{"id":1260483,"url":"https://alion.io/job/appliedatomics-fuels-engineer","title":"Fuels Engineer","company":{"id":3807241,"name":"Appliedatomics","domain":"appliedatomics.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/appliedatomics","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"remote","remote_scope":"stated_countries","remote_scope_basis":"board_field","remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":[],"countries":[],"hiring_countries":["US"],"hiring_countries_total":1,"salary":{"min":138342,"max":195322,"currency":"USD","period":"year","gross":null,"usd_annual":195322},"salary_estimate":null,"experience_years_min":4,"visa_sponsorship":true,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-06-29T17:17:29Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-08-18","last_verified_at":"2026-09-28T13:12:35Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":91,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":91},"description":"Deploythe next generation of energy infrastructure with Applied Atomics \nApplied Atomics delivers firm, clean electricity with proven technology. We design, build, and operate nuclear plants directly alongside the facilities they power. With no reactor science or new fuel to invent, we have no reason to stall. We are the first fully integrated nuclear power provider built to deploy now. Founded by a team of engineers and operators who built the launch sites, test complexes, and factories behind SpaceX, designed and commercialized nuclear reactors, and ran billion-dollar asset portfolios, the team is now focused on clean power deployment. Applied Atomics is backed by Alpaca VC, Transition, and Morpheus Ventures.\nAbout the role:\nApplied Atomics is seeking a Fuels Engineer to support the design, analysis, and development of the nuclear fuel system for our next generation reactor. As an early technical hire, you will work closely with our nuclear engineering team to evaluate commercial fuel designs, perform fuel performance modeling, assess material behavior under irradiation, and support the integration of fuel into the overall reactor core design.As an early technical hire, you will interface closely with external fuel suppliers, understand fabrication and QA constraints, and translate commercial fuel design data into internal models and design decisions. \nThis role is ideal for someone who understands commercial LWR fuel behavior, enjoys multi-disciplinary engineering, and wants to help build and qualify a FOAK (first-of-a-kind) system based on proven nuclear fuel technology. \nWhy we need you\nWe are transitioning nuclear energy from a theoretical science into a practical reality, and that requires practical problem-solvers. We need engineers who are eager to take direct responsibility for their work and see it through to completion. Your role will be critical in transforming complex designs into safe, reliable, and operational power plants that will operate for decades to come. \nWhat you will do\nFuel Design & Development \nSupport the design of the reactor’s fuel system, including fuel form, pellet/compact/slug geometry, cladding, and standard assembly geometries. \nEvaluate fuel thermal and mechanical behavior including pellet-clad interaction, fission gas release, swelling, densification, creep, corrosion, and cladding oxidation. \nAnalyze fuel performance under stead-state, transient, and accident conditions using validated models and industry methods. \nCoordinate with commercial nuclear fuel suppliers to obtain design data, fabrication constraints, mechanical tolerance, and irradiation performance information. \nIncorporate suppliers inputs into Applied Atomics’ internal designs and integration studies. \nFuel Performance Modeling \nBuild and run fuel performance models using tools such as BISON, FRAPCON/FRAPTRAN, FAST, Falcon, or similar. \nAnalyze fuel burnup, isotopic depletion, fuel cycle length, and end-of-life behavior. \nValidate and benchmark models using available data and support Verification & Validation (V&V) efforts. \nMaterials & Irradiation Behavior \nCharacterize and assess cladding and structural materials. \nEvaluate mechanical limits including stress/strain profiles, ductility margins, etc. \nSupport materials qualification efforts and irradiation test campaigns as needed. \nTesting, Data, & Qualification \nAssist with development of test plans for fuel samples, irradiation capsules, and post-irradiation examination. \nInterface with external suppliers to understand fuel fabrication processes, QA/QC pathways, material specifications, and qualification documentation. \nGather and interpret data from national labs, test facilities, and suppliers to validate models and inform safety analysis inputs. \nPrepare technical reports and documentation for design decisions, integration reviews, and licensing support. \nCore Integration & Cross-Functional Collaboration \nWork with the engineering teams to ensure consistent coupling between fuel performance, neutronics, and thermal hydraulics. \nCollaborate with mechanical, thermal-fluids, and reactor design teams on fuel assembly geometry and manufacturability. \nServe as a technical liaison between Applied Atomics and commercial fuel vendors to ensure compatibility of supplier designs with internal core and system-level requirements. \nSupport trade studies for enrichment levels, burnup targets, cladding options, and fabrication routes. \nAdditional Responsibilities \nTake end-to-end responsibility for your projects, from initial concepts through to deployment and ongoing operations\nPartner closely with our multidisciplinary team of experienced engineers to tackle complex, cross-functional challenges\nDeliver high-quality work steadily and safely, ensuring every solution meets our rigorous quality standards while also for solving scalability issues in the future\nContinually improve our internal engineering processes, documentation, and tools to support the team as we scale\nWhat you bring to the table\nNeed to haves: \nBachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering or related field. \n4+ years of relevant industry experience. \nExperience with nuclear fuel behavior and/or material science under irradiation. \nFamiliarity with fuel performance or nuclear materials tools (BISON, FRAPTRAN, MOOSE, FAST, or similar). \nUnderstanding of neutronics and thermal-hydraulics principles as they relate to fuel performance. \nStrong analytical, communication, and documentation skills. \nSelf-starter and comfortable working in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment. \nNice-to-haves:\nMaster’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Material Science, or related field. \nDirect experience with commercial fuel assembly performance, enrichment strategies, and burnup behavior. \nExperience with cladding behavior modeling (creep, corrosion, oxidation, hydriding, and mechanical integrity limits). \nFamiliarity with fuel fabrication processes and QA/QC systems. \nExperience interfacing with fuel suppliers, test reactors, PIE facilities, or national lab programs. \nBackground supporting safety basis, technical specifications, or commercial nuclear licensing activities. \nExperience supporting FOAK or modified LWR designs a plus. \n BENEFITS & PERKS FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES \nSubstantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees. \nMedical / Vision / Dental (details forthcoming). \nFlexible PTO policy. \nHybrid and remote work options depending on role. \nOther benefits to be announced at offer stage. \nWe are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time. This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls. Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant’s capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls. \nRemote pay range\n$138,342—$195,322 USD","description_format":"text","description_chars":7158,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":4,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":false},"security_clearance":false,"languages":[]},"benefits":[],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Energy & Utilities","Nuclear Energy","Nuclear Engineering"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-09-25T20:23:29Z"}],"liveness":{"score":12,"band":"cold","label":"Long shot","p_open":1,"p_active":0.423,"p_room":0.28,"age_days":90,"expected_fill_days":39,"reasons":["conf:2","win:tail","crowd:"],"computed_at":"2026-09-28T05:45:00Z"},"pay":{"stated_usd_annual":195322,"is_top_pay":true},"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/appliedatomics-fuels-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/appliedatomics-fuels-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-09-28T22:08:39Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","usage":{"tier":"crawler","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":141,"day_limit":5000,"remaining_today":4859,"minute_limit":60,"resets_at":"2026-09-29T00:00:00Z"}}}