Fuel Coating Engineer

Protingent; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 110,000 - 255,000; Full time

Job summary

Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Fuel Coating Engineer opportunity in Oak Ridge, TN. The role focuses on developing and optimizing TRISO fuel coating processes, including pyrocarbon and SiC layers, and advancing SiC CVD methods for fuel pellets to meet stringent performance requirements.

The candidate will work with coating furnaces, fluidized-bed coaters, CVD reactors, gas-delivery systems, and monitoring equipment; campaigns will be executed, issues troubleshooted, and coatings

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, ceramic engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, applied physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Experience developing or operating CVD, CVI, pyrocarbon, SiC, ceramic coating, semiconductor deposition, or comparable high-temperature vapor-deposition processes.
• Hands-on experience operating, commissioning, modifying, or troubleshooting coating or deposition equipment in a laboratory, pilot, or demonstration facility.
• Strong understanding of deposition kinetics, gas transport, surface reactions, heat and mass transfer, coating microstructure, interfaces, and defect mechanisms.
• Experience scaling coating processes while evaluating reactor geometry, gas distribution, thermal gradients, equipment loading, uniformity, and yield.
• Strong technical evaluation, experimental planning, troubleshooting, documentation, and cross-functional communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize coating processes for TRISO fuel particles, including pyrocarbon and SiC layers.
• Develop SiC CVD processes for fuel pellets, controlling deposition conditions, coating thickness, uniformity, interfaces, and residual stress.
• Define requirements for coating furnaces, fluidized-bed coaters, CVD reactors, gas-delivery systems, and process-monitoring equipment.
• Execute coating campaigns, troubleshoot equipment and process issues, and evaluate coating characteristics and defects.
• Investigate cracking, delamination, porosity, nonuniform coatings, and other defects to improve process performance and reliability.
• Establish process controls and scale-up strategies to achieve repeatable coating results across laboratory and production-representative batches.
• Maintain technical records, process data, and material traceability while collaborating with fuel qualification teams on characterization and qualification requirements.

Skills

Deposition kinetics

Process troubleshooting

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials science or related field

Tools

CVD equipment

Coating equipment

Job description

Position Title: Fuel Coating Engineer

Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Fuel Coating Engineer opportunity.

Job Responsibilities:

Develop and optimize coating processes for TRISO fuel particles, including pyrocarbon and SiC layers, as applicable to the fuel design. Develop SiC CVD processes for fuel pellets, controlling deposition conditions, coating thickness, uniformity, interfaces, and residual stress. Define requirements for coating furnaces, fluidized-bed coaters, CVD reactors, gas-delivery systems, and process-monitoring equipment. Execute coating campaigns, troubleshoot equipment and process issues, and evaluate coating characteristics and defects. Investigate cracking, delamination, porosity, nonuniform coatings, and other defects to improve process performance and reliability. Establish process controls and scale-up strategies to achieve repeatable coating results across laboratory and production-representative batches. Maintain technical records, process data, and material traceability while collaborating with fuel qualification teams on characterization and qualification requirements.

Job Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in materials science, chemical engineering, ceramic engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, applied physics, or a related technical discipline. Experience developing or operating CVD, CVI, pyrocarbon, SiC, ceramic coating, semiconductor deposition, or comparable high-temperature vapor-deposition processes. Hands-on experience operating, commissioning, modifying, or troubleshooting coating or deposition equipment in a laboratory, pilot, or demonstration facility. Strong understanding of deposition kinetics, gas transport, surface reactions, heat and mass transfer, coating microstructure, interfaces, and defect mechanisms. Experience scaling coating processes while evaluating reactor geometry, gas distribution, thermal gradients, equipment loading, uniformity, and yield. Strong technical evaluation, experimental planning, troubleshooting, documentation, and cross-functional communication skills.

Preferred Job Qualifications:

Advanced technical degree. Direct TRISO particle-coating experience, including fluidized-bed CVD and pyrocarbon or SiC deposition. Experience depositing dense SiC on ceramic components, FCM fuel forms, or ceramic-matrix composites. Familiarity with SiC precursor systems, reactive gases, vacuum equipment, and CVD furnace design. Experience with coated-particle fuels, HTGR fuel, fully ceramic microencapsulated fuel, or nuclear-grade SiC. Experience scaling coating technologies from R&D equipment to pilot or production manufacturing. Working knowledge of ASME NQA-1, nuclear material traceability, or configuration control.

Job Details:

Job Type: Full-time Salary Range: $110-$255K Location: Oak Ridge, TN (Onsite). Due to government contract requirements, this position is restricted to U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residential or GC Holder only.

About Protingent:

Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.