Graphite Materials Manager

X-energy; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 163,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K with employer match

Medical and dental insurance

Job summary

X Energy, LLC is seeking a senior engineering leader to manage teams responsible for qualifying graphite and nonmetallic materials for advanced nuclear reactors. You will oversee degradation analysis, material testing programs, and the development of constitutive models to support design and safety analyses.

The role emphasizes coordinating data, leading engineers, and ensuring high-quality documentation and compliance with industry standards in a fast-paced, safety-critical environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in materials engineering or related field.
• Experience in graphite, nonmetallics, or nuclear materials preferred.
• Leadership and project oversight experience are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Manage development and implementation of material qualification methodologies for graphite and composites.
• Oversee materials testing programs and prepare material specifications for procurement.
• Lead a team using engineering tools, simulations, and calculations.

Skills

Graphite materials

Nonmetallics knowledge

Engineering leadership

Materials testing

Nuclear materials

Education

Bachelor's degree in materials engineering

Master's degree preferred

PhD in engineering

Tools

Simulation software

Hand calculations

Version control

Job description

X-energy LLC conducts a thorough recruiting process and will never issue offers without interview to discuss qualifications and responsibilities. All applications will be submitted via our company career page, www.x-energy.com/careers/. We will never ask you to provide payment information as part of the recruiting process. If anyone claiming to represent X-energy directs you in a manner otherwise, please contact us at www.x-energy.com/contact-us.

Job Description

This role is responsible for managing engineers responsible for performing tasks associated with selecting, qualifying, and conducting lifetime analysis for nonmetallic and graphite materials in a nuclear reactor or nuclear facility. This includes providing organizational support and technical oversight for the project team, in which the team’s individual contributors support. This will include assisting with the design, analysis, and environmental degradation management of systems, structures, and components for various advanced reactor plant components. Specifically, this position is responsible for managing engineering capabilities for both Nonmetallics and Graphite.

Job Profile Tasks/Responsibilities

• Manage the execution of the development and implementation of methodologies to qualify and characterize materials, specifically, graphite and composites for nuclear reactor applications in high temperature environments.
• Support selection of appropriate materials, test methods, codes and standards, and prepare material specifications for component procurement.
• Inform development of and assist in oversight of materials testing programs to collect material properties and establish basis for material qualifications.
• Manage the work of the team using engineering tools, including appropriate simulation software, hand calculations, and engineering judgment
• Assess microscale behavior, grain boundaries, surface effects, degradation behavior (corrosion, oxidation kinetics, neutron damage, etc.), and lifetime performance of materials.
• The role will require experience and/or knowledge in the following areas:

Graphite

Lead team responsible for performing and assisting material degradation analysis for graphite and composite components of X-energy developed reactors, including graphite core assemblies, and assessment of as-manufactured, irradiated, and oxidized data.

Coordinate the collection and use of data to support the generation of constitutive material models/analytical tools and perform and assist structural integrity, cracking, dimensional change, and stress/deformation evaluations for irradiated graphite.

• Manages the utilization of engineering resources across multiple projects and ensures qualified engineers are performing assigned work.
• Adjudicates technical differences within their area of responsibility to determine best option, while fostering a healthy engineering dialogue.
• Manages staff by ensuring they are meeting expectations and promoting their professional development.
• Influences the development of strategy, methodology and technical tools for the area of responsibility, including control of resources, policy formulation, and ways in which technical work is executed.
• Interpret simple internal and external business challenges and recommend best practices to improve products, processes, tools, or services.
• Use high level of judgement to make decisions and handle complex tasks or problems in areas of operations, product management, manufacturing, technology, or engineering.
• Act in advisory capacity to define scope and level of effort estimates for areas where their resources would be supporting.
• Consider effects of tribology and material property evolution on system and component design as a function of temperature and environment.
• Write, develop, and coordinate the generation of design and analysis documentation including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings in accordance with applicable procedures, as well as industry publications and engagement in professional forums.
• Manage the development of Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and support qualification of toolsets.
• Perform work in accordance with X-energy quality procedures for design and configuration management to ensure project quality requirements are met.
• Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables and data.
• Always maintain professional demeanor and behavior in all forms of communication.
• Perform other duties as assigned by manager.

Job Profile Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in materials engineering, or related engineering discipline (e.g., chemical, nuclear, mechanical etc.) from an accredited institution.

• Typically, ten years of engineering experience.

• A master’s degree in engineering or related field (may include a combination of experience obtained through an academic institution, e.g., design projects, research, or design teams, as well as professional experience) may be in lieu of two years of experience.

• A Ph.D. in engineering or related field (may include a combination of experience obtained through an academic institution, e.g., design projects, research, or design teams, as well as professional experience) may be in lieu of three years of experience.

• Previous experience at X-energy exceeding performance standards may be in lieu of years of experience.

• Experience and/or knowledge in a minimum of one of the following areas:

Preferred Skills

• Experience managing the personnel of technical engineering teams.
• Familiarity with nonmetallic materials behavior (graphite, ceramics, composites, brittle materials) or anisotropic material systems.
• Experience with material testing.
• Familiarity with version control systems and collaborative development practices.
• Understanding of nuclear industry codes and standards for materials.
• Experience working in quality-assured engineering environments.
• Background in graphite, ceramics, or anisotropic materials is preferrable. We seek candidates with strong analytic foundations and eagerness to develop expertise in nuclear materials applications.
• Earned Value Management Schedule familiarity.
• Ability for near-term and long-term planning of multiple projects budget.
• Experience with writing contracts with external partners.

Location:

9801 Washingtonian Boulevard, Gaithersburg, Maryland

Work Site Expectations:

4 days in office

Travel Expectations:

Up to 5%

Hours:

Standard office hours are 8:00am - 5:00pm ET, Monday – Friday

Compensation

As required by Maryland and other applicable state law, X Energy, LLC (X-energy) lists the expected compensation range for a publicly advertised job opportunity based upon the job requirements (e.g. education/training, experience, skill sets, etc.). Individual candidates who meet the job requirements for the posted position will be offered a salary within this range based on their respective levels of education/training, experience, and other qualifications unique to them. Salary ranges may vary based on the specific office location and region referenced in the posting to take into consideration differences in cost of living and may not be reflective of all regions. Please note that compensation ranges listed for US job postings reflect base salary only and do not include benefits or other incentives.

$162,500- $185,000

Position Job Classification

Full time - Exempt

Benefits

X Energy, LLC offers a robust benefits package that includes a 401K plan with an employer match, Medical/Dental /Vision Insurance, Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off, and a Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Development policy that supports the continuing education of our employees.

An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

X Energy, LLC participates in E-Verify. Please visit the links below for more information about E-Verify and the protection of your Right to Work.

Right To Work Link: If you have the right to work, don’t let anyone take it away (e-verify.gov)

E-Verify Participation Link: E-Verify Participation Poster English and Spanish