Senior Engineer, Plant Thermal Hydraulic Methods

Job Description

Position Title: Senior Engineer, Plant Thermal Hydraulic Methods

Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting contract Senior Engineer, Plant Thermal Hydraulic Methods opportunity.

Job Responsibilities:

• Develop system-level thermal hydraulic analysis methods, including modeling strategies, numerical approaches, and closure models.
• Perform steady-state and transient system-level analyses to characterize model behavior, assess method performance, and define method fidelity requirements.
• Support method qualification, including numerical verification, applicability envelopes, and performance characterization.
• Formulate and integrate closure models and empirical correlations (e.g., heat transfer, pressure drop, mixing, component-level physics) into existing analysis frameworks.
• Identify modeling gaps and support method enhancement using and sensitivity studies.
• Develop automated workflows and tools for model setup, execution, post processing, and repeatable method application.
• Document modeling methodologies, assumptions, method applicability, and numerical performance for design processes and licensing support activities.
• Work across disciplines to ensure thermal hydraulic methods integrate effectively with plant design, safety analysis, and coupled simulation workflows.
• Apply and improve Company's SQA and NQA 1 modeling practices, ensuring traceability, configuration control, and reproducibility of methods.

Job Qualifications:

• Degree in Mechanical, Nuclear, Chemical Engineering, or similar fields, with 6+ years of experience in system-level thermal hydraulic modeling and method development for nuclear or complex energy systems.
• Demonstrated experience in developing or improving analysis methods, including numerical scheme development, closure model formulation, and stability/accuracy optimization strategies.
• Experience performing system-level thermal hydraulic analyses using tools such as RELAP5 3D, GOTHIC, SAS, or equivalent, with the ability to extend or tailor modeling approaches within these frameworks.
• Strong foundation in thermal fluids and reactor system behavior, including complex thermal hydraulic phenomena relevant to advanced reactor designs.
• Experience in sensitivity analyses and model gap identification that support method development priorities.
• Familiarity with scientific programming and workflow automation (e.g., Python, MATLAB).
• Familiarity with NQA 1 quality assurance for modeling workflows, including documented methodologies, configuration control, and model traceability.
• Strong analytical thinking, clear technical communication, and the ability to support multiple method development efforts in parallel.
• Strong communication skills desired.
• The service provider will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect, and a desire to foster teamwork.
• Travel Required: 0-5%.

Job Details:

• Job Type: Contract
• Pay Rate Range: $56-$95/hr (Pay rates are approved based on candidate location, education and experience)
• Location: Bellevue, WA or 100% REMOTE
• Export control regulations require candidates to be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, or of a protected person status

Benefits Package: Protingent offers competitive salaries, insurance plan options (HDHP plan or POS plan), education/certification reimbursement, pre-tax commuter benefits, Paid Time Off (PTO), and an administered 401k plan.
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About Protingent: Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation - from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies . We're passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.


Meet Your Recruiter

Abby Hubbard

I joined Protingent in the Spring of 2021 as a sales intern, transitioning to a full-time Technical Recruiter after graduating from the University of Washington in June 2021. Initially, I focused on supporting our spaceflight clients, later expanding to industries such as sustainable energy and nuclear power. While I've broadened my recruiting scope, I'm still partial to aerospace engineering, especially anything related to propulsion technology.

My recruiting style focuses on individual candidate needs and relationship building. My philosophy is to lead with empathy and integrity. My favorite thing about recruiting is the opportunity to learn something new every day by talking to the most intelligent people/engineers, as well as the potential to impact critical industries at the staffing level.

When I'm not recruiting, I love spending time outdoors - hiking, camping, roller skating, reading in parks, and swimming in Lake Union (when the Seattle weather permits). I also enjoy thrift shops, sewing/up-cycling clothes, and shooting 35mm film.