On-Site Marine SMR Thermal-Hydraulics Engineer

MaC VC; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BlueCore Energy in Long Beach, CA seeks a Principal Thermal-Hydraulics & Safety Analysis Engineer to turn the reactor heat source into a safe, sized coolant system. You will model system thermal-hydraulics, perform sizing for primary, secondary and tertiary loops, and help author Chapter 15 safety analyses for PSAR/FSAR.

Requires MS/PhD in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering with reactor-therm-hydraulics focus; hands-on experience with RELAP5-3D, TRACE, ATHLET and subchannel codes; and familiarity

Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in reactor thermal-hydraulics or pressure-vessel design.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience running system thermal-hydraulics codes (e.g., RELAP5-3D, TRACE, or ATHLET).
• Experience running subchannel codes (e.g., VIPRE-01, COBRA-TF/CTF) for MDNBR and hot-channel factor evaluation.
• Deep understanding of ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code, Section III, Division 1, Subsection NB (Class 1) for primary component design-by-analysis.
• Ability to size a steam generator and heat exchangers from heat balances using formulas.
• Experience sizing reactor pressure vessel walls utilizing membrane hoop thickness formulas.

Responsibilities

• Own system thermal-hydraulics modeling (nodalization, LOCA, natural circulation) and subchannel Departure from Nucleate Boiling Ratio (DNBR) and hot-channel analysis.
• Perform mechanical sizing for the reactor pressure vessel, steam generator, pressurizer, and reactor coolant pumps.
• Establish primary, secondary, and tertiary heat balances and flows, including seawater heat rejection support.
• Author the Chapter 15 transient and accident thermal-hydraulic evaluations and coordinate them with the broader risk-informed safety case.
• Set the minimum-DNBR using 95/95 Specified Acceptable Fuel Design Limits (SAFDL) and validate the CHF correlation basis.
• Manage fatigue and fracture margins in mechanical component design.
• Manage coupled neutronics and thermal-hydraulics feedback in close coordination with the Core Physics team.

Skills

Thermal-Hydraulics

Subchannel analysis

Pressure vessel sizing

Marine reactor design

Education

MS or PhD in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering

Tools

RELAP5-3D

TRACE

ATHLET

VIPRE-01

COBRA-TF/CTF

ANSYS

ABAQUS

Job description

BlueCore Energy in Long Beach, CA seeks a Principal Thermal-Hydraulics & Safety Analysis Engineer to turn the reactor heat source into a safe, sized coolant system. You will model system thermal-hydraulics, perform sizing for primary, secondary and tertiary loops, and help author Chapter 15 safety analyses for PSAR/FSAR.

Requires MS/PhD in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering with reactor-therm-hydraulics focus; hands-on experience with RELAP5-3D, TRACE, ATHLET and subchannel codes; and familiarity