UF6 Conversion / Fluorination Process Engineer

Nano Nuclear Energy, Inc.; Oak Ridge (TN); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement in Oak Ridge, 

Relocation package available

Medical, dental, vision, and life ins.

401(k) with company match

Unlimited PTO, holidays, and parental/

Mentorship and professional dev.

Job summary

NANO Nuclear Energy in Oak Ridge, TN is seeking a UF6 Conversion / Fluorination Process Engineer to advance uranium conversion and fluorination technologies. This hands-on role focuses on process chemistry, experimental systems, and facility operations to optimize performance and product quality.

Reporting to the VP of Fuel Technologies, you will collaborate across analytical chemistry, equipment engineering, and downstream teams to mature conversion technology and support equipment development

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, nuclear engineering, materials science, or related discipline.
• Experience in fluorination, halogen chemistry, gas-solid reaction systems, uranium conversion, or high-hazard processing.
• Hands-on experience with reactive gases, high temperatures, corrosive service, vacuum/pressure systems, or controlled atmosphere processing.
• Ability to develop process operating windows, interpret performance, and recommend improvements.
• Experience with hazard controls, interlocks, and change-management requirements.
• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline (preferred).
• Direct experience with uranium fluorination or UF6 production (preferred).
• Familiarity with UF6 handling and corrosion-resistant materials (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Develop and evaluate uranium conversion and fluorination processes, including feed prep, reaction conditions, product recovery, and recycle interfaces.
• Evaluate relationships between feed chemistry, temperature, gas composition, residence time, conversion efficiency, impurities, and product quality.
• Participate in lab and demonstration-facility setup, commissioning, testing, sampling, troubleshooting, and campaign reviews.
• Define feed requirements and product-quality targets with analytical chemistry and downstream process teams.
• Establish process requirements for gas delivery, off-gas treatment, monitoring, and safe shutdown with responsible engineering teams.
• Assess corrosion, deposition, contamination, sealing, and materials-of-construction challenges in uranium-bearing and fluorinating environments.
• Support equipment selection and commissioning for reactors, feeders, heated systems, recovery equipment, and gas-handling systems.
• Maintain experimental records, process data, sample traceability, and technical evaluations to support development and qualification.

Skills

Fluorination

Halogen chemistry

Gas-solid reaction systems

High-hazard processing

Reactive gas handling

Process optimization

Hazard controls & interlocks

Materials compatibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, nuclear engineering, materials science, or related discipline

Advanced degree (preferred)

Tools

UF6 handling

Fluorine-bearing gas systems

Online gas analysis / PAT

Job description

Oak Ridge, TN | Hybrid | Relocation Package Available

Advance Uranium Conversion Technology Through Hands-On Process Development

Nano Nuclear Energy is seeking a UF6 Conversion / Fluorination Process Engineer to develop and mature uranium conversion and fluorination technologies supporting the production of uranium fluoride products and uranium hexafluoride (UF6).

This is a hands-on engineering opportunity to work directly with process chemistry, experimental systems, and demonstration-facility operations. You will help optimize reaction performance, understand impurity behavior, improve product quality, and translate experimental findings into process and equipment improvements.

Reporting to the VP of Fuel Technologies, you will collaborate with analytical chemistry, equipment engineering, and downstream process teams to advance conversion technology development.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Technical ownership: Drive process development across conversion chemistry, fluorination, feed preparation, and product recovery.
• Hands-on experimentation: Participate directly in laboratory and demonstration-facility campaigns, troubleshooting, and process evaluation.
• Complex process engineering: Address reaction performance, impurity behavior, materials compatibility, and reactive-gas systems.
• Influence equipment development: Translate process requirements and operating observations into equipment and design improvements.
• Technology maturation: Help establish the process data, operating parameters, and technical documentation needed to advance conversion technologies.

What You'll Do

• Develop and evaluate uranium conversion and fluorination processes, including feed preparation, reaction conditions, product recovery, and recycle interfaces.
• Evaluate relationships between feed chemistry, temperature, gas composition, residence time, conversion efficiency, impurities, and product quality.
• Participate in laboratory and demonstration-facility setup, commissioning, testing, sampling, troubleshooting, and campaign reviews.
• Define feed requirements and product-quality targets with analytical chemistry and downstream process teams.
• Establish process requirements for gas delivery, off-gas treatment, monitoring, and safe shutdown in coordination with responsible engineering teams.
• Assess corrosion, deposition, contamination, sealing, and materials-of-construction challenges in uranium-bearing and fluorinating environments.
• Support equipment selection and commissioning for reactors, feeders, heated systems, recovery equipment, and gas-handling systems.
• Maintain experimental records, process data, sample traceability, and technical evaluations to support technology development and future qualification.

What You'll Bring

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in chemical engineering, chemistry, nuclear engineering, materials science, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in fluorination, halogen chemistry, gas-solid reaction systems, uranium conversion, specialty chemical processing, or comparable high-hazard process development.
• Hands‑on experience operating or supporting laboratory, pilot, or demonstration systems involving reactive gases, high temperatures, corrosive service, vacuum/pressure systems, or controlled‑atmosphere processing.
• Ability to develop process operating windows, interpret reaction performance, identify conversion or impurity limitations, and recommend process or equipment improvements.
• Experience working within formal hazard controls, operating procedures, interlocks, and change‑management requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Direct experience with uranium fluorination or UF6 production.
• Familiarity with fluorine‑bearing gas systems, corrosion‑resistant materials, heated gas‑solid reactors, or UF6 handling.
• Experience with online gas analysis, process analytical technologies, or reaction‑completion monitoring.
• Nuclear fuel‑cycle or DOE/regulated nuclear‑facility experience.

Compensation & Benefits

• Hybrid work arrangement in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• Relocation package available.
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401(k) with up to 5% company match.
• Unlimited PTO, company holidays, and paid parental leave.
• Mentorship, technical leadership, and professional development opportunities.

E3 - Senior Engineer I $110k-$160k

E4 - Senior Engineer II $135k - $185k

E5 - Principal Engineer I $160k - $215k

E6 – Principal Engineer II $185k -$255k

Ready to Advance Uranium Process Technology?

Equal Opportunity Employer

NANO Nuclear Energy is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply.