Reactor Modeling and Simulation Lead

Space Nuclear Power Corporation; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceNukes in Los Alamos, NM is seeking a nuclear engineer to lead the modeling and simulation of our space fission power systems. The role requires direct experience with space fission system design and the ability to build and run multiphysics models of space reactors and reactor power systems.

You will work on reactor power system dynamics and control, including startup, nominal operation, and responses to anticipated and postulated events, with strong reactor-physics and Monte Carlo

Qualifications

• Direct experience with space fission power system design and analysis.
• Ability to build and run multiphysics models of space reactors and reactor power systems.
• Experience modeling reactor power system dynamics and control, including startups and transients.
• Strong reactor-physics fundamentals and Monte Carlo transport for criticality and power distribution.

Responsibilities

• Lead modeling and simulation of space fission power systems.
• Develop and validate in-house design and analysis tools.
• Model reactor power system dynamics, control, startup, and transients.
• Assess neutron transport, kinetics, power distribution, shielding, and dose.
• Interface neutronics with thermal and structural response.

Skills

Space reactor modeling

Multiphysics modeling

Reactor dynamics and control

Monte Carlo transport

Heat transfer and thermo-mechanics

Depletion & decay heat analysis

Fortran

Python

Perl

Excel/VBA

Education

M.S. or Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering

Tools

FORTRAN

Python

Perl

Excel/Visual Basic

Job description

SpaceNukes is looking to hire a nuclear engineer to lead the modeling and simulation of our space fission power systems.

• Direct experience with space fission power system design and analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to build and run multiphysics models of space reactors and reactor power systems.
• Experience in modeling reactor power system dynamics and control, including startup, nominal operation, and response to anticipated and postulated events.
• Strong reactor-physics fundamentals and hands-on Monte Carlo transport experience in calculating criticality, reactivity coefficients, kinetics coefficients, control element worth, power distribution, shielding, and dose.
• Significant heat transfer, thermal-hydraulic, thermomechanical analysis experience, and experience connecting neutronics to thermal and structural response.
• Experience in depletion, burnup, source-term, activation, and decay-heat analysis.
• Ability to develop, validate, and maintain in-house design and analysis tools, including familiarity with FORTRAN, Python, Perl, Excel/Visual Basic.
• Familiarity with HEU/HALEU compact fast-spectrum reactors, heat-pipe reactors, and Stirling and Brayton power conversion.
• U.S. person status, export-control eligibility (ITAR/EAR), security clearance desired.
• M.S. or Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering