Welding/ASME Section XI Repair & Replacement Engineer (Midlevel - Principal)

American Electric Power•Bridgman, MI

11d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides technical leadership and program support for welding and ASME Section XI Repair/Replacement (R/R) activities, while providing backup program support to Inservice Inspection (ISI), Containment ISI, Boric Acid Corrosion Control (BACC), Reactor Vessel Internals (RVI), or other engineering programs, as assigned. The role ensures safe, compliant, and efficient implementation of welded repairs, inspection activities, and structural integrity programs within a highly regulated nuclear environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Welding, Metallurgical, Materials, or Mechanical Engineering (or equivalent experience).
Strong working knowledge of: ASME Sections III, VIII, IX, XI
Strong working knowledge of: AWS Welding Codes (D1.1 Structural Steel, D1.3 Sheet Steel, D1.6 Stainless Steel, D3.6 Underwater Welding, etc.)
Experience implementing ASME Section XI Repair/Replacement programs.
Experience with welded repairs in nuclear or other highly regulated environments.
Experience supporting or owning engineering programs such as: Inservice Inspection (ISI), Containment ISI, Boric Acid Corrosion Control (BACC), Reactor Vessel Internals (RVI).
Familiarity with materials degradation mechanisms and inspection techniques.
Nuclear Engineer/ Salary Grade 7: Typically acquired 2 or more years of related engineering experience along with a Bachelor's degree in engineering in a program accredited by ABET, Individuals with a Master's degree in engineering in a program accredited by ABET may be considered for entry into the organization at this level.
Nuclear Engineer, Senior/ Salary Grade 8: Typically acquired 4 or more years of related engineering experience along with a Bachelor's degree in engineering in a program accredited ABET; or 2 years of related engineering experience along with a Master's degree or PhD in engineering from a program accredited by ABET.
Nuclear Engineer, Principal/ Salary Grade 9: Typically acquired 8 or more years of related engineering experience along with a Bachelor's degree in engineering in a program accredited by ABET or 6 years of related engineering experience along with a Master's degree or PhD in engineering from a program accredited by ABET.
Nuclear Specialist/ Grade 7: Bachelor degree in Project Management, Construction Management, Business Administration, Biology or Chemistry, or Associate Degree in an engineering discipline from an ABET accredited school with 5 years nuclear experience or high school diploma / GED with 9 years of experience in the nuclear industry.
Must establish and maintain a permanent residence within a 45-minute safe drive time to the D.C. Cook Nuclear Power Plant.

Nice To Haves

Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in any U.S. state or Puerto Rico is encouraged and preferred for Salary Grade 8.
Registration as a Professional Engineer (PE) in any U.S. state or Puerto Rico is required for Salary Grade 9 unless approval to waive this requirement is given by the organization's EVP.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain expert-level knowledge in welding, ASME Section XI Repair/Replacement (R/R), working as a back-up to other assigned plant programs as needed (ISI, Containment ISI, BACC, RVI, etc.).
Serve as a program engineer for welding and R/R activities, including development, governance, and continuous improvement of program processes.
Provide engineering support across multiple programs as assigned, ensuring integration of welding, inspection, and materials considerations.
Perform field walkdowns, inspections, and condition evaluations to identify degradation mechanisms and drive corrective/preventive actions.
Provide technical expertise for: Welded repair design and implementation, Code reconciliation and relief/alternative evaluations, Troubleshooting, degradation assessments, and failure analysis.
Support event investigations, root cause evaluations, and preparation of regulatory responses and correspondence.
Evaluate system and program risks and develop risk-informed mitigation and elimination strategies.
Ensure compliance with: Nuclear safety, quality assurance, and radiation protection requirements, NRC regulations and guidance, ASME Codes (Sections III, VIII, IX, XI), AWS Welding Codes (e.g., D1.1, D1.3, D1.6, D3.6, and others as applicable), ANSI/ANS standards and applicable industry commitments.
Review and approve welding procedures, qualifications (WPS/PQR/WPQ), and repair packages to ensure technical adequacy and code compliance.
Monitor program health through self-assessments, audits, benchmarking, and operating experience, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
Participate in industry user groups, code committees, and technical forums, incorporating lessons learned and emerging guidance.
Manage program resources and budgets, ensuring cost-effective execution and prioritization of work.
Apply analytical techniques to support outage activities, repair plans, inspections, and projects of moderate complexity.
Interpret and apply codes, standards, and technical specifications to plant systems, structures, and components.
Identify and implement process and program improvements, including outage execution and inspection strategies.
Support outage planning, scope development, and schedule integration.
Demonstrate problem-solving ability on moderately complex technical issues.
Prepare and present technical reports, engineering evaluations, and recommendations clearly and effectively.