Engineer I/Engineer II - Safety Analysis Applications (Nuclear)

Duke Energy; Huntersville (NC); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work environment

Relocation assistance provided (as-app

Flexible work schedule

Job summary

Duke Energy's Nuclear Fuels Engineering (NFE) group seeks candidates for Nuclear Engineer I/II roles in the Charlotte area to support safety analyses for the PWR fleet. The position emphasizes analytical rigor, problem solving, and collaboration across site and corporate teams.

These roles offer hybrid work arrangements, occasional travel, and opportunities to contribute to license amendments and safety analyses that impact uprates and fuel cycles.

Qualifications

• ABET-accredited engineering degree or progress toward degree by May 2027.
• Master's degree in Engineering can substitute for BS.
• 0-2 years of engineering experience (Nuclear Engineer I).
• 2-4 years of engineering experience and 1+ year nuclear experience (Nuclear Engineer II).

Responsibilities

• Performs complex transient thermal hydraulic simulations and analyses for all PWR Duke Energy reactors.
• Analyzes containment temperature and pressure response to postulated pipe breaks using NRC codes and models.
• Prepares calculation files, technical reports and correspondence.
• Develops, qualifies, and maintains computer codes used in safety analysis.
• Collaborates with internal, industry, vendor, and regulatory personnel.
• Participates in technical training activities.
• Supports Licensing Amendment Requests (LAR) with Regulatory Compliance.
• Develops methods to improve thermal margins and plant operational margins.
• Plans work activities to deliver high-quality NRC-compliant outputs on schedule.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (ABET accredited)

Master's degree in Engineering (in lieu of BS)

Tools

RETRAN/RELAP/GOTHIC

FORTRAN/Python

Linux

Job description

More than a career - a chance to make a difference in people's lives.

Build an exciting, rewarding career with us - help us make a difference for millions of people every day. Consider joining the Duke Energy team, where you'll find a friendly work environment, opportunities for growth and development, recognition for your work, and competitive pay and benefits.

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding career, as a nuclear professional, helping Duke Energy achieve a clean energy future? Duke Energy's 11 operating nuclear reactors make Duke Energy a clean energy leader in the electricity generation industry. The Nuclear Fuels Engineering (NFE) department is seeking candidates who are passionate about nuclear energy's role in a clean energy future. Duke Energy's NFE department is unique in the industry by owning and performing in-house methods and analysis for nearly all aspects of the fuel cycle, from contracting fuel supply to long term storage of spent fuel. Duke Energy is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, a growing and vibrant city in the Carolinas. Candidates have the opportunity to work from Duke Energy's brand new, state-of-the-art, headquarters building with onsite dining, a medical clinic and a fitness center. For those that prefer a suburban or rural lifestyle, we offer the flexibility to work from our nearby nuclear sites at attractive locations such as Lake Norman, NC or Lake Wylie, SC. All our office locations are easy driving distance to the ocean or the mountains, making Charlotte an ideal location for your next home.

Job Description

The Safety Analysis Applications (SAA) group is responsible for developing, maintaining and executing the in-house methodologies for Duke Energy's PWR fleet related to the computer simulations of the containment response during transient and accidents described in UFSAR Chapter 6. These methodologies support various analyses for proposed power uprates and 24-month fuel cycle transitions at applicable sites. Some of the other SAA responsibilities include: ECCS hydraulic simulations, Emergency Procedure Setpoints, Emergency Operating Facility (EOF) technical support, LOCA analysis vendor interface, and transient validations of the training simulators.

This position requires strong analytical skills and attention to detail to solve complex/first-of-a-kind problems by researching issues, evaluating alternatives, making sound recommendations and defending the chosen design approach. Due to the diversity of assignments within the SAA group, a continuous learning aptitude and technical curiosity are required. This position also requires performance within a team-oriented environment that includes both site and corporate organizations.

• Performs a variety of complex transient thermal hydraulic simulations and analysis for all PWR Duke Energy reactors - including emergent plant support to allow continued operation
• Performs analyses to determine containment temperature and pressure response to postulated pipe breaks using NRC approved codes and plant models
• Prepares thorough and accurate calculation files, technical reports and correspondence
• Develops, qualifies, and maintains computer codes used in safety analysis
• Collaborates/interfaces with internal, industry, vendor, and regulatory personnel
• Participates in technical training activities
• Works with Regulatory Compliance to create and/or review Licensing Amendment Requests (LAR) packages.
• Develops and help license improved Safety Analysis methods which improve thermal margin and/or provide plant operational margins
• Effectively plans work activities to produce high quality deliverables satisfying all station and NRC requirements on a schedule that meets reload licensing or project commitments
• Follows NRC approved methodologies to perform reload and containment analyses.

Basic / Required Qualifications

Nuclear Engineer I

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited program
  • Applicants accepted with appropriate progress to receiving degree by May 2027
• A Master's degree in Engineering will be considered in lieu of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• 0-2 years of engineering experience

Nuclear Engineer II

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited program
• A Master's degree in Engineering will be considered in lieu of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• 2-4 years of engineering experience
• Minimum of 1 year of nuclear experience

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering from an ABET accredited program
• Fundamentals of Engineering Certificate and/or Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Experience with safety analysis codes, (e.g. RETRAN, RELAP, and GOTHIC, and/or equivalents)
• Experience with nuclear fuel and PWR safety analysis
• Familiarity with the basic systems of a Westinghouse or B&W NSSS reactor
• Experience with development and support of License Amendment Requests and 50.59 Evaluations
• Linux workstation experience
• Computer programming experience (FORTRAN/Python/VBA/etc.)
• Knowledge in thermal hydraulic calculations - heat transfer, flow modeling, single failure analysis, NPSH analysis, etc.

Working Conditions

• Hybrid office/remote work environment. Hybrid employees must live within a reasonable commute to their designated Duke Energy facility, not greater than 50 miles one way.
• Flexible work schedule - typically four 10-hour days, 2 in office and 2 remote
• Some travel to other Duke Energy sites, industry sites, and industry conferences/meetings
• Occasional off-hour emergent work required

Specific Requirements

• In lieu of 1 year of nuclear experience, a selected candidate is subject to the oversight and written approval authority of a designated qualified individual until the selected candidate becomes fully qualified
• Ability to achieve nuclear site Unescorted Access/Security clearance
• This position may be required to have Emergency Response Organization (ERO) responsibilities which could include callouts with a defined response time to ERO facilities and an on-call duty rotation requiring the employee to be Fit for Duty
• Must reside in the greater Charlotte area to satisfy Hybrid work environment of having to be in the office for 2 days

Travel Requirements

5-15%

Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable)

Yes

Represented/Union Position

No

Visa Sponsored Position

No. This is not a Visa Sponsored Position. This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Please note that in order to be considered for this position, you must possess all of the basic/required qualifications.