Engineer I OR Engineer II - Nuclear Fuels - Brunswick and Oconee Nuclear Design Team

Duke Energy; United States; Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

On-site dining and fitness facility

Relocation assistance

Travel opportunities (5-15%)

Job summary

Duke Energy’s Nuclear Fuels Engineering group seeks candidates for BWR core design and related analyses at Brunswick and Oconee sites. Roles include leading reload design teams, developing in-house fuel cycle codes, and performing safety reviews. The position offers hybrid work options with occasional travel.

Ideal candidates possess ABET-accredited engineering degrees, 2+ years engineering experience, and at least 1 year in a nuclear power plant, with strong programming and neutronics skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program (or MS in lieu).
• Bachelor of Science in Engineering required for Nuclear Engineer II (MS in lieu possible).
• Minimum of two years engineering experience and one year nuclear power plant experience.
• In lieu of nuclear experience, a designated qualified individual's approval required.

Responsibilities

• Participate on or lead reload design teams to design fuel cycles.
• Develop and verify analyses for fuel cycle designs.
• Develop, qualify, and maintain in-house codes for fuel cycle designs.
• Interface with fuel vendor during reload design and issue support.
• Perform owner acceptance reviews of vendor calculations.
• Provide technical support to site Reactor Engineering as needed.

Skills

Neutronics codes

Nuclear fuel design analysis

BWR knowledge

Python

FORTRAN

UNIX/Linux

Education

B.S. in Engineering (ABET-accredited)

M.S. in Engineering (preferred in lieu of B.S.)

Nuclear Engineering degree (preferred)

Tools

PANACEA

SIMULATE

MICROBURN

POLCA

FORTRAN

Python

VBA

Unix/Linux

Job description

Position Summary

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 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’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’s brand new, state-of-the-art, headquarters building, with on-site dining and a fitness facility. 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 Brunswick and Oconee Nuclear Design (BOND) group is responsible for designing and analyzing fuel cycles for Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport, North Carolina, and Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca, South Carolina. BOND is also responsible for nuclear criticality safety for all six of Duke Energy's nuclear power plants in North and South Carolina. This position is specific to BWR core design supporting Brunswick Nuclear Plant.

Group responsibilities and duties include

• Participate on or lead reload design teams to design fuel cycles
• Develop and verify analyses associated with fuel cycle designs
• Develop, qualify, and maintain in-house codes used in support of fuel cycle designs
• Qualify vendor codes used in support of fuel cycle designs
• Interface with fuel vendor as part of the reload design process and for emergent issue support
• Perform owner acceptance reviews of vendor calculations
• Interface with site Reactor Engineering personnel to provide technical support as needed
• Perform nuclear criticality safety reviews and analyses
• Participate in technical training activities
• Depending upon the desired qualifications of the successful applicant, the hiring manager may elect to fill this position at a higher level within the job hierarchy

Basic / Required Qualifications

• Nuclear Engineer I Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited program
• A Master's degree in Engineering will be considered in lieu of the B.S. Engineering degree
• 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 the B.S. Engineering degree
• Minimum of two (2) years of engineering experience
• One (1) year of nuclear power plant experience
• 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

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 neutronics codes, (e.g. PANACEA, SIMULATE, MICROBURN, POLCA, and/or equivalents)
• Experience with nuclear fuel and BWR fuel cycle design analyses
• Experience with BWR control blade management
• Experience with BWR safety analyses
• Experience with BWR reactor engineering and core monitoring activities
• Experience with development and support of License Amendment Requests and 50.59 Evaluations
• Familiarity with the basic systems of a General Electric BWR
• Project management experience
• Unix and/or Linux workstation experience
• Computer programming experience (FORTRAN/Python/VBA/etc.)
• Working with teams and having clear project deliverables in an engineering field
• Communication skills, ensuring technical knowledge to both internal and external personnel

Working Conditions

• Hybrid office/remote work environment after the onboarding period
• Flexible work schedule - typically four 10-hour days, 2 in office and 2 remote
• Hybrid Mobility Classification – Work will be performed from both remote and onsite locations after the onboarding period. However, hybrid employees must live within a reasonable commute to their designated Duke Energy facility, not greater than 50 miles one way
• Employees are expected to report to their assigned Duke Energy facility as required and directed by their manager, on average 2 full workdays per regular work week
• Some travel to other Duke sites, industry sites, and industry conferences/meetings
• Occasional off-hour emergent work required

Specific Requirements

• Ability to achieve nuclear site Unescorted Access/Security clearance
• 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
• Travel Requirements 5-15%
• Relocation Assistance Provided (as applicable) Yes
• Represented/Union Position No
• Visa Sponsored Position No
• This role requires the ability to work lawfully in the U.S. without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future

Diversity & Inclusion

Duke Energy values ideas that come from a diverse and inclusive workforce, and we’re dedicated to providing a work environment where all people are valued, respected and able to reach their full potential. Duke Energy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, including but not limited to lactation, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military status, or protected veteran status. Duke Energy complies with all applicable state, federal and local laws, regulations and ordinances prohibiting discrimination.