Mechanical Engineer or Analyst – Model Development

About the role

Terrestrial Energy is growing its workforce to develop and deploy the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) small modular nuclear plant, providing cost-competitive, clean firm heat and power to industry. The company is building a team of high-performing professionals and leaders in engineering, R&D, product management, and business development at its Charlotte, North Carolina headquarters and future project sites. We seek talented individuals with US market experience, exceptional leadership, and a deep understanding of advanced reactor development to help build the organization and contribute to a culture of excellence.

The Mechanical Engineer/Analyst – Model Development, under the direction of the Mechanical Engineering Manager, will contribute to the design and analysis of IMSR reactor systems, components, and materials through the Detailed Engineering phase. The role focuses on developing and implementing custom engineering models to predict the behavior and integrity of reactor materials, components, and systems under IMSR reactor environmental conditions.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature and operating experience (OPEX) reviews to support design and model development.
• Collaborate with the Research and Development (R&D) group to translate experimental results into custom engineering models of components and materials under reactor conditions and plan new experiments as needed.
• Prepare models, calculations, and reports for analysis of reactor components (such as graphite core components, core support structures, the reactor vessel, and other in-core components), including evaluating the effects of irradiation, fatigue, creep, dynamic and static mechanical and thermal loads, and other aspects.
• Develop computer codes for building custom analysis tools, automating input/output processing, and customizing functionality of commercial software.
• Attend and participate in conferences and industry events to stay familiar with and contribute to the development of current codes, standards, and industry best practices.
• Interface with external experts and regulatory agencies.

Core Competencies

• Mechanical and material model development
• Strong knowledge of solid mechanics and material science fundamentals
• Communication
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Leadership
• Planning and organizing
• Problem solving
• Results orientation
• Team player with the ability to collaborate and interact with other groups
• Flexible and adaptable to change

Requirements

• Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of work experience in mechanical and materials modelling and analysis (relevant graduate studies and academic research experience will be considered; exceptions may be made for well-suited experience of shorter duration).
• Strong theoretical understanding of underlying mechanics of materials and material science fundamentals.
• Experience with ANSYS Mechanical or other commercial FEA software (ANSYS Mechanical APDL is preferred).
• Experience with computer programming (Python, C, Fortran, C++, or other) for data pre/post processing or automation/customization of simulations in commercial software.
• Knowledge of fatigue, creep, dynamic and static, linear and non-linear analyses.
• Willingness to adapt and learn new approaches and areas of expertise.
• Strong communication (both written and verbal) skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with teams on challenging problems requiring innovative solutions.

Assets

• Graduate-level degree (Master’s or PhD) with an applicable specialization.
• Experience with analysis of non-metallic materials (particularly graphite or similar materials).
• Experience with the implementation of user programmable features for custom constitutive models within commercial FEA software (such as UserMat in ANSYS or UMAT in ABAQUS).
• Working knowledge of the effects of radiation on materials of construction (graphite and alloy).
• Knowledge of nuclear and/or non-nuclear codes and standards including ASME Section III Division 1, Division 5, CSA N285.0, ASME B31.1, and CSA B51.
• Experience with high-temperature reactor applications and knowledge of ASME Section III Division 5 is strongly preferred.
• Experience running large-scale models using HPCs.
• Licensed Professional Engineer.

Benefits

• Extended Healthcare Plan
• A vacation policy designed to support your work-life balance
• EAP Programs available to you and your family
• Wellness Subsidy
• Annual Performance Review
• Paid Volunteer Days – A chance to give back!
• Career development opportunities

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the US without the need for sponsorship for employment visa status. The successful candidate must be able to access and use information subject to U.S. export control laws, which mandate all citizenships (including dual citizenships) be from the U.S. Department of Energy’s list of generally authorized countries (10 CFR Part 810 Appendix A) unless a specific authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy is obtained or unless you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or protected individual under the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Act.