Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer

Position Description

A Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer at Oklo is responsible for performing criticality safety evaluations, developing the nuclear criticality safety basis, and architecting the nuclear criticality safety program for a first-of-a-kind used nuclear fuel recycling facility.

Specific responsibilities may include:

• Identifying and evaluating nuclear criticality safety (NCS) hazards for fuel cycle facilities
• Performing criticality safety evaluations (CSEs) to demonstrate subcriticality under normal and credible abnormal conditions
• Developing the criticality code validation report
• Demonstrating compliance with the double-contingency principle
• Documenting criticality hazard analyses, CSEs, and supporting technical information
• Evaluating and implementing controlled parameters for the NCS program
• Developing the criticality accident alarm system and inadvertent criticality emergency response plan
• Supporting safety basis development and licensing efforts
• Developing and administering the NCS program, methodologies, and management measures

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors, Masters, or PhD in nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, or chemistry, or related field
• Minimum 5+ years experience performing CSEs as a part of a nuclear facility’s safety basis

Bonus Qualifications:

• Knowledge of used nuclear fuel recycling technologies
• 10+ years of experience performing criticality safety evaluations for an NRC licensed fuel cycle facility

Competencies

We are looking for a Senior Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer that is:

• Knowledge of nuclear science, physics of criticality, and chemistry
• Knowledge of nuclear fuel cycle processes and nuclear fuel cycle facility accident scenarios
• Proficient with Attila4MC, MCNP, SCALE, and/or Serpent codes and modules
• Familiarity with critical experiments and their purpose
• Knowledge of criticality-specific codes, standards, regulatory requirements, and industry practices for nuclear fuel cycle facilities
• Familiarity with NUREG-1513, NUREG-1520, NUREG/CR-6410, NUREG/CR-6698, NUREG/CR-7311, and NRC RG 3.71
• Passionate about clean energy and making advanced fission a reality
• Knowledgeable about structural design, analysis, and construction
• Eager to work on a dynamic team, receive constructive feedback, and grow with us
• Willing to think differently and learn quickly
• Comfortable in a fast-paced, highly iterative startup environment
• Excited to think creatively, critically, and reflectively about the problems they are solving, while not leaning only on what has been done before
• An excellent writer who can communicate technical concepts in modern active voice