BWR Nuclear Fuel and Analysis – Nuclear Engineer Or Analyst

Nuclear Engineer or Analyst– BWR Fuel Engineering, All Levels

JOB SUMMARY: 

This position is for a Nuclear Engineer within Southern Nuclear Operating Company’s (SNC) Nuclear Fuel & Analysis organization, supporting BWR Fuel Engineering at the company’s corporate office in Birmingham, Alabama. 

SNC’s BWR Fuel Engineering department is responsible for nuclear fuel and core design, core management, operational support, reload safety analysis, and reload licensing to support two BWR nuclear units. The successful candidate will develop and deliver engineering products supporting nuclear fuel and core design, reload licensing, reactor operation, transient and accident analyses, and technical evaluations of existing and advanced BWR fuel technologies. The role provides significant ownership of technical products and decisions throughout the reload design, licensing, and operating cycle. SNC’s Nuclear Fuel & Analysis department also offers outstanding opportunities for innovation in the realm of nuclear fuel and core design.   

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required OR 

• Professional Engineer (P.E.) license/certification required OR

• Accredited undergraduate degree in Applied Science, Mathematics, AND a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from an ABET accredited program (Nuclear Engineering Analyst).

• A bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering is preferred.

Experience:

The following experiences and qualifications are preferred:

• Experience in nuclear fuel engineering, reactor physics, core design, core management, reload safety analysis, or reload licensing. 
• Commercial nuclear power plant experience including reactor engineering or plant engineering at a BWR or PWR.

• Experience associated with the systems, design, and analysis of BWRs or PWRs.

• Experience with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy or Global Nuclear Fuel reactor physics, fuel design, or safety analysis methods.

• Experience with CASMO/SIMULATE or comparable lattice physics and core simulator methods.

Candidates at all experience levels will be considered. For entry-level candidates, relevant internships, cooperative education assignments, graduate research, reactor physics coursework, research reactor experience, or other applicable nuclear experience may be considered.

(Note: The position title and level will be determined based on individual’s education and experience level.)

Desired Skills:

• Ability and willingness to develop expertise in reactor physics, nuclear fuel, core design, reload safety analyses, and licensing.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to apply sound engineering principles to complex technical issues affecting nuclear safety, reliability, and plant operation.

• Ability to develop sound technical conclusions, clearly document their bases, and make timely engineering decisions within assigned responsibilities. 

• Ability to work effectively with fuel vendors and multidisciplinary teams, including Reactor Engineering, operations, licensing, safety analysis, and site engineering organizations.

• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical information to a variety of audiences.

Desired Behavioral Attributes:

• Superior Performance: Demonstrates a commitment to nuclear safety, quality, teamwork, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.

• Total Commitment: Supports the success of employees, customers, shareholders, and the communities SNC serves.

• Initiative: Proactively identifies issues, takes ownership of assignments, and works effectively with appropriate independence.

• Accountability: Takes responsibility for technical decisions, behaviors, commitments, and results.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform reactor physics and core design analyses required to design, license, load, and operate BWR reactor cores.

• Perform and/or oversee reload safety analysis and licensing activities, including evaluation of analysis assumptions, operating limits, and licensing requirements. 

• Monitor operating cores to confirm reactor performance, fuel exposure, and applicable analysis and licensing assumptions.

• Provide fuel engineering support to site organizations during normal operation, outages, startup, and other plant activities.

• Coordinate and support the cycle reload process, including reload design meetings, special analyses, exposure accounting, cycle management reports, and control blade and reactor component management.

• Perform analysis and vendor oversight to support storage of spent nuclear fuel in wet and dry storage in accordance with applicable regulations and licensing documents. 

• Collaborate with site organizations, nuclear fuel vendors, and other engineering groups to resolve fuel- and core-related technical issues and evaluate applicable vendor products and methodologies.

• Serve as a member of the Emergency Response Organization.