R&D Nuclear Engineer - Fuel Performance
About The Position
The R&D Nuclear Fuel Performance Engineer supports the design, analysis, and optimization of nuclear fuel systems using advanced multiphysics computational tools, including INL’s MOOSE/BISON. The role develops BWXT fuel performance code capabilities to predict fuel behavior under normal and off-normal conditions and contributes to the engineering basis for licensing, fabrication, and operational decisions. It requires technical proficiency, analytical thinking, and collaboration across materials engineering, reactor physics, and thermal-hydraulics teams. The position is within BWXT’s Advanced Technologies group, which researches, designs, and develops nuclear reactors, nuclear rocket propulsion systems, and radioisotope production systems. Work may be performed remotely or on-site at the BWXT Innovation Campus in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Physics.
- At least five years of relevant experience; an advanced degree may be considered in lieu of experience.
- Demonstrated experience with multiphysics modeling, finite element analysis, or computational materials science tools.
- Experience and understanding of nuclear fuel behavior under irradiation, including thermal, mechanical, and microstructural phenomena.
- Proficiency in scientific programming languages and engineering computation, such as FORTRAN, Python, C, C++, or similar.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a history of impactful technical contributions.
- Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate technical findings clearly.
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy or Department of Defense security clearance, as required.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree plus four years of experience, or Ph.D. plus two years of experience, in Nuclear Engineering, Material Science, Physics, or a related field.
- In-depth experience with INL MOOSE/BISON or similar multiphysics nuclear fuel performance codes.
- In-depth experience with oxide, nitride, carbide, metallic, and advanced fuel concepts, including UO₂, UN, UC, U-Zr, U-Mo, TRISO, ATF coatings, SiC cladding, and composite systems.
- Knowledge of reactor physics, fuel cycle engineering, or regulatory frameworks such as NRC and DOE.
- Experience with high-performance computing environments, parallel computing, and performance optimization.
- Ability to design and execute R&D experiments or modeling campaigns to test new fuel concepts or material behaviors.
- Experience with verification, validation, sensitivity studies, and uncertainty quantification method development associated with fuel qualification.
Responsibilities
- Execute fuel performance simulations using MOOSE/BISON and related frameworks to evaluate thermo-mechanical response, fission gas behavior, cladding deformation, and irradiation-driven material evolution.
- Support R&D fuel design by integrating experimental data, advanced material models, and irradiation physics into engineering decisions.
- Develop and refine constitutive models for fuel and cladding materials, including creep, plasticity, swelling, phase transformations, and high-temperature mechanical behavior.
- Analyze irradiation test results, post-irradiation examination datasets, microstructural characterization, and thermophysical measurements to calibrate, validate, and improve fuel performance codes.
- Contribute to design and evaluation of new fuel forms, including accident-tolerant fuel concepts, metallic fuels, composite claddings, and advanced ceramics.
- Collaborate with reactor physicists, thermal-hydraulic analysts, materials scientists, fabrication engineers, and licensing specialists.
- Prepare technical analyses, R&D reports, and simulation documentation for internal use and regulatory interfaces.
- Maintain high-quality modeling workflows and support verification, validation, and uncertainty quantification activities.
Benefits
- Health, dental, and retirement plans.
- Flexible work schedules and paid time off.
- Professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs and sponsorship for continuing education.
- Continuous learning and training opportunities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
