Engineer III/Senior Engineer – Safety Analysis Applications (Nuclear)

100 Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC; United States; Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Onsite dining

Medical clinic

Fitness center

Job summary

Duke Energy in Charlotte, NC, is seeking engineers for the Safety Analysis Applications group to advance in-house methods for PWR safety analyses and support uprates.

The role requires strong analytical skills, teamwork across sites, and the ability to develop and validate codes (RETTRAN, RELAP, and GOTHIC) while meeting NRC requirements and project deadlines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Master's degree in engineering will be considered in lieu of a B.S. degree.
• Minimum of 1 year of nuclear experience.
• Senior Nuclear Engineer: 6 years of engineering experience or 5 years with PE license.
• Experience with safety analysis codes and nuclear fuel knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex transient thermal-hydraulic simulations for all Duke reactors.
• Analyze containment response and postulated events per NRC guidelines.
• Prepare calculation files, technical reports and correspondence.
• Develop, qualify, and maintain safety analysis computer codes.
• Collaborate with internal, industry, vendor, and regulatory personnel.
• Participate in technical training and LICENSE/50.59 activities.
• Plan activities to meet NRC requirements and project deadlines.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Nuclear engineering knowledge

Problem solving

Education

ABET-accredited B.S. in Engineering

Master's in engineering considered in lieu of B.S.

Professional Engineer (PE) license (preferred)

Tools

RETTRAN

RELAP

GOTHIC

FORTRAN

Python

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. 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. 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.

Responsibilities

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.

• ECCS hydraulic simulations.
• Emergency Procedure Setpoints.
• Emergency Operating Facility (EOF) technical support.
• LOCA analysis vendor interface.
• 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 helps 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 III 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 4-6 years of engineering experience.
• Minimum of 1 year of nuclear experience.
• Sr Nuclear Engineer Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited program.
• A Master's degree in engineering from an ABET accredited school will be considered in lieu of the B.S. Engineering degree.
• Minimum of 6 years of engineering experience or 5 years of engineering experience with state registration as a Professional Engineer.
• Minimum of 1 year of nuclear experience.

Preferred 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.
• Unix and/or 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 #LI-JC1.
• 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.

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.