Purpose: 

The Advanced Reactor Systems (ARS) Group within the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division (NEFCD) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is seeking applicants for a senior research and development staff position to support development, qualification and application of nuclear fuel modeling and simulation capabilities. ARS works to accelerate the design, development and deployment of advanced energy systems such as advanced nuclear reactors, neutron science facilities, energy storage and power conversion systems through the integration of modeling and simulation expertise with experimental research and physical testing. ARS fuel performance analysis capabilities support fuel design and analysis for the US Department of Energy’s Versatile Test Reactor Project, development of fuel technologies and concepts for the current fleet of light water reactors, development of fuel concepts for other reactors including research reactors, support for regulatory and licensing activities for fuel technologies, and advanced modeling and simulation capabilities including multiphysics coupling.

Our senior R&D staff are scientific leaders in and beyond the ORNL community; they help to define the future of their respective areas of expertise. This position works closely with the R&D line leadership to define and implement the scientific vision; establish capabilities that enable programs to excel at the forefront of science and technology; perform R&D to advance the field of knowledge and/or technology in one’s respective specialty; set, implement, and model standards for performance of work consistent with Environment, Safety, Security, Health, and Quality (ESH&Q) requirements and business rules; effectively mentor future generations of researchers; and ensure a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee feels safe, heard, and appreciated—a workplace that sets an example for the broader community.  The incumbent will work with and lead scientists and engineers at the US Department of Energy (DOE),other DOE laboratories, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, international collaborators, and industrial partners.

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

• As Principal Investigator, initiate, plan and execute high-impact R&D programs and projects, working with project sponsors, research staff, operations staff, and external collaborators to identify, implement and publish state-of-the-art solutions to nuclear fuel technology challenges of national and global importance.
• Develop, qualify and apply engineering-scale thermomechanical modeling and simulation tools to design and analyze nuclear fuels for a range of reactor types. Fuel technologies of interest include metallic fuels for fast reactors, oxide fuels or advanced fuels for LWRs, and TRISO for gas-cooled and salt-cooled reactors.
• Mentor early career staff to establish a cohesive, functional group and expand the overall capability of ORNL to engage in nuclear power design and construction programs.
• Advance the reputation and standing of the group by establishing collaborations, professional society leadership and involvement, and organization of technical events.
• Exemplify a commitment to excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and work cooperatively to leverage scientific capabilities across ORNL

Required Qualifications:

• PhD in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science or engineering, aeronautical engineering, chemical engineering, engineering physics or related field with 6 or more years post graduate experience in the development, qualification and application of analysis methods to advance the development of nuclear fuel concepts, as demonstrated through research record and associated publications.
• Established aptitude in the application and development of engineering models of nuclear reactor and/or fuel systems for performance analysis, safety analysis, and/or design purposes.
• This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with a wide range of demonstrated and proposed nuclear fuel technologies including metallic fuels, oxide fuels, nitride fuels, TRISO, and other concepts.
• Working familiarity with a wide range of demonstrated and proposed nuclear reactor technologies solutions including thermal and fast spectrum systems.
• Knowledge of complementary technical areas such as neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, or clad-coolant chemistry and demonstrated experience integrating information from those areas into the evaluation of nuclear fuel concepts.
• Experience in qualifying nuclear fuel technologies for specific applications, including the design of appropriate experiments to improve understanding of nuclear fuel performance degradation and facilitate implementation of improved models for predictive simulations.

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at jobs.ornl.gov.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.