Fuel Development Engineer

The Nuclear Fuel Development Engineer supports Standard Nuclear’s fuel development and manufacturing programs by providing engineering and design support for current and upcoming fuel and fuel-related manufacturing projects. This role contributes to the development of equipment, tooling, fabrication methods, characterization workflows, and manufacturing processes used to advance nuclear fuel production capabilities.

This is a hands-on technical role suited for an engineer with experience or strong interest in fuel development, advanced manufacturing, materials processing, mechanical design, process development, fabrication support, or characterization. The Nuclear Fuel Development Engineer will support project execution from concept development through design, fabrication, testing, troubleshooting, and manufacturing readiness.

The role requires strong technical fundamentals, practical engineering judgment, disciplined documentation, and the ability to work closely with fuel development, manufacturing, engineering, characterization, quality, EH&S, radiological controls, and external vendors in a regulated nuclear fuel fabrication environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Fuel Development & Engineering Support

• Support engineering activities for advanced nuclear fuel development and fuel-related manufacturing projects
• Develop and refine equipment concepts, tooling, fixtures, fabrication methods, and process support systems
• Assist with planning and execution of process trials, technical demonstrations, test campaigns, and manufacturing readiness activities
• Evaluate equipment performance, material behavior, fabrication constraints, and process results to improve repeatability and product consistency
• Help identify technical risks, process limitations, and opportunities to improve yield, throughput, reliability, or manufacturability

Equipment Design & Fabrication Support

• Support design, fabrication, installation, testing, and improvement of equipment, tooling, fixtures, and production support hardware
• Create and review drawings, models, layouts, specifications, and technical requirements for manufacturing and development equipment
• Work with internal teams and external vendors to source, fabricate, modify, and implement components, tooling, and equipment
• Provide engineering support during equipment trials, troubleshooting, startup, and process development activities
• Ensure designs and fabrication methods support safe operation, practical manufacturing, maintainability, and scalability

Manufacturing Development & Process Integration

• Work with fuel development and manufacturing teams to translate technical requirements into practical production methods and procedures
• Support development of process flows, material movement plans, characterization workflows, and manufacturing readiness activities
• Assist with optimization of fabrication methods, equipment setup, product handling, and process execution
• Coordinate with technicians, operators, engineers, and quality personnel to support hands-on execution of development and manufacturing work
• Support root cause investigations and corrective actions related to equipment performance, process variation, material issues, or product quality concerns

Characterization, Testing & Technical Evaluation

• Coordinate with characterization and quality teams to evaluate material properties, product attributes, inspection results, and process outcomes
• Review and analyze data from process runs, equipment trials, inspections, measurements, and characterization activities
• Use technical data to identify trends, assess performance, and support engineering decision-making
• Prepare technical summaries, test reports, process records, and data packages
• Support continuous improvement of test methods, documentation practices, and technical workflows as programs mature

Documentation, Quality & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Develop and maintain engineering documentation including drawings, specifications, test plans, procedures, work instructions, process records, reports, and change documentation
• Communicate technical status, risks, open issues, and recommended actions clearly to project and technical stakeholders
• Participate in design reviews, technical reviews, project planning, troubleshooting, and readiness activities
• Ensure work is documented clearly, accurately, and in accordance with company requirements
• Follow applicable safety, radiological, quality, environmental, and operational requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, or a related technical discipline

• 3–6 years of experience in fuel development, advanced manufacturing, equipment design, process development, materials processing, fabrication support, or related technical work preferred

• Hands-on experience in laboratory, pilot, manufacturing, fabrication, or regulated technical environments

• Experience supporting equipment design, tooling, fixtures, test campaigns, process troubleshooting, or manufacturing scale-up

• Familiarity with advanced materials, ceramics, powders, fuel materials, thermal processing, characterization, or precision manufacturing is preferred

• Ability to analyze technical data and develop clear conclusions from process, test, inspection, or characterization results

• Strong technical documentation skills, including drawings, specifications, procedures, test plans, reports, or controlled documentation

• Ability to work cross-functionally with engineers, technicians, operators, quality personnel, safety teams, and external vendors

• Experience with ERP, MRP, procurement, or inventory management systems; NetSuite or similar systems preferred

• Strong Excel and data analysis skills

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to safety, quality, and procedural compliance

• Experience in nuclear, DOE, NRC, national laboratory, aerospace, defense, chemical processing, energy, or other regulated environments is a plus

BENEFITS

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Disability and Life Insurance
• 401K Plan
• Paid Time Off, Holidays

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This role is based on-site at Standard Nuclear’s Oak Ridge, TN nuclear fuel fabrication facility and involves work across office, laboratory, manufacturing, and controlled environments.

The position requires regular interaction with fuel development, engineering, manufacturing, characterization, quality, EH&S, radiological controls, maintenance, vendors, and technical teams. Work may involve laboratory activities, manufacturing equipment, fabrication support, characterization activities, controlled areas, and use of required PPE. Adherence to site safety, quality, radiological, environmental, and operational procedures is expected.