Chemical Engineer

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80‑year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment.

These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

We are seeking a Chemical Engineer who will focus on nuclear nonproliferation fuel cycle research. The candidate chosen for this position will be involved in work supporting the Nonproliferation Stewardship Program, the Nuclear Reference Material Program, and other related research efforts. This position resides in the Uranium Chemistry, Application, and Simulation Group in the Material Modeling & Characterization Section, Nuclear Nonproliferation Division, National Security Sciences Directorate, at ORNL.

This position will spend time performing hands‑on laboratory research as well as effectively communicating the results of the laboratory research in the form of technical reports, presentations, and journal articles. This position will also require some design work to create the infrastructure to pursue the hands‑on laboratory work.

The successful candidate, in collaboration with principal investigators and project management at ORNL, will be a participating member in projects that design, fabricate, assemble, and operate nuclear fuel cycle unit operations and processes. It is expected that this individual will leverage their knowledge and skills to design, test, and commission new systems and architectures within these projects. In addition to these responsibilities, the candidate will be a contributor to R&D projects that involve nuclear fuel cycle processes.

In this position the candidate is expected to effectively interact with various ORNL staff as well as internal and external sponsors. The candidate is expected to collaborate closely with co‑workers and management and to independently drive assigned deliverables to completion, with periodic alignment, feedback, and mentorship; to fully document work performed in the forms of technical reports, papers, procedures, and presentations;

and to participate in the development of research proposals. Excellent communication skills including verbal, presentation, and writing skills are required. The successful candidate will interface with principal investigators, management, engineers, scientists, technicians, operators, fabricators, and modelers.

All team members deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

• B.S. in Chemical Engineering or related field, and a minimum of 5 years related experience; or a M.S. in Chemical Engineering, and a minimum of 4 years related experience or related field
• Proven communication skills
• The ability to work flexible hours and travel
• Demonstrated experience in chemical engineering design process to include developing the following products:
  • System Requirements Documents
  • Process Flow Diagrams
  • Material and Energy Balances
  • Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams
  • Design Analysis Calculations
  • Specification Sheets
  • Control System Narratives
• Demonstrated Unit Operation Specification and Design
• Familiarity with the Nuclear Fuel Cycle
• Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance from the Department of Energy

• Demonstrated experience in multiple nuclear fuel cycle chemical engineering operations
• Intimate knowledge of the uranium chemistry processes used in the nuclear fuel cycle
• Demonstrated expertise in chemical engineering testing process to include:
  • Development and execution of test plans
  • Post‑test analysis and documentation
  • Expertise in Matlab and/or…