Nuclear Metallurgy Engineer

Lightbridge Corporation; Nevada (IA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay & bonuses

Remote-first

Health coverage

401(k) match

Generous leave

Development funds

Job summary

Lightbridge Corporation is seeking a senior engineer to lead metallurgical and materials research for fuel and cladding development, working with external institutions and internal teams to ensure timely, compliant outcomes.

The role requires strong publication and communication skills, experience with radiation materials science, and the ability to drive independent workstreams in a dynamic, regulatory-focused environment.

Qualifications

• Strong foundational knowledge of metallurgical processes such as casting and extrusion.
• Demonstrated experience in technical writing and presenting engineering analyses in professional formats.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and take initiative.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for fuel and cladding development projects with external research institutions.
• Manage and monitor contracted R&D efforts to ensure scope, schedule, and objectives are met.
• Coordinate with experimental testing to produce test articles for in-pile and out-of-pile testing of Lightbridge fuel/cladding materials.
• Collaborate with partners to analyze, curate, and interpret experimental data related to irradiation, temperature, corrosion, and environmental effects.
• Use fabrication development results to produce fuel/cladding fabrication specifications for reliable production.
• Work with a multidisciplinary team supporting licensing and qualification of Lightbridge Fuel.
• Author and present technical reports and publications for stakeholders, partners, regulators, and the research community.
• Communicate complex technical results clearly via documents and presentations.
• Identify knowledge gaps and lead future testing and development plans.

Skills

Metallurgy

Technical writing

Independent work

Radiation materials science

Data analysis

Education

B.S. in engineering/science

M.S. in engineering/science

Ph.D. in engineering/science

Job description

Overview:

At Lightbridge, we’re pioneering advanced nuclear fuel technology that’s designed to make reactors safer, more efficient, and more responsive to global energy needs. Our mission is bold and we’re looking for equally bold thinkers to help us bring it to life. If you thrive at the intersection of engineering and regulatory strategy, this is your opportunity to help shape the future of clean energy.

Responsibilities:

• Provide technical leadership and oversight for fuel and cladding development projects performed by external research institutions.
• Manage and monitor contracted R&D efforts to ensure work is performed within scope, on schedule, and in alignment with program objectives.
• Coordinate with experimental testing projects to produce the test articles required for in‑pile and out‑of‑pile testing of Lightbridge fuel and cladding materials.
• Collaborate with partners to analyze, curate, and interpret experimental data related to irradiation, temperature, corrosion, and other environmental effects.
• Use the results of fabrication development activities to produce fuel and cladding fabrication specifications to ensure consistent and reliable production of Lightbridge Fuel.
• Work as part of a multi‑disciplinary engineering and scientific team supporting the licensing and qualification of Lightbridge Fuel.
• Author and present technical reports, topical reports, and research publications for internal stakeholders, commercial partners, regulators, and the broader research community.
• Communicate complex technical results clearly through written documentation and formal presentations.
• Identify emerging knowledge gaps and lead the planning and execution of future testing and development efforts as material understanding evolves.

Required Experience:

• Strong foundational knowledge of metallurgical processes, including casting and post‑casting processes (e.g., extrusion)
• B.S. in an engineering or science discipline with 8+ years of relevant non‑academic experience
• M.S. in an engineering or science discipline with 6+ years of relevant non‑academic experience
• Ph.D. in an engineering or science discipline with 4+ years of relevant non‑academic experience
• Demonstrated experience in technical writing and in the presentation of engineering analyses and research findings in professional formats.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, proactively identifying technical needs and taking initiative.
• Strong working knowledge of radiation materials science, particularly:
• Radiation damage and defect evolution in metals
• Effects of irradiation on mechanical and physical properties
• Oxidation kinetics and general corrosion behavior

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in refractory alloy fabrication and processing, specifically zirconium alloys.
• Familiarity with light water reactor (LWR) environments, including core conditions and associated material challenges.
• Understanding of the performance and limitations of LWR fuel and cladding systems.
• Familiarity with behaviors of metallic materials exposed to irradiation and high‑temperature environments.

Lightbridge is committed to supporting the people who power our mission. We offer a comprehensive, competitive benefits program designed to promote well‑being, flexibility, and long‑term growth, including:

• Competitive salary and performance bonuses, including cash and equity awards
• Remote‑first work culture with opportunities for travel
• 100% company‑paid health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with 100% company match
• Generous time off and family care benefits
• Up to 32 hours per year of company‑covered professional development course fees

As set forth in Lightbridge Corporation, a Nevada corporation’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp .

Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

• Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
• Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
• Blind or low vision
• Cancer (past or present)
• Cardiovascular or heart disease
• Celiac disease
• Cerebral palsy
• Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
• Diabetes
• Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
• Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
• Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
• Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
• Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Neurodivergence, for example, attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
• Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
• Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
• Short stature (dwarfism)
• Traumatic brain injury

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