Safety Analysis Engineer

At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT’s technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.

Welcome to BWXT
We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth and collaboration. Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting your career, you'll find opportunities to challenge yourself, learn from seasoned experts, and contribute to nuclear innovation. We require a diverse range of skills to support our work in the markets that drive our business and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and life stages who are passionate about making a difference.

BWXT is People Strong, Innovation Driven - be part of BWXT’s innovation hub. BWXT’s Advanced Technologies (AT) group researches, designs, and develops innovative new nuclear reactors, nuclear rocket propulsion systems, and radioisotope production systems for both internal and external customers.

If you are looking for a career where your experience is valued, innovative thinking is fostered, and barrier-free teamwork is embraced every day, then this opportunity is for you.

Position Overview:

As a Safety Analysis Engineer, you will be part of a team supporting the development of several leading technologies for various applications on earth and in space. The Safety Analysis group is responsible for developing methodologies and performing analyses to demonstrate that the various reactor designs satisfy their safety bases and licensing requirements. These types of analyses include deterministic safety evaluations of the reactor core, passive cooling, safety protection system, and radiological releases associated with anticipated operational occurrences (AOOs), design basis accidents (DBAs), and beyond design basis events (BDBEs) as well as probabilistic safety evaluations of the system responses and initiating event frequencies. The Safety Analysis group is responsible for the verification and validation activities associated with the computer codes used in these analyses.

Location:

The position is located in Lynchburg, VA, with the possibility of remote work depending on the candidate’s specific skill set and experience.

Your Day to Day as a Safety Analysis Engineer:

• Develop analytical methods and models for the spectrum of AOOs, DBAs, and BDBEs that are applicable to the reactor design being evaluated.
• Perform AOO, DBA, and BDBA simulations for the reactor design.
• Perform engineering calculations related to nuclear safety, fluid flow, probability risk assessment, severe accident analysis, equipment qualification, heat and mass transfer, and other duties.
• Prepare appropriate documentation supporting evaluations and analyses.
• Interface with customers, vendors, and other internal functional groups to obtain information necessary to perform work assignments.
• Identify and recommend improvements in processes on continuing basis and assist in implementation as well as identify and assist in the development of new business opportunities.
• Perform code benchmarking and validation analyses to support code qualification and methodology development.
• Perform pre- and post-test analyses to support Separate Effects and Integral Systems Tests, as needed.
• Develop methodology reports, design criteria, and other licensing documentation to support NRC or DOE review and approval.
• Provide input to planning, tracking, work estimates, and project updates as requested.
• Interact with and explain methods, models, analyses, and safety results to customers, regulators, and subject matter experts that may be advising a project as requested.
• Perform safety analysis tasks including hazard identification, safety basis event identification, and phenomena identification and ranking table development.
• Support development of safety analysis computational models in accordance with best practices and test data.
• Perform sensitivity, uncertainty, and scaling analysis in support of evaluation model development as requested.
• Integrate with other engineering groups performing aspects of component, system, fuel, and control system design.
• Evaluate and assess experimental data and describe the applicability of experiments to design projects.

Required Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering (mechanical, nuclear or similar discipline) is required.
• A minimum of seven (7) years of related experience is required.
• Must have strong nuclear-thermal-hydraulic analytical skills.
• Must have experience performing safety analysis using industry computer codes such as RELAP5-3D, GOTHIC, TRACE, MELCOR, etc.
• Must have experience in safety analysis.
• Must have demonstrated technical writing skills.
• Must possess effective communication skills.
• Must possess a strong understanding of thermal hydraulic behavior of nuclear power plants under steady state and transient conditions.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) or Department of Defense (DOD) security clearance, whichever is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• M.S. or PhD in Nuclear or Mechanical Engineering.
• Experience with HTGRs is desired.
• Experience with SNAP computer code is desired.
• Experience with developing and applying numerical methods for nuclear thermal-hydraulic problems.
• Experience with developing complex safety analysis models from scratch.
• Experience working in a nuclear quality environment (e.g., ASME NQA-1).
• Familiarity with Linux operating systems.
• Familiarity with preparing and defending Safety Analysis Reports (SARs) with NRC or DOE.
• Demonstrated ability to apply technical knowledge to plant conditions, regulatory requirements, and analytical evaluations is preferred.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
• Flexible work schedules and paid time off to promote a healthy work-life balance.
• Professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs and sponsorship for continuing education.
• An inclusive atmosphere that celebrates new perspectives and supports collaboration between different generations.
• The chance to be part of a mission-driven organization making a positive impact on the future of energy.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and training to grow throughout your career!

Pay: $99,000.00 - $157,000.00

The base salary range for this position in Virginia (US-VA) at the start of employment is expected to be between $99,000.00 and $157,000.00 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,’ unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement.  The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.

As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities (“BWXT” or the “Company”) complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols.  As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre-employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.

BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.

BWX Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (BWXT) is not responsible for and does not accept any liability for fees or other costs associated with resumes or candidates presented by recruiters or employment agencies, unless a binding, written recruitment agreement between BWXT and the recruiter or agency exists prior to the presentation of candidates or resumes to BWXT and includes the specific services, job openings, and fees to be paid (“Agreement”). BWXT may consider any candidate for whom a recruiter or agency has submitted an unsolicited resume and explicitly reserves the right to hire such candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency unless an Agreement is in place prior to presentation and such Agreement explicitly encompasses the job opening for which such fees or costs are sought. An email, verbal or other informal contact with any person within BWXT will not create a binding agreement. Agencies or recruiters without an Agreement are directed not to contact any hiring managers of BWXT with recruiting inquiries or resumes. Recruiters and agencies interested in partnering with BWXT may contact BWXT’s Talent Acquisition team at talent_acquisition@bwxt.com.