Mechanical Engineer or Analyst – Model Development

Terrestrial Energy•Charlotte, NC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Engineer/Analyst – Model Development, under the direction of the Mechanical Engineering Manager, is primarily responsible for contributing to the design and analysis of IMSR reactor systems, components and materials through the Detailed Engineering phase. In particular, the role will include developing and implementing custom Engineering models for predicting the behavior and integrity of reactor materials, components, and systems throughout their operating life under IMSR reactor environmental conditions.

Requirements

Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or alternate degree in a related field
Minimum 4 years of work experience in mechanical and materials modelling and analysis (relevant graduate studies and academic research experience will be considered, and exceptions may be considered for particularly well-suited experience of shorter duration)
Strong theoretical understanding of underlying mechanics of materials and material science fundamentals
Experience with ANSYS Mechanical or other commercial FEA software (ANSYS Mechanical APDL is preferred)
Experience with the implementation of user programmable features for custom constitutive models within a commercial FEA software (such as UserMat in ANSYS or UMAT in ABAQUS) is essential
Experience with computer programming (Python, C, Fortran, C++, or other) for data pre/post processing or automation/customization of simulations in commercial software
Knowledge of fatigue, creep, dynamic and static, linear and non-linear analyses
Willingness to adapt and learn new approaches and areas of expertise
Strong communication (both written and verbal) skills
Demonstrated ability to work independently and with teams on problems that are challenging to solve and requiring innovative solutions

Nice To Haves

Graduate-level degree (Master’s or PhD) with an applicable specialization
Experience with analysis of non-metallic materials (particularly graphite or similar materials)
Working knowledge of the effects of radiation on materials of construction (graphite and alloy)
Knowledge of nuclear and/or non-nuclear codes and standards including ASME Section III Division 1, Division 5, CSA N285.0 and ASME B31.1, CSA B51
Experience with high temperature reactor applications and knowledge of ASME Section III Division 5 is strongly preferred
Experience running large-scale models using HPCs
Licensed Professional Engineer

Responsibilities

Conducting literature and operating experience (OPEX) reviews to support design and model development
Collaborating with the Research and Development (R&D) group to translate experimental results into custom Engineering models of components and materials under reactor conditions and to plan new experiments as needed
Preparing models, calculations and reports for analysis of reactor components (such as graphite core components, core support structures, the reactor vessel, and other in-core components) including evaluating the effects of irradiation, fatigue, creep, dynamic and static mechanical and thermal loads, and other aspects as needed
Developing computer codes for building custom analysis tools, automating input/output processing and customizing functionality of commercial software
Attending and participating in conferences and industry events to stay familiar with and contribute to the development of current codes, standards, and industry best practices
Interface with external experts and regulatory agencies