Thermal-Hydraulics Engineer

BlueCore Energy • Long Beach, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

BlueCore Energy is hiring a Thermal-Hydraulics Engineer to help design advanced floating pressurized water reactors on barges. The role focuses on converting the reactor heat source into a safe, properly sized coolant system through thermal-hydraulics modeling, mechanical component sizing, and safety analysis. The engineer will work across primary, secondary, and tertiary systems and collaborate closely with the Core Physics team and other functions. The position is based on-site at the company’s Long Beach facility.

Requirements

• MS or PhD in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering, specializing in reactor thermal-hydraulics or pressure-vessel design.
• Hands-on experience running system thermal-hydraulics codes such as RELAP5-3D, TRACE, or ATHLET.
• Experience running subchannel codes such as VIPRE-01 or COBRA-TF/CTF for MDNBR and hot-channel factor evaluation.
• Deep understanding of ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 1, Subsection NB (Class 1) for primary component design-by-analysis.
• Ability to size a steam generator and heat exchangers from heat balances using formulas.
• Experience sizing reactor pressure-vessel walls using membrane hoop-thickness formulas.
• Ability to collaborate across multiple teams in a fast-moving startup environment.
• The role may require the ability to perform physical labor, navigate active construction or manufacturing zones, and/or operate heavy machinery and specialized manufacturing equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience designing primary, secondary, and tertiary loop components for marine or compact-PWR environments.
• Familiarity with ANSYS or ABAQUS structural FEA to evaluate components under dynamic marine loads.
• Deep understanding of 10 CFR 50 Appendix G fracture-toughness requirements and embrittlement shifts over vessel life.
• Familiarity with applying shock and wave dynamic-loading constraints to primary component mounts and structures.
• Experience integrating deterministic Chapter 15 safety results with a broader Probabilistic Risk Assessment.

Responsibilities

• Own system thermal-hydraulics modeling, including nodalization, LOCA, natural circulation, and subchannel DNBR and hot-channel analysis.
• Perform mechanical sizing for the reactor pressure vessel, steam generator, pressurizer, and reactor coolant pumps.
• Establish primary, secondary, and tertiary heat balances and flows, including support for seawater heat rejection.
• Author Chapter 15 transient and accident thermal-hydraulic evaluations and coordinate them with the broader risk-informed safety case.
• Set minimum DNBR using 95/95 Specified Acceptable Fuel Design Limits and validate the CHF correlation basis.
• Manage fatigue and fracture margins in mechanical component design.
• Manage coupled neutronics and thermal-hydraulics feedback in coordination with the Core Physics team.

What This Job Offers

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