Help ensure that high-quality, conforming fuel and components are delivered to plants on time and within specifications, while holding manufacturers to required process and procedure rigor.
Accommodate emergent work and manage multiple tasks while keeping management informed and aligned on changing priorities.
Develop and maintain effective working relationships with Nuclear Fuels Engineering groups, Plant Engineering, Operations, vendors, and sub-suppliers.
Participate in technical training, seminars, computer-code training, group-specific classes, and industry technical or strategic meetings.