Material Performance Modeling – Core & Fuel

About the role

Aalo is seeking an engineer to model the in-core performance and lifetime of fuel and core structural components in extreme irradiation, thermal, chemical, and mechanical environments.

This is a modeling and engineering-judgment role that works closely with mechanical design, neutronics, and thermal hydraulics. You will assess how component dimensions, material properties, loads, interfaces, and performance evolve during service and translate those predictions into practical design guidance and defensible lifetime assessments.

We are open to candidates across a range of experience levels. Early-career engineers will work closely with Aalo’s technical lead to develop modeling methods and engineering judgment. More experienced candidates will be expected to independently own larger areas of the analysis methodology, technical judgment, and cross-functional design integration. This role reports directly to the technical lead for core and fuel material-performance modeling.

What you’ll do

• Develop and apply models for fuel, graphite, and core metallic components using BISON/MOOSE and related tools
• Predict how irradiation, temperature, stress, chemistry, and operating history affect component dimensions, material properties, structural behavior, and service life
• Work directly with mechanical designers to evaluate materials, geometry, tolerances, clearances, interfaces, and lifetime margins
• Integrate inputs from neutronics and thermal hydraulics, and assess how changes in reactor conditions or component design affect in-core degradation and performance
• Translate modeling results into actionable design inputs, operating limits, test needs, and lifetime criteria
• Develop or adapt material and constitutive models where existing capabilities do not adequately represent the relevant physics
• Use Python for data processing, analysis automation, visualization, and communication of results
• Apply rigorous software quality assurance, verification, validation, sensitivity analysis, and uncertainty quantification
• Develop defensible, physics-based analysis methods where established codes or directly applicable design rules are insufficient
• Use AI-assisted tools to accelerate analysis, model development, data review, and documentation while maintaining technical traceability and independently verifying results
• Clearly communicate model assumptions, limitations, uncertainties, and conclusions across engineering teams

What we’re looking for

• Degree in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, computational engineering, or a related field
• Strong grounding in material behavior, heat transfer, solid mechanics, and numerical modeling
• Ability to construct models that accurately represent the important physics, not simply operate analysis software
• Experience with finite-element or multiphysics analysis; BISON/MOOSE experience is strongly preferred
• Proficiency with Python for engineering analysis and visualization
• Understanding of model verification and validation, software quality assurance, and reproducible analysis
• Ability to work effectively with mechanical designers and engineers across materials, neutronics, and thermal-hydraulics
• Sound technical judgment appropriate to the candidate’s level of experience
• Ability to learn quickly, work with incomplete data, and clearly identify model limitations

Experience-level expectations

• Earlier-career candidates may bring strong fundamentals, computational ability, and the capacity to develop sound physical and modeling judgment under close technical mentorship.
• More experienced candidates should be able to independently define modeling approaches, assess model applicability and uncertainty, guide design decisions, and own technically defensible component-lifetime conclusions.

Requirements:

• Based in the United States
• Willing to work on-site in Austin, TX or Idaho Falls, ID

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary based on technical level
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off
• Corporate Gym Membership

Additional Information:

Aalo 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.

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.

Direct applicants only. No recruiters or staffing agencies, please.