Mechanical Engineer - Nuclear Power

Mechanical Engineer

Location:

Knoxville, TN (Periodic business travel required)

Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world’s infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.

Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers’ objectives to create a lasting positive impact. We serve the Infrastructure;
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Mining & Metals, and the Manufacturing and Technology markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start‑up and operations.

Bechtel is the licensing, engineering, procurement, and construction partner on Terra Power’s Natrium team. Selected by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for its Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, Natrium is participating in a DOE initiative to re‑establish U.S. leadership in nuclear energy that provides matching funding to industry to design and build an operational advanced reactor. Terra Power, a leading advanced generation technology company founded by former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates, will be deploying its 345 MWe sodium fast reactor (SFR), called Natrium.

The Natrium plant features an advanced, cost‑competitive reactor design that is safer, simpler, easier, and less costly to construct, less expensive to operate, and able to provide energy that is competitive with fossil fuels. It also features an innovative molten salt energy storage system designed to be complementary to solar and wind power by evening out the peaks and valleys in production when the sun is not shining, or the wind is not blowing.

With the reactor and energy storage output combined, the plant can produce more than 500 MWe of power.

Other Team Natrium partners include GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy, Energy Northwest, Pacifi Corp, and Duke Energy, along with support from a number of national laboratories and universities. This DOE Program has the potential to be the largest funding program for advanced nuclear power in U.S. history and will shape the future of nuclear energy for decades.

As a Mechanical Engineer, this position will support the design development of Mechanical systems and equipment for the Natrium Reactor project by preparing calculations (line and pump sizing, design pressure/temperature, vessel/tank sizing, equipment sizing, pressure safety valve sizing, etc.), drawings (P&IDs), engineering studies, engineering specifications, equipment data sheets, and evaluations, in accordance with applicable procedures, codes, standards, and contract requirements. The successful candidate must have strong organizational and teamwork skills, proven problem‑solving skills, can‑do attitude, and the desire to innovate designs.

• Design Mechanical systems for nuclear facilities.
• Originate Mechanical design and procurement documents, including, but not limited to, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), supporting calculations, data sheets, engineering specifications, and material requisitions.
• Support interfacing mechanical and fire protection design and procurement activities.
• Evaluate, select, and apply standard mechanical engineering methods, techniques, procedures, and criteria to support engineering design decisions.
• Coordinate mechanical engineering efforts in assigned areas with specialty groups, engineering disciplines, the client, vendor, contractors, construction and other functional groups.
• Originate conceptual studies, designs, reports, or proposals.
• Provide technical assistance to other Mechanical personnel and interact with interfacing project functions, the customer, and regulatory agency personnel in the resolution of complex regulatory issues and industry codes and standards.
• Assist project and construction management in identifying and complying with project mechanical requirements and in addressing issues as they arise during project execution.
• Prepare…