Balance of Plant Design Engineer (United States)

Company Description

Hadron Energy specializes in Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) development, design, and research based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As a leading MMR developer, Hadron Energy is designing factory-produced, transportable microreactors that provide 24/7 carbon-free power for data centers, government facilities, industrial sites, and remote communities. Our mission is to create a brighter, healthier, and more equitable energy future.

System Design Engineer – Balance of Plant (BOP) – Role Description

This is a full-time remote role for a System Design Engineer – Balance of Plant (BOP), based in the United States. The position is ideal for candidates with strong systems engineering, power plant design, and balance-of-plant experience who are passionate about helping develop the next generation of advanced nuclear energy systems.

The System Design Engineer – Balance of Plant will serve as Hadron Energy’s first dedicated Balance of Plant (BOP) engineer and will be responsible for defining, optimizing, and maturing the non-reactor systems that support safe and efficient plant operation. This individual will lead technical oversight of significant subcontracted engineering scopes while ensuring alignment with reactor requirements, plant performance goals, licensing requirements, and commercial deployment objectives.

You will work closely with reactor systems engineers, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, thermal-hydraulics engineers, licensing specialists, and external engineering partners to develop an efficient, cost-effective, and deployable plant architecture that supports Hadron’s micro modular reactor technology.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, definition, and optimization of Balance of Plant (BOP) systems supporting reactor operation and power generation
• Develop system requirements, design criteria, and functional specifications for BOP systems
• Support development of plant layouts, system configurations, and interface definitions between reactor and non-reactor systems
• Coordinate and oversee subcontracted engineering activities associated with BOP design and analysis
• Review and approve engineering deliverables, calculations, drawings, and technical reports prepared by external engineering firms and suppliers
• Develop and maintain system design descriptions, P&IDs, system flow diagrams, and interface control documents
• Perform technical evaluations and trade studies to improve plant efficiency, reliability, maintainability, constructability, and cost
• Support design and selection of major BOP equipment such as heat exchangers, condensers, pumps, cooling systems, water treatment systems, and auxiliary equipment
• Collaborate with electrical, controls, civil, structural, and mechanical engineering teams to ensure integrated plant design
• Support safety analyses, licensing activities, and regulatory documentation by providing BOP design inputs and engineering evaluations
• Participate in design reviews, vendor evaluations, procurement activities, and equipment qualification efforts
• Identify opportunities for simplification, standardization, and cost reduction across the Balance of Plant scope

Qualifications & Skillsets

• Bachelor's, Master's, or PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related discipline
• 5+ years of experience in power plant systems design, balance-of-plant engineering, or industrial process systems
• Strong understanding of thermal-fluid systems, power generation systems, and plant auxiliary systems
• Experience developing system requirements, engineering specifications, and design documentation
• Familiarity with pumps, heat exchangers, cooling systems, water treatment systems, condensers, and related industrial equipment
• Experience reviewing and managing engineering deliverables from contractors, suppliers, and consulting organizations
• Knowledge of power plant design methodologies, constructability considerations, and cost optimization principles
• Familiarity with thermal-hydraulic analysis, system modeling, and plant integration activities
• Experience with P&IDs, system flow diagrams, and system design descriptions
• Understanding of nuclear plant systems and licensing requirements is highly desirable
• Strong analytical, technical writing, and communication skills
• Ability to coordinate multidisciplinary technical efforts across internal and external organizations
• Passion for clean energy, innovation, and developing practical engineering solutions that accelerate advanced nuclear deployment