Space Nuclear System Engineer

Analytical Mechanics Associates; Huntsville (AL); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Analytical Mechanics Associates seeks a Space Nuclear Systems Engineer in Huntsville, AL. The role involves advanced analyses of nuclear propulsion systems supporting NASA's Space Nuclear Propulsion project. Candidates should have a degree in Nuclear or Aerospace Engineering, strong skills in MATLAB and Python, and a minimum of two years of related experience. Competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits are offered.

Benefits

Paid personal leave

401(k)-matching plan

Tuition reimbursement

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of research or related work experience in nuclear systems.
• Advanced degrees may substitute for work experience.
• Experience in computational and numeric analyses.

Responsibilities

• Perform neutronic, thermal hydraulic, and mechanical analyses of nuclear propulsion systems.
• Communicate technical data to multidisciplinary teams.
• Publish reports and technical documents on findings.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear or Aerospace Engineering

Graduate-level degree in Nuclear or Aerospace Engineering

Tools

MCNP

ANSYS

OpenFOAM

Job description

Analytical Mechanics Associates, Inc. (AMA) is seeking a Space Nuclear Systems Engineer for our Denver, CO or Huntsville, AL location. Possibility for hybrid or remote work.

AMA is accepting applications for a motivated engineer to perform cutting edge analyses within AMA's Advanced Projects group at the Huntsville, AL or Denver, CO locations. The desired candidate will possess a graduate degree in Nuclear or Aerospace Engineering and / or will have professional research experience related to advanced reactor design and development. Primary work responsibilities will focus on supporting multidisciplinary engineering analyses of novel nuclear reactor designs for fission surface power (FSP), nuclear thermal propulsion (NTP), and nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) systems in support of NASA's Space Nuclear Propulsion (SNP) project. In addition to completing the application on our website (www.ama-inc.com / careers) candidates selected for an interview will be required to provide two or more references. The compensation for this position is expected to be between $80k-120k and is commensurate with experience and education.

Responsibilities :

• Assist ongoing AMA analyses by performing neutronic, thermal hydraulic, material, engine cycle, or mechanical analyses of candidate nuclear propulsion system concepts :

Evaluate the parametric design space through assessment of system-level performance and any technical or programmatic risks

• Independently develop and implement models to perform sensitivities related to candidate engine concept designs.
• Perform steady state and transient analyses to inform overall system performance and possible test objectives for an NTP or NEP demonstration.
• Communicate technical data to a multidisciplinary team of engineers and project managers via presentations and technical report writing.
• Support the ongoing assessment of the radiation environment and dose mitigation strategies for ground testing as well as in-space operation.
• Support relevant analyses and trades to determine required technology maturation of reactor components and facilities development for space reactor systems.
• Perform literature review and documentation to assist in ongoing space reactor system development and programmatic planning efforts.
• Publish reports, papers, and articles on findings.

Requirements :

• A Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or another related field. An advanced degree is desired but not required.
• A minimum of 2 years of research or related work experience in nuclear systems, engine cycle power balancing, space mission analysis, or modeling and simulation. Advanced degrees may be substituted for work experience.
• Experience in computational finite element, fuel performance, reactor physics, radiation physics, thermal hydraulic, and / or numeric analyses of novel fuel and reactor designs. Familiarity with common reactor design and fuel performance metrics.
• Strong skills in MATLAB and Python.
• Technical writing experience and the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to a diverse multi-disciplinary team / audience. Ability to independently communicate with and interface with government customers or stakeholders.
• U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency.

Desired Qualifications :

Not all desired qualifications are necessary or expected from applicants. Tasks will be assigned based on applicant's interest, niche skills, and strengths.

• A graduate-level degree in Nuclear or Aerospace Engineering with academic research experience
• Previous exposure to or research experience related to FSP, NTP, NEP, or alternative space nuclear systems.
• Experience working with NASA, DOE, DOD or other related government agencies.
• Experience performing reactor and radiation physics calculations in MCNP, Serpent, OpenMC, or SCALE (or equivalent).
• Experience with finite element analysis using developed software, such as MOOSE, OpenFOAM, ANSYS, COMSOL, etc.
• Experience independently designing and implementing research projects in a nuclear or aerospace related field / industry.
• Experience with object-oriented programming and software architecture management.
• Self-motivated with good communication skills and desire to work in a highly motivated team environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to set up processes and organize project tasks.

Analytical Mechanics Associates (AMA) is proud of our customer relationships, our diverse and dynamic work environment, and our employees' career satisfaction. AMA is a small business with a wide reach; headquartered in Hampton, VA, AMA has operations in Greenbelt, MD; Huntsville, AL; Dallas and Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Mountain View, CA; and Edwards Air Force Base, CA. With over 60 years of experience, AMA specializes in aerospace engineering, science, analytics, information technology, and visualization solutions. AMA combines the best of engineering, science, and mathematics capabilities with the latest in information technologies, visualization, and multimedia to build creative solutions. We offer competitive salaries and a substantial benefits package, including but not limited to paid personal and federally recognized holiday leave, salary deferrals into a 401(k)-matching plan with immediate vesting, tuition reimbursement, short / long term disability plans, and a variety of medical, dental, and vision insurance options.

AMA is committed to the professional growth of every employee, understanding that the successes of our employees drive our success. We provide a work environment that is engaging, collaborative, and supportive. To learn more about our company, please visit our website at www.ama-inc.com / careers and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

AMA is an Affirmative Action / Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any applicant for employment or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic prohibited under federal, state, or local laws.

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Nuclear Engineer • Huntsville, AL, United States