Reactor Core Mechanical Engineer

Ocean Atomics • Bethesda, MD

9d • $110,000 - $240,000

About The Position

Ocean Atomics (OA) is an American company designing, licensing, and assembling a standardized nuclear electric power plant and the surrounding support systems for maritime applications. We will install these plants on any vessel built to our nuclear-ready standards, and will provide end-to-end sustainment in our planned nuclear lifecycle dockyard. We will help develop the licensed operators to unlock this new capability for your energy intensive application at sea. To move fast and to lead the creation of this new market, we are leveraging the compact, proven systems enabled by water-cooled reactors.
Our mission
Scale nuclear energy. Power generations.
Our vision
A maritime commons thriving with abundant, economical, modern, and safe nuclear-powered activity — built, serviced, and staffed by re-industrialized American shipyards and people.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or nuclear engineering required (advanced degree preferred).
• Experience in mechanical design and structural analysis of reactor core components or internals.
• Proficiency with finite element analysis and structural/vibration tools (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS, or equivalent).
• Working knowledge of flow-induced vibration, fatigue, and dynamic/shock loading analysis.
• Strong grounding in solid mechanics, materials behavior, and structural dynamics.

Nice To Haves

• Understanding of naval architecture and marine engineering (preferred)

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze core mechanical components and internals for structural integrity, fatigue, and wear across operating, transient, and accident conditions.
• Evaluate flow-induced vibration of fuel assemblies, control elements, and internals, and develop design features to mitigate wear and dynamic effects.
• Assess the effects of ship motions and dynamic/shock loading on core mechanical performance and structural margins.
• Coordinate with thermal-hydraulics, fuels, and structural teams to integrate mechanical design with flow, thermal, and neutronic requirements.
• Document mechanical analyses, design basis, and qualification results, and support design reviews and testing.

What This Job Offers

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