Senior Piping & In-line Devices Specialist

Piping & In-line Devices Specialist

X-energy is hiring an experienced Piping & In-line Devices Specialist to join its team. This role is responsible for guiding specification, selection and design of piping for a wide variety of mechanical process and power generation system applications. It includes identifying requirements, performing design calculations, and selecting and specifying piping and in-line devices to ensure they meet all technical specifications and program/project requirements. Additionally, this role is responsible for providing expert opinions, based on technical information, to system owners and responsible engineers in the area of their expertise. This position is expected to be an expert on piping systems and in-line devices (including flow accelerated corrosion analysis, piping specifications, and stress analysis) and will provide recommendations on all aspects of piping design including material selection, routing, support design, flow characteristics, erosion/corrosion prevention, and lifecycle integrity.

Job Tasks/Responsibilities:

• Direct the planning of analyses required to assess all aspects of piping and in-line components to ensure they can perform their intended functions and meet all technical specifications and requirements in a manner that is compliant with applicable codes and standards.
• Supervise performance of computations utilizing hand calculations and analytical tools for structural, thermal, hydraulic, and other scoping calculations as required to ensure piping and in-line devices can meet all technical requirements in a manner that is compliant with applicable codes and standards.
• Develop and manage implementation of engineering changes in accordance with approved procedures.
• Provide assistance and guidance in designing and developing mechanical systems and components within your expertise:
• Understand how nuclear safety relates to system specific systems and components and the work performed on a day-to-day occurrence.
• Select components based on applicable requirements, interfaces, design bases and criteria by coordinating with key stakeholders/systems engineers and support identification of applicable industry codes and standards.
• Compose and develop design documentation including, but not limited to, design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, design descriptions and drawings in accordance with applicable procedures.
• Author and maintain X-energy design standards and guides related to design, specification, and selection of piping and in-line devices.
• Demonstrate project management skills to effectively organize and lead external engineering partners.
• Develop the technical content for and support the procurement of material, equipment, and services.
• Oversee and/or provide technical expertise to review procured items and associated documentation for acceptance and verify compliance of procured services and material with contract specifications.
• Review engineering documentation for technical correctness and compliance with X-energy processes and procedures and participate in design reviews for piping and in-line devices within your expertise and competence.
• Actively support the safety culture and ensure integration of quality into all Engineering processes utilized in the performance of this role by complying with the relevant requirements of the Quality Assurance Program.
• Identify, document, report and manage system and project risks related to engineering and design scope associated with this role to ensure they are visible and mitigated accordingly.
• Maintain professional demeanor and behavior at all times in all forms of communication.
• Work effectively and efficiently with multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables and data.
• Oversee documentation of applicable requirements, interfaces, design basis and criteria by coordinating with key stakeholders/systems engineers and identify applicable and appropriate industry codes and standards.
• Have a thorough understanding of the letter and intent of industry codes and standards.
• Lead the execution of the core tasks and responsibilities, listed in the Job Profile Task/Responsibilities section of this document, without close supervision and extensive latitude for independent judgment. Develop and manage implementation of engineering changes in accordance with approved procedures. Teach and mentor more junior team members. Stay abreast of industry and academic trends, breakthroughs, and best practices. In collaboration with engineering leadership, set technical direction at the enterprise level through developing and owning technology or discipline specific roadmaps, best practices, and/or design criteria.
• Perform other duties as assigned by manager.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Level V: The skills required for this role are typically demonstrated by 15 plus years of relevant experience.
• Level VI: The skills required for this role are typically demonstrated by 20 plus years of relevant experience.
• Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering or related engineering discipline from an ABET accredited university required.
• A master's degree in engineering or related field (may include a combination of experience obtained through an academic institution, e.g., design projects, research, or design teams, as well as professional experience) may be in lieu of two years of experience.
• A Ph.D. in engineering or related field (may include a combination of experience obtained through an academic institution, e.g., design projects, research, or design teams, as well as professional experience) may be in lieu of three years of experience.
• Previous experience at X-energy exceeding performance standards may be in lieu of years of experience.
• Experience with mechanical process equipment design, procurement, installation, and/or operation is required. For this role that experience must include developing specifications for piping and in-line devices including, but not limited to fittings, flanges, filters, strainers, expansion joints, flow orifices, mechanical flow meters, silencers, and backflow preventers; performing or overseeing the performance of flow accelerated corrosion analyses; utilization of pipe stress analysis results to inform design, specification, and selection of piping; and ensuring that piping and in-line devices are designed to maintain integrity across diverse operating conditions.
• Experience with authoring and/or maintaining company design standards and guides related to design, specification, and selection of piping and in-line devices is desirable.
• Systems or Design Engineering experience in successful mechanical system development projects.
• Experience with design and operation of mechanical systems including, but not limited to, steam, feedwater, condensate, HVAC, fire protection, drainage, compressed air, services, water-based systems, or nuclear systems.
• Knowledge of best practices for system requirements management and verification.
• Knowledge of Systems Engineering processes, as well as relevant aspects of nuclear power plant licensing, regulatory, quality, and safety requirements.
• Fluid dynamics and hydraulics: Advanced understanding of fluid behavior in piping systems, including pressure drop calculations, flow regimes, and hydraulic transients.
• Piping stress analysis: Expertise in analyzing and/or utilizing results of analyses for thermal expansion, vibration, and other mechanical stresses in piping systems using industry-standard software tools.
• Flow accelerated corrosion (FAC): In-depth knowledge of FAC mechanisms, predictive models, monitoring techniques, and mitigation strategies for different process conditions.
• Material science: Comprehensive understanding of piping materials, their properties, compatibility with process fluids, and degradation mechanisms. This also includes the expertise to recommend specific piping and tubing materials for specific applications for both metallic (i.e., ductile iron, cast iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, alloy, etc.) and non-metallic pipe (i.e., HDPE, PVC/CPVC, FRP, Polypropylene (PP), etc.).
• Industry codes and standards: Mastery of ASME B31 series codes (in particular, B31.1 and B31.3), ASME Section III for nuclear piping, and other relevant standards including material specifications, welding requirements, piping joints, and dimensional standards for piping, flanges, and fittings. Such standards include, but are not limited to ASME B16.5, B16.34, and B16.47.
• Piping specifications: Experience developing comprehensive piping specifications for various service conditions, including material selection, component standardization, and fabrication requirements.
• In-line devices: Knowledge of flow elements, strainers, filters, silencers, expansion joints, and other specialty in-line components.
• Pipe support design: Understanding of pipe support requirements, restraint types, and analysis of support loads.
• Process safety: Familiarity with process hazard analysis techniques related to piping systems and prevention of failures.
• Inspection and maintenance: Knowledge of non-destructive examination techniques, predictive maintenance approaches, and lifecycle management of piping systems.
• Vendor management: Experience evaluating supplier proposals and reviewing vendor documentation for compliance with equipment specifications, design codes and standards, contract requirements, maintenance provisions, operation, testing, and general industry best practices.

Location: Rockville, MD or Houston, TX

Work Site Expectations: 4-5 days in office Travel Expectations: Up to 10% as needed Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm ET, Monday-Friday