Senior/Principal Finite Element Analyst - Thermomechanical & Structural Mechanics

Protingent; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 160,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Protingent is seeking a Senior/Principal Finite Element Analyst specializing in thermomechanical and structural mechanics for a direct-hire role in Austin, TX. You will develop robust FE models for reactor components under coupled thermal-mechanical loads and deliver analyses that inform safety margins and design decisions.

You will lead linear/nonlinear, thermal, fatigue, buckling, and seismic analyses using NASTRAN and other solvers, collaborating with thermal-hydraulics and reactor systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 10+ years of professional finite element analysis experience in nuclear, aerospace, energy, pressure systems, defense, or another high-consequence engineering environment.
• Deep understanding of structural mechanics, thermomechanics, heat transfer, stress analysis, and finite element methods.
• Strong experience with NASTRAN for structural, thermal, modal, dynamic, or coupled analysis.
• Experience evaluating pressure-retaining components, reactor internals, piping, support structures, heat exchangers, high-temperature equipment, or similar safety-critical hardware.
• Working knowledge of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III.
• Demonstrated ability to define load cases, boundary conditions, contacts/interfaces, mesh strategies, convergence checks, and model verification approaches.
• Strong engineering judgment and ability to determine whether analysis results are physically reasonable.
• Proven ability to write clear technical documentation and defend assumptions, methods, results, and conclusions in rigorous design reviews.

Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and maintain finite element models for reactor components, structures, and mechanical systems subject to coupled thermal and mechanical loading.
• Perform linear and nonlinear structural analysis, thermal stress analysis, fatigue evaluation, buckling assessment, modal/dynamic analysis, and seismic response analysis.
• Evaluate high-temperature components and structures against applicable nuclear design codes and standards, including ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III.
• Use NASTRAN and other commercial solvers to analyze complex load cases, boundary conditions, interfaces, and transient operating conditions.
• Support sodium-cooled reactor design by evaluating thermal gradients, pressure loads, mechanical loads, restraint loads, seismic loads, radiation effects, startup/shutdown transients, and off-normal events.
• Collaborate with thermal-hydraulics and reactor systems teams on fluid-structure interaction problems, flow-induced vibration, thermal striping, and coupled structural response.
• Translate analysis results into clear design recommendations, safety margins, test requirements, and engineering tradeoffs.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports, calculation packages, and analysis documentation for internal design reviews, licensing support, and quality-controlled engineering work.
• Establish modeling standards, verification practices, analysis templates, and review expectations for structural and thermomechanical analysis at company.
• Mentor engineers and analysts; serve as a technical authority for finite element methods, structural mechanics, and thermomechanical design evaluation.

Skills

Finite element analysis

Structural analysis

Thermomechanics

NDastran usage

Load case definition

Model verification

Engineering judgment

Technical documentation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering

Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical/Nuclear/Structural Engineering

Tools

NASTRAN

Abaqus

ANSYS Mechanical

LS-DYNA

COMSOL

Femap

HyperMesh

Simcenter 3D

Job description

Position Title

Senior/Principal Finite Element Analyst - Thermomechanical & Structural Mechanics

Job Description

Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Senior/Principal Finite Element Analyst - Thermomechanical & Structural Mechanics opportunity.

Job Responsibilities

• Develop, execute, and maintain finite element models for reactor components, structures, and mechanical systems subject to coupled thermal and mechanical loading.
• Perform linear and nonlinear structural analysis, thermal stress analysis, fatigue evaluation, buckling assessment, modal/dynamic analysis, and seismic response analysis.
• Evaluate high-temperature components and structures against applicable nuclear design codes and standards, including ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III.
• Use NASTRAN and other commercial solvers to analyze complex load cases, boundary conditions, interfaces, and transient operating conditions.
• Support sodium-cooled reactor design by evaluating thermal gradients, pressure loads, mechanical loads, restraint loads, seismic loads, radiation effects, startup/shutdown transients, and off-normal events.
• Collaborate with thermal-hydraulics and reactor systems teams on fluid-structure interaction problems, flow-induced vibration, thermal striping, and coupled structural response.
• Translate analysis results into clear design recommendations, safety margins, test requirements, and engineering tradeoffs.
• Prepare high-quality technical reports, calculation packages, and analysis documentation for internal design reviews, licensing support, and quality-controlled engineering work.
• Establish modeling standards, verification practices, analysis templates, and review expectations for structural and thermomechanical analysis at company.
• Mentor engineers and analysts; serve as a technical authority for finite element methods, structural mechanics, and thermomechanical design evaluation.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Civil/Structural Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• 10+ years of professional finite element analysis experience in nuclear, aerospace, energy, pressure systems, defense, or another high-consequence engineering environment.
• Deep understanding of structural mechanics, thermomechanics, heat transfer, stress analysis, and finite element methods.
• Strong experience with NASTRAN for structural, thermal, modal, dynamic, or coupled analysis.
• Experience evaluating pressure-retaining components, reactor internals, piping, support structures, heat exchangers, high-temperature equipment, or similar safety-critical hardware.
• Working knowledge of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section III.
• Demonstrated ability to define load cases, boundary conditions, contacts/interfaces, mesh strategies, convergence checks, and model verification approaches.
• Strong engineering judgment and ability to determine whether analysis results are physically reasonable.
• Proven ability to write clear technical documentation and defend assumptions, methods, results, and conclusions in rigorous design reviews.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Structural Engineering, or related discipline.
• Direct experience with nuclear reactor systems, sodium-cooled reactors, advanced reactors, reactor internals, or nuclear-grade mechanical systems.
• Experience with fluid-structure interaction, flow-induced vibration, thermal striping, sloshing, acoustic loading, or coupled thermal-hydraulic/structural analysis.
• Experience evaluating structures and components exposed to neutron irradiation, radiation-induced material degradation, swelling, embrittlement, irradiation creep, or other reactor-environment effects.
• Experience with ASME Section III Division 1 or Division 5 design-by-analysis methods.
• Experience with fatigue, creep, creep-fatique, fracture mechanics, ratcheting, shakedown, plastic collapse, or high-temperature structural design.
• Experience supporting DOE, NRC, national laboratory, or nuclear licensing projects.
• Familiarity with NQA-1, quality-controlled analysis workflows, model V&V, and configuration-controlled calculation packages.
• Experience with additional tools such as Abaqus, ANSYS Mechanical, LS-DYNA, COMSOL, Femap, HyperMesh, Simcenter 3D, or in-house analysis automation.
• Experience developing analysis automation, post-processing scripts, or standardized workflows using AI, Python, MATLAB, or similar tools.

Job Details

• Job Type: Direct Hire
• Salary: $160-165K
• Location: Austin, TX (Onsite)

Export control regulations require candidates to be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Legal Permanent Resident, or of a protected person status.

About Protingent

Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.