Jobs · Engineering · California

Senior Thermal-Hydraulics Analysis Engineer

Valar Atomics · Los Angeles, CA · 3 days ago
On-siteEngineering$151k/yrFull-time

Key Responsibilities

  • Build, run and maintain integrated Flownex SE network models of primary/secondary loops, balance of plant and power-conversion cycles for steady-state and transient analysis.
  • Characterize and size components (pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, valves, turbomachinery) and evaluate cycle performance and optimization across Brayton and sCO₂ architectures as required.
  • Analyze plant transients and control response (start-up/shutdown, load-follow, loss-of-flow, trips) and provide system boundary conditions to the CFD and FEA streams while consuming their loss/heat-transfer coefficients.
  • Produce calculation packages and system design-basis documentation under NQA-1; provide inputs to safety analysis and interface with detailed CFD models and neutronics power distributions.
  • Lead verification and validation of system models, set systems-modelling standards, support regulator/customer reviews, and mentor junior systems analysts.
  • Mentor engineers and train junior team members

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or higher in Mechanical, Nuclear, Chemical or Aerospace Engineering with emphasis on thermodynamics, heat transfer or thermal-hydraulics systems.
  • 5+ years of professional thermal-hydraulics / plant-systems analysis experience, including lead responsibility on integrated system or cycle models.

Preferred Skills and Experience

  • Master’s degree (MSc/MEng) or higher in Mechanical, Nuclear, Chemical or Aerospace Engineering with emphasis on thermodynamics, heat transfer or thermal-hydraulics systems.
  • Flownex SE expertise strongly preferred; otherwise demonstrable depth in a comparable systems/transient code (RELAP5, TRACE, GOTHIC, MELCOR, Modelica/Dymola, Aspen HYSYS Dynamics, Thermoflow / GateCycle) with willingness to adopt Flownex.
  • Strong applied thermodynamics, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics; closed-loop power-cycle design (Brayton, supercritical-CO₂).
  • Heat-exchanger thermal/hydraulic design and rating; turbomachinery and pump performance characterization; control-system representation.
  • Transient and dynamic simulation, including reactor thermal-hydraulics and decay-heat / natural-circulation scenarios.
  • Property libraries / equations of state (e.g., CoolProp / REFPROP) and helium, molten-salt, sodium, or CO₂ working fluids a strong plus.

What We Offer

  • Competitive base salary
  • Equity ownership in a rapidly growing advanced energy company
  • Comprehensive medical benefits
  • Unlimited PTO
  • Free daily lunch and dinner provided onsite
  • Generous PPE stipend
  • High-impact startup environment with significant ownership and autonomy
  • Opportunities for rapid career growth and internal advancement
  • Direct collaboration with experienced operators, engineers, and industry leaders

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

We are committed to providing a workplace free of discrimination and harassment and will provide reasonable accommodation as required by law.

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