Nuclear Materials Engineer

Nuclear Materials Engineer

Idaho National Laboratory seeks Nuclear Materials Engineers to push the boundaries of innovation by developing cutting-edge materials that power America's energy and national security future, from nuclear propulsion to space exploration. You'll support materials testing and characterization for multiple research programs, act as subject matter expert on thermo-mechanical processing of materials, review requirements, designs, codes, and tests, and provide production parameters to ensure consistent quality and performance.

Your work includes participating in and leading technical design and testing committees to meet customer needs, providing technical solutions and positioning the organization for strategic business ventures, maintaining product configuration management and updating specifications, and procuring items according to requirements. You'll enhance teamwork to meet sponsor needs and develop customer relationships, oversee execution of assigned projects including cost, schedule, and quality assurance, and mentor peers and junior staff in technical growth.

Essential Job Functions:

• Support materials testing and characterization for multiple research programs.
• Design, plan, and execute mechanical properties testing (e.g., tensile, hardness, fracture toughness, creep, and fatigue testing) on irradiated and unirradiated nuclear materials.
• Perform microstructural characterization using techniques such as optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and/or electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD)
• Support qualification of nuclear materials for reactor and structural applications, including code case development and technical basis documentation under relevant industry codes and standards, with contributions related to high-temperature reactor design
• Act as a subject matter expert on thermo-mechanical processing of materials.
• Review requirements, designs, codes, tests, and documentation.
• Participate in and lead technical design and testing committees to ensure development initiatives meet customer needs.
• Provide technical solutions and position the organization for strategic business ventures.
• Procure items according to Product Configuration Management requirements.
• Enhance inter-group interactions and teamwork to meet sponsor needs and develop customer relationships.
• Oversee the execution of assigned projects, including cost, schedule, environmental compliance, quality assurance, and safety.
• Mentor and support peers and junior staff in technical growth.

Required:

• Level 2:
  Bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or a related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 2 years of relevant experience; or an Advanced degree in materials science and engineering or a related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET.
• Level 3:
  Bachelor's degree in materials science and engineering or a related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 5 years of relevant experience; or an Advanced degree in materials science and engineering or a related engineering field from a program accredited by ABET and 2 years of relevant experience.
• Applicants are subject to the requirements of DOE O 142.3B, Unclassified Foreign National Access Program and require that applicants have U.S. citizenship.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• PhD in materials science/mechanical engineering from a program accredited by ABET.
• Proficiency in advanced manufacturing, computational methods, programming, CAD, and thermo-mechanics.
• Experience with irradiated materials testing or nuclear materials behavior
• Hands-on experience with TEM, EBSD, or advanced microstructural analysis techniques
• Familiarity with radiation damage mechanisms (e.g., swelling, embrittlement, phase transformations)
• Knowledge of ASTM standards for mechanical testing of nuclear materials
• Familiarity with ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, particularly provisions related to high-temperature reactor design and code case development

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop,…