Lead Piping Stress Engineer 1 - Nuclear

Sargent & Lundy; Richland (WA); Hybrid; USD 118,023 - 180,313; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

401(k)

Paid time off

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Sargent & Lundy is seeking a senior piping engineer to provide technical direction on complex projects in the nuclear power sector. The role requires leading project teams, reviewing calculations and designs, and coordinating across engineering disciplines to ensure clear, technically sound deliverables.

The position supports a hybrid work schedule with in‑office presence three days a week, offering a competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits as part of a broader career

Qualifications

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Aerospace, or Structural/Civil Engineering from an ABET‑approved program.
• P.E. license.
• 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Extensive knowledge of ASME B31.1 and ASME BPV Section III piping codes.
• Knowledge of the design, selection, and application of pipe supporting elements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead engineers provide senior‑level technical direction and supervise project team members.
• Review complex calculations and approve simple calculations, guiding the team and ensuring quality.
• Review and approve system/structural designs; prepare and review complex designs for completeness and operability.
• Perform engineering reviews of drawings and input for complex systems; coordinate interface between design and engineering.
• Prepare and review major system, installation, and material specifications; schedule vendor submittals.
• Prepare bid evaluations for complex systems and participate in vendor negotiations.
• Prepare and review single‑discipline and multi‑discipline reports; ensure technical soundness and cost effectiveness.

Skills

P.E. license

ASME B31.1 knowledge

ASME B&PV Section III knowledge

Piping design knowledge

Strong communication skills

Education

ABET-accredited engineering degree (ME/EM/AE/SE)

Tools

AutoPIPE

PIPESTRESS

ANSYS Workbench

Mechanical ADP

3D CAD

Python

MATLAB

Job description

Piping Engineering & Analysis Synopsis

The Piping Engineering & Analysis discipline performs evaluations for piping systems in accordance with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, ASME B31.1, ASME B31.7, and other applicable codes. It also addresses specialty topics such as vibration monitoring and analysis, hydraulic transient evaluation, thermal stratification effects, pipe rupture evaluations, flow‑accelerated corrosion, microbiological corrosion, and pipe flaw assessments.

• Vibration monitoring and analysis to evaluate system operational vibrations associated with plant modifications and operating events, and to provide vibration prevention and mitigation solutions and designs.
• Evaluation of hydraulic transients, piping systems for thermal stratification effects, operability evaluations, and qualification of piping for hydrodynamic loads.
• Pipe rupture evaluations, evaluation of pipe wall thinning due to flow‑accelerated corrosion (FAC) or microbiological induced corrosion (MIC), and pipe flaw evaluations.

Position Specific Details

Provides senior‑level technical direction and supervision to the project team members in his/hers discipline. Establishes project task schedules and budgets to meet overall project requirements, coordinates activities between disciplines, and is responsible for successful completion of project deliverables to meet all technical, quality, and project controls expectations. Serves as a technical liaison with the client and a lead technical resource on projects.

Lead engineers support engineering design projects with the following responsibilities:

• Reviews complex calculations and approves simple calculations, providing technical guidance to the project team and ensuring technical soundness and adherence to project requirements.
• Reviews and approves simple system/structural designs and prepares and reviews complex system/structural designs to ensure completeness, accuracy, quality, constructability, and operability.
• Performs engineering review of drawings, reviews design input for complex systems, defines client expectations for drawings, coordinates interface between design and engineering, and actively participates in design reviews to ensure quality, constructability, and operability.
• Prepares and reviews major system, installation, and material specifications, defines technical and commercial requirements, and schedules vendor submittals needed for design input.
• Prepares bid evaluations for complex systems and installation scopes, participates in bid negotiations with vendors, and may evaluate change orders on behalf of the client.
• Prepares and reviews single‑discipline, complex reports/studies, participates in the preparation of multi‑discipline reports, and reviews studies and reports to ensure that conclusions are technically sound, cost‑effective, and clearly communicated.

This position is based on a hybrid work schedule and will require in‑office work 3 days per week.

Qualifications

We do not sponsor employees for work authorization in the U.S. for this position.

Essential Skills And Experience

• BS or MS in Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Aerospace, or Structural/Civil Engineering from an ABET‑approved program, with an emphasis in solid mechanics, structural analysis, theory of elasticity, metallurgy, and finite element analysis.
• P.E. license.
• 10+ years of relevant experience.
• Extensive knowledge of ASME B31.1 and ASME B&PV Section III piping codes.
• Knowledge of the design, selection, and application of pipe supporting elements.
• Working knowledge of commercially available piping products and their application.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Valued But Not Required Skills And Experience

• The ability to navigate a 3D CAD model.
• Experience with AutoPIPE or PIPESTRESS software.
• Knowledge of gas dynamics and hydraulic transients.
• Knowledge of pipe condition assessment.
• Experience with ANSYS Workbench and Mechanical ADP.

AI & Automation at Sargent & Lundy

In this role, we expect people to be willing or able to lead others who use modern tools. Leaders in these roles often direct automation and process‑improvement work, for example, how teams automate calculations, summarize technical documents, or generate design documentation, and guide when and how AI or agentic AI tools are used while ensuring results are checked.

• Expected to lead others in taking engineering problems from issue to solution by setting expectations for using data and modern tools such as automation and AI to improve workflows, reduce rework, and deliver cost‑effective designs.
• Oversees engineers who program or script (e.g., Python, MATLAB, advanced Excel) to automate engineering tasks, with review of automated outputs, a valued but not required skill.
• Valued additional learning, such as a minor, certificate, or other experience in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Software Engineering, or related fields, that enables effective oversight of automation and agentic AI‑enabled engineering workflows.

Award‑Winning Benefits

At Sargent & Lundy, we care about the health and well‑being of our employees. Our commitment extends beyond the workplace with comprehensive healthcare plans and generous paid time off to support work‑life balance. Our dedication to employee satisfaction has earned us the prestigious Top Workplaces Culture Excellence Award for compensation and benefits in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• Health Plans: Medical, Dental, Vision
• Life & Accident Insurance
• Disability Coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Back‑Up Daycare
• FSA & HSA
• 401(k)
• Pre‑Tax Commuter Account
• Merit Scholarship Program
• Employee Discount Program
• Corporate Charitable Giving Program
• Tuition Assistance
• First Professional Licensure Bonus
• Employee Referral Bonus
• Paid Annual Personal/Sick Time (PST)
• Paid Vacation
• Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Paid Bereavement Leave
• Flexible Work Arrangements

Compensation Range

$118,023 - $180,313

Transparency Statement

Sargent & Lundy discloses compensation ranges that comply with all local and state regulations. The total compensation package for eligible positions will include a base salary or an hourly rate and a comprehensive benefits package, reflecting our commitment to rewarding performance and supporting the overall well‑being of our employees. Individuals may also be eligible to participate in our yearly discretionary bonus.

About This Business Unit

Join Sargent & Lundy's Nuclear Power Group and be part of a team driving the future of clean, carbon‑free energy. Since 1954, we’ve been a trusted leader in nuclear engineering, design, and licensing, with expertise spanning small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced reactor technology (ART), and first‑of‑a‑kind commercial reactor restart projects. Our work supports life extensions and digital modernization of existing nuclear plants, coal‑to‑nuclear conversion initiatives with the Department of State, and international nuclear new‑build projects. With a commitment to safety, innovation, and sustainability, we provide cutting‑edge solutions that power communities worldwide while reducing emissions. Shape the future of global energy with us!

Equal Opportunity

Sargent & Lundy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any protected status as defined by applicable law.