Safety Analysis Engineer

Safety Analysis Engineer

As a Safety Analysis Engineer, you will be part of a team supporting the development of several leading technologies for various applications on earth and in space. The Safety Analysis group is responsible for developing methodologies and performing analyses to demonstrate that the various reactor designs satisfy their safety bases and licensing requirements. These types of analyses include deterministic safety evaluations of the reactor core, passive cooling, safety protection system, and radiological releases associated with anticipated operational occurrences (AOOs), design basis accidents (DBAs), and beyond design basis events (BDBEs) as well as probabilistic safety evaluations of the system responses and initiating event frequencies. The Safety Analysis group is responsible for the verification and validation activities associated with the computer codes used in these analyses.

Location: The position is located in Lynchburg, VA, with the possibility of remote work depending on the candidate's specific skill set and experience.

Your Day to Day as a Safety Analysis Engineer:

• Develop analytical methods and models for the spectrum of AOOs, DBAs, and BDBEs that are applicable to the reactor design being evaluated.
• Perform AOO, DBA, and BDBA simulations for the reactor design.
• Perform engineering calculations related to nuclear safety, fluid flow, probability risk assessment, severe accident analysis, equipment qualification, heat and mass transfer, and other duties.
• Prepare appropriate documentation supporting evaluations and analyses.
• Interface with customers, vendors, and other internal functional groups to obtain information necessary to perform work assignments.
• Identify and recommend improvements in processes on continuing basis and assist in implementation as well as identify and assist in the development of new business opportunities.
• Perform code benchmarking and validation analyses to support code qualification and methodology development.
• Perform pre- and post-test analyses to support Separate Effects and Integral Systems Tests, as needed.
• Develop methodology reports, design criteria, and other licensing documentation to support NRC or DOE review and approval.
• Provide input to planning, tracking, work estimates, and project updates as requested.
• Interact with and explain methods, models, analyses, and safety results to customers, regulators, and subject matter experts that may be advising a project as requested.
• Perform safety analysis tasks including hazard identification, safety basis event identification, and phenomena identification and ranking table development.
• Support development of safety analysis computational models in accordance with best practices and test data.
• Perform sensitivity, uncertainty, and scaling analysis in support of evaluation model development as requested.
• Integrate with other engineering groups performing aspects of component, system, fuel, and control system design.
• Evaluate and assess experimental data and describe the applicability of experiments to design projects.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in engineering or physics is required.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of related experience is required.
• Must have strong nuclear-thermal-hydraulic analytical skills.
• Must have experience performing safety analysis using industry computer codes such as RELAP5-3D, GOTHIC, TRACE, MELCOR, etc.
• Must have experience in safety analysis.
• Must have demonstrated technical writing skills.
• Must possess effective communication skills.
• Must possess a strong understanding of thermal hydraulic behavior of nuclear power plants under steady state and transient conditions.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or Department of Defense (DOD) security clearance, whichever is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. or PhD in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience with HTGRs is desired.
• Experience with SNAP computer code is desired.
• Experience with developing and applying numerical methods for nuclear thermal-hydraulic problems.
• Experience with developing complex safety analysis models from scratch.
• Experience working in a nuclear quality environment (e.g., ASME NQA-1).
• Familiarity with Linux operating systems.
• Familiarity with preparing and defending Safety Analysis Reports (SARs) with NRC or DOE.
• Demonstrated ability to apply technical knowledge to plant conditions, regulatory requirements, and analytical evaluations is preferred.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
• Flexible work schedules and paid time off to promote a healthy work-life balance.
• Professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs and sponsorship for continuing education.
• An inclusive atmosphere that celebrates new perspectives and supports collaboration between different generations.
• The chance to be part of a mission-driven organization making a positive impact on the future of energy.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and training to grow throughout your career!

Pay: $99,000.00 - $157,000.00 The base salary range for this position in Virginia (US-VA) at the start of employment is expected to be between $99,000.00 and $157,000.00 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,' unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.