Nuclear HTGR Chemical Engineer — Thermal-Fluid Modeling

X-energy; Gaithersburg (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K match

Medical/Dental/Vision

PTO

Tuition reimbursement

Professional development

Job summary

X Energy, LLC in Gaithersburg, MD seeks a mid-level Chemical Engineer to support the design, analysis, and optimization of HTGR chemical and thermal-hydraulic systems. You will model and validate processes, heat transfer, and material behavior using ASPEN, COMSOL, and related tools while coordinating with project leadership and engineering teams.

The role emphasizes integration of helium Brayton and Rankine cycles, high-temperature materials, and safety compliance with NRC/ASME standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering or related field from an accredited institution.
• Typically, five years of experience in a chemical engineering role.
• A master’s degree may substitute for two years of experience.
• A Ph.D. may substitute for three years of experience.
• Proficiency with process simulation software (Aspen Plus, HYSYS, ChemCAD).
• Knowledge of OSHA and EPA safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate across phases of HTGR system development and planning.
• Provide technical oversight to design teams and ensure project objectives.
• Lead reviews and presentations for design evaluations focusing on chemical and thermal-hydraulic performance.
• Translate customer needs into functional requirements and interface documents.
• Organize efforts across chemical, systems, and nuclear design teams and external stakeholders.
• Develop and validate thermal-hydraulic models for HTGR cores and balance-of-plant.

Skills

Chemical engineering

Thermal-hydraulic analysis

CFD/FEA knowledge

Process modeling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering

Master’s degree may substitute for 2 years experience

Ph.D. may substitute for 3 years experience

Tools

Aspen Plus

HYSYS

ChemCAD

COMSOL

Job description

X Energy, LLC in Gaithersburg, MD seeks a mid-level Chemical Engineer to support the design, analysis, and optimization of HTGR chemical and thermal-hydraulic systems. You will model and validate processes, heat transfer, and material behavior using ASPEN, COMSOL, and related tools while coordinating with project leadership and engineering teams.

The role emphasizes integration of helium Brayton and Rankine cycles, high-temperature materials, and safety compliance with NRC/ASME standards.