Fuel Mechanical Engineer III OR Senior Fuel Mechanical Engineer

Duke Energy Corporation•Raleigh, NC

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

Fuel Mechanical Performance is part of Duke Energy’s Nuclear Fuels Engineering Division, centralized at the company’s 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 calls for a highly motivated engineer who can address complex analytical problems and plant support issues. Because assignments span analysis and plant support, the successful candidate must be willing to learn and fill roles across both areas, developing proficiency and versatility. The role is team-oriented and supplier- and customer-focused, requiring effective communication and collaboration. The position is classified as hybrid after onboarding, with work performed remotely and onsite. Employees must live within a reasonable commute—no more than 50 miles one way—to their designated Duke Energy facility and are expected to report onsite as directed, averaging three full workdays per regular workweek. The schedule is typically four 10-hour days, with two days in the office and two remote. The role is primarily office-based and secondarily based in plant environments; additional hours may be needed as workload dictates, and occasional off-hour emergent work is required. Travel to Duke sites, industry sites, and conferences or meetings may be required. The employee must live within one hour of a nuclear site.

Requirements

Meet the minimum ANSI requirements for the position identified in Nuclear Operating Fleet Administrative Procedure AD-LS-ALL-0011, Confirmation of Regulatory Guide 1.8 Personnel Qualifications.
For the Engineer III level: a BS in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering from an ABET-accredited program; alternatively, a master’s degree in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering plus a BS Engineering degree in another discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
For the Engineer III level: at least 4 years of engineering experience and at least 1 year of nuclear experience.
For the Senior Engineer level: a BS in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering; alternatively, a master’s degree in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering plus a BS Engineering degree in another discipline from an ABET-accredited program.
For the Senior Engineer level: at least 6 years of engineering experience, or 5 years of engineering experience with state registration as a Professional Engineer, and at least 1 year of nuclear experience.
A candidate without 1 year of nuclear experience may be subject to oversight and written approval by a designated qualified individual until fully qualified.
Able to obtain nuclear site unescorted access/security clearance.
Must live within one hour of a nuclear site.
Must be able to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.
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 practices.
Experience in the electric utility industry.
Experience using 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 in identifying, analyzing, and resolving routine fuel mechanical performance problems.
Help accomplish business goals through planning, organizing, estimating, scheduling, and monitoring work, in collaboration 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 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, lifetime analyses, and tracking.
Help ensure fuel and components are high-quality and conforming, are delivered to plants on time and within specifications, and that manufacturers follow required processes and procedures.
Accommodate emergent work, manage multiple tasks, and keep management informed and aligned as priorities shift.
Develop and maintain working relationships with groups within Nuclear Fuels Engineering, Plant Engineering, Operations, vendors, and sub-suppliers.
Participate in technical training, including seminars, computer code training, group-specific classes, and industry technical or strategic meetings.
May have Emergency Response Organization responsibilities, including site callouts with a defined response time and an on-call duty rotation.