{"id":613431,"url":"https://alion.io/job/aalo-senior-fea-analyst-nuclear-fuel-behavior-operations","title":"Senior FEA Analyst – Nuclear Fuel Behavior & Operations","company":{"id":668768,"name":"Aalo Atomics","domain":"aalo.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/aalo","size_band":"51-200","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Rippling","truth_index":{"grade":"A","score":94,"open_postings":38,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.026,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":86,"computed_at":"2026-10-29T05:49:05Z"}},"role":"Analytics","role_family":"Analytics","seniority":"senior","employment_type":"full_time","work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"explicit","locations":["Austin, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":91000,"max_usd":174000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":2036},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Abaqus","optional":false},{"name":"ANSYS","optional":false},{"name":"ASME NQA-1","optional":false},{"name":"C++","optional":false},{"name":"Fortran","optional":false},{"name":"Python","optional":false},{"name":"Verification & Validation","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-02T12:29:52Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-06-02","last_verified_at":"2026-10-29T23:34:58Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":149,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":0,"flags":[],"days_open":148},"description":"About Aalo Atomics\nAalo Atomics is pioneering a new era in clean energy with factory-fabricated microreactors designed to deliver affordable, scalable, and reliable nuclear power. 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. Based in Austin, TX, we’re rapidly growing as we work to deploy the world’s first fleet of advanced microreactors. Join us and help revolutionize energy for a sustainable future.\nAbout the role\nWe 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. 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. You will act as the primary technical authority bridging fuel performance engineering with rigorous regulatory safety margins, directly influencing fuel design optimization for operational reliability and accident tolerance.\nWhat you'll do\nMulti-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).\nInterface & Interaction Analysis: Conduct detailed evaluations of Pellet-Cladding Mechanical Interactions (PCMI) and Pellet-Cladding Thermal Interactions (PCTI), capturing localized stress concentrations, mechanical locking, and cladding strain.\nMicrostructural Performance Integration: Simulate time- and burnup-dependent fuel phenomena, including fission gas release, fuel swelling, densification, thermal conductivity degradation, and cladding creep/hydriding.\nCode Application & Customization: Utilize and adapt state-of-the-art nuclear fuel performance codes (e.g., BISON, FRAPCON/FRAPTRAN, ENIGMA) alongside commercial solvers to predict fuel life-cycle behavior.\nV&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.\nRegulatory 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).\nQualifications\nEducation: Master’s or Ph.D. degree in Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a highly relevant engineering discipline.\nExperience: 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.\nSoftware & Code Expertise: Advanced proficiency with nuclear fuel burnup and performance codes (specifically BISON or FRAPCON), paired with commercial implicit solvers (Abaqus or ANSYS Mechanical).\nCore Competencies:\nDeep understanding of high-temperature material science, radiation effects on materials (swelling, creep), and fracture mechanics.\nProven capability in scripting and code customization (Python, C++, or Fortran) to automate workflows and implement custom material subroutines.\nFamiliarity working within rigid nuclear quality assurance frameworks (NQA-1).\nPreferred Qualifications\nExperience modeling advanced technology fuels, such as Accident Tolerant Fuel (ATF) concepts, doped UO2, silicide fuels, or liquid metal/molten salt reactor fuel elements.\nActive or prior U.S. DOE Q-Level or DoD Secret security clearance.\nStrong track record of publishing peer-reviewed research or presenting technical findings to nuclear regulatory bodies.\nRequirements:\nBased in the United States\nWilling to work on-site in Austin, TX\nWhat We Offer\nCompetitive salary based on technical level \nHealth, Dental, and Vision Insurance \nPaid Time Off \nCorporate Gym Membership \nCandidates only. No recruiters or agencies, please.\nAdditional Information:\nAalo Atomics provides a collaborative and supportive work environment, opportunities for professional growth, intellectually challenging careers, and competitive compensation. Aalo Atomics is an equal opportunity employer and considers all employment decisions without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.\nApplicants must be U.S. Citizens or U.S. Persons in compliance with 10 CFR Part 810 and may not hold non-compliant foreign citizenships.\nDirect applicants only. 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