Fluorination Reprocessing R&D Engineer

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Fluorination Reprocessing R&D Engineer to work in our Pyrochemical Science department. Our team works a 4x10 schedule located out of our Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) facility, with every Friday off. A Fluorination Reprocessing R&D Engineer develops cutting‑edge technologies for the management and recycling of used nuclear fuels at the MFC. This involves setting up and designing experiments relevant to the nuclear fuel cycle, collecting experimental data, analyzing data, and documenting and publishing experimental results.

Essential Job Functions:

• Perform engineering research and development activities associated with pyrochemical reprocessing.
• Conduct fundamental research and applied research
• Collect and analyze test results and develop new testing methods and analysis approaches.
• Assimilate and interpret experimental data.
• Present at conferences, either independently or a part of a research team.
• Identify new research opportunities, contribute to the direction of technical teams, respond to research opportunities, and assist in the generation of technical proposals and securing funding for research activities.
• Develop and implement process controls and tracking mechanisms using programming.
• Prepare process flow diagrams and heat/material balances.
• Establish process design and operating parameters through simulations, hazards analysis, and testing.
• Monitor and evaluate plant system conditions and operational performance, recommend maintenance standards, and identify vendor data and replacement parts.

Required:

• Level 3:
  Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering or a directly related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 5 years of relevant experience; or Master's of Science degree in Chemical Engineering or a directly related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 2 years of relevant experience; or PhD in Chemical Engineering or a directly related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 2 years of relevant experience.
• Level 4:
  Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering or a directly related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 9 years of relevant experience; or Master's of Science degree in Chemical Engineering or a directly related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 6 years of relevant experience; or PhD in Chemical Engineering or a directly related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 4 years of relevant experience.
• Experience in nuclear chemical engineering and hands‑on experience with high‑temperature fluorination of nuclear materials.
• Knowledge of the behavior of uranium, plutonium, and fission product elements under fluorination conditions.
• Familiarity with UF6 handling and purification.
• Demonstrated understanding of how different elements behave as volatile or non‑volatile fluorides, and how these properties can be exploited in a separation process.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Advanced degree in Chemical Engineering or a related field from a program accredited by ABET.
• Experience with the design and operation of fluorination equipment, such as flame reactors, and associated gas treatment and purification systems.