Research Engineer

Research Engineer

The Department of Nuclear Engineering offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Nuclear Engineering. We are the only nuclear engineering program in the state of North Carolina and one of the premier departments in the southeast United States. Our purpose is to enhance, promote, and utilize the PULSTAR research reactor and associated facilities in an exemplary manner, leading to national recognition as a premier 1-MW Nuclear Reactor Program dedicated to research, teaching, and extension.

The PULSTAR reactor facility is available for use by research faculty and staff within the UNC system or at other academic institutions, and by governmental agencies and industries in the State of North Carolina and the Nation.

Essential

Job Duties
- Reactor Operations and Training:
Receive comprehensive training to obtain licensure as a Senior Reactor Operator from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). System Design and Maintenance:
Participate in the design, installation, testing, operation, and maintenance of reactor plant and experimental facility systems. Procedure and Protocol Development:
Develop detailed specifications for reactor and experiment system components, including design requirements and operational and maintenance procedures. Create and implement laboratory safety and radiation protection procedures and protocols to support reactor research. Computational Modeling and Simulation:
Formulate and execute reactor core and system simulations using high-performance computing (HPC) resources to ensure safe reactor operation. Research and Development:
Design experimental facilities and conduct complex research utilizing computational resources. Formulate research methodologies and propose enhancements to improve research quality. Documentation and Publication:
Contribute to project documentation and reporting, author scholarly papers, and support the development of proposals for new projects. Nuclear System Analysis:
Perform nuclear system simulations, experimental facility design, and nuclear data generation to support the safe operation of the PULSTAR nuclear research reactor. Utilize HPC resources to run atomistic simulation, nuclear data generation, and radiation transport codes.

Other Responsibilities
- Other tasks and responsibilities may be assigned based on the needs of the organization and evolving priorities.

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience
- For the Research Engineer position relevant Ph.D degree in Nuclear Engineering. Greater than or equal to 10 years of experience with each of the following activities:
Utilization of reactor facility including administration of a service center. Providing technical input for generating proposals for academic and corporate users. Design and installation of experimental apparatus, and performing testing and generating reports.

Other

Required Qualifications
- Understand technical operating, service or repair manuals. Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. Experience in the following areas:
Nuclear reactor analyses, nuclear reactor benchmarks;
Experimental nuclear facility design, nuclear data evaluation and validation, and modeling using molecular methods. Strong capabilities in using MCNP, Serpent, NJOY, Open Foam, VASP, and PHONON codes. Strong programming skills using languages such as Fortran and Python, and utilities such as MATLAB. Strong capabilities in using Multiphysics simulation codes.

Preferred Qualifications
- Familiarity with tenets and implementation of safety and security culture and cyber-security mitigations at a research reactor facility desirable. Experience with electronic systems including analog instrumentation, industrial I&C, LV power, automation, and/or radiation detection is desirable. Knowledge of analytical chemistry, chemical safety and hygiene, and/or radiochemistry are encouraged. Analog electrical instruments Industrial I&C and automation LV power Radiation detection Radiation protection and shielding Analytical chemistry Radiochemistry Chemical safety and hygiene Familiarity with design and operation of high and very-high vacuum systems

Required License(s) or Certification(s) - N/A

Valid NC Driver's License required
- No

Commercial Driver's License required
- No

Recruitment Dates and Special Instructions

Job Open Date - 09/11/2025

Anticipated Close Date
- Open Until Filled

Special Instructions to Applicants
- Please include as attachments a resume/CV, cover letter, and contact information for at least 3 professional references.

Position Details

Position Number -

Position Type - EPS/SAAO

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) (1.0 = 40 hours/week) - 1.0

Appointment - 12 Month Recurring

Mandatory Designation
- Adverse Weather
- Non Mandatory
- Adverse Weather

Mandatory Designation
- Emergency Events
- Mandatory
- Fire/Explosions, Mandatory
- Medical Emergencies, Mandatory
- Hazardous Material Incidents, Mandatory
- Transportation…