Balance of Plant Engineer

Ocean Atomics; Bethesda (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Ocean Atomics is seeking a Mechanical/Nuclear Engineer to design and analyze balance‑of‑plant systems for maritime nuclear power plants. The role focuses on turbine‑generator, condenser, and feedwater systems, optimizing heat balance and cycle efficiency within ship constraints.

You will work with thermal‑hydraulics and construction teams, document designs and analyses, and support design reviews and acceptance testing to ensure performance and safety across operating conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or nuclear engineering is required.
• Experience designing or analyzing power conversion / balance‑of‑plant systems.
• Proficiency with heat balance and thermal cycle modeling tools.
• Strong grounding in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and rotating equipment.
• Familiarity with steam turbine‑generator systems and associated auxiliaries.
• Nuclear and/or navy experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze BOP systems, including turbine-generator, condenser, feedwater heaters, deaerator, and condensate/feedwater systems.
• Develop and optimize the thermal cycle and heat balance to maximize plant efficiency and ramp rates.
• Size and specify BOP equipment and define system requirements, interfaces, and operating limits.
• Coordinate with thermal‑hydraulics, layout, and construction teams to integrate BOP systems within shipboard constraints.
• Document system designs, performance analyses, and as‑built configurations; support reviews and testing.

Skills

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or核工程

Power conversion/BOP design

Heat balance modeling

Thermodynamics/heat transfer

Rotating equipment knowledge

Steam turbine-generator familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in mechanical or nuclear engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Heat balance software

Job description

The ocean is the largest undeveloped frontier on earth — and the next chapter of abundant energy will be written at sea. We're building the infrastructure to power it.

About Ocean Atomics (OA)

Ocean Atomics is an American company designing, licensing, and assembling a standardized nuclear electric power plant and the surrounding support systems for maritime applications. We will install these plants on any vessel built to our nuclear‑ready standards, and will provide end‑to‑end sustainment in our planned nuclear lifecycle dockyard. We will help develop the licensed operators to unlock this new capability for your energy‑intensive application at sea. To move fast and to lead the creation of this new market, we are leveraging the compact, proven systems enabled by water‑cooled reactors.

Our mission

Scale nuclear energy. Power generations.

Our vision

A maritime commons thriving with abundant, economical, modern, and safe nuclear‑powered activity — built, serviced, and staffed by re‑industrialized American shipyards and people.

Role Summary

Designs and analyzes the balance of plant (BOP)—turbine, generator, condenser, feedwater heaters, condensate/feedwater systems, and related equipment that converts nuclear steam into electricity, optimizing cycle performance within the ship's space, weight, and operating constraints.

What You’ll Do

• Design and analyze BOP systems, including the turbine-generator, condenser, feedwater heaters, deaerator, and condensate/feedwater systems.
• Develop and optimize the thermal cycle and heat balance to maximize plant efficiency, output, and ramp rates across operating conditions.
• Size and specify BOP equipment and define system requirements, interfaces, and operating limits.
• Coordinate with thermal‑hydraulics, layout, and construction teams to integrate BOP systems within shipboard space, weight, and installation constraints.
• Document system designs, performance analyses, and as‑built configurations, and support design reviews and acceptance testing.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in mechanical or nuclear engineering required (advanced degree preferred).
• Experience designing or analyzing power conversion / balance‑of‑plant systems.
• Proficiency with heat balance and thermal cycle modeling tools.
• Strong grounding in thermodynamics, heat transfer, and rotating equipment.
• Familiarity with steam turbine‑generator systems and associated auxiliaries.
• Nuclear and/or navy experience preferred.

Don't meet every bullet? We’d still like to hear from you. If you’re excited by the mission and most of this resonates, apply.

Export control notice

This role involves access to information subject to U.S. export control laws, including unclassified nuclear technology governed by the U.S. Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. Depending on a candidate's status, access may require DOE authorization, which Ocean Atomics may apply for. Any offer is contingent on your ability to work in compliance with these requirements. We evaluate all applicants regardless of citizenship or national origin, except where required by law.

Why this matters

Every industry on Earth needs scalable, clean energy, and the ocean is the ideal place to unlock it. Joining Ocean Atomics means building real, lasting infrastructure — the kind that powers generations. The world needs abundant energy. Let's make it happen.

Ocean Atomics LLC is an equal opportunity employer.

We are committed to a workplace free of discrimination and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations; if you need an accommodation during the application process, contact [e-mail].