Aalo Atomics

Senior FEA Analyst – Nuclear Fuel Behavior & Operations

Austin, TX · Senior

Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 26 days ago

PythonC++CybersecurityCustomer SupportANSYSFEAMechanical DesignResearchPublic Speaking

About the role

In this role, you will focus on the extreme multi-physics environment of the reactor core, analyzing thermo-mechanical fuel rod behavior, fuel-cladding evolution, and long-term degradation mechanisms.

Multi-Physics Fuel Modeling: Develop and execute high-fidelity 2D and 3D finite element models to simulate the coupled thermo-mechanical behavior of fuel rods, pellets, and cladding under steady-state, transient, and accident scenarios (RIA/LOCA).
V&V and Quality Assurance: Lead rigorous Verification and Validation (V&V) procedures for fuel performance models in strict compliance with ASME NQA-1 quality standards.
Regulatory Technical Support: Compile, review, and authorize formal technical reports and licensing topical reports to defend fuel safety margins before nuclear regulatory authorities (e.g., US NRC).
Proven capability in scripting and code customization (Python, C++, or Fortran) to automate workflows and implement custom material subroutines.
About Aalo Atomics Aalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power.

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Persons in compliance with 10 CFR Part 810 and may not hold non-compliant foreign citizenships.
Master's or Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a highly relevant engineering discipline.
Minimum of 5-8+ years of experience in computational mechanics, with at least 3 years dedicated specifically to nuclear fuel performance modeling or core materials evaluation.
Advanced proficiency with nuclear fuel burnup and performance codes (specifically BISON or FRAPCON), paired with commercial implicit solvers (Abaqus or ANSYS Mechanical).
Software & Code Expertise: Advanced proficiency with nuclear fuel burnup and performance codes (specifically BISON or FRAPCON), paired with commercial implicit solvers (Abaqus or ANSYS Mechanical).

Experience modeling advanced technology fuels, such as Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) concepts, doped UO2, silicide fuels, or liquid metal/molten salt reactor fuel elements.
Active or prior U.S. DOE Q-Level or DoD Secret security clearance.
Strong track record of publishing peer-reviewed research or presenting technical findings to nuclear regulatory bodies.
Deep understanding of high-temperature material science, radiation effects on materials (swelling, creep), and fracture mechanics.
Familiarity working within rigid nuclear quality assurance frameworks (NQA-1).

Competitive salary starting at $125,000 Health, Dental,
Aalo Atomics provides a collaborative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, intellectually challenging careers, and competitive compensation.
Qualifications Education: Master's or Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a highly relevant engineering discipline.

We are seeking a highly specialized Senior FEA Analyst to lead the high-fidelity computational modeling and safety evaluation of nuclear fuel assemblies and core components at Aalo.
Our mission is to make nuclear energy globally accessible, starting with the Aalo-1, a 10 MWe reactor leveraging cutting-edge safety, modularity, and efficiency.

This listing is sourced directly from Aalo Atomics's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.