About this role
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation’s nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of Southern Company’s energy portfolio, operating over 8,200 MW across eight nuclear energy units in Alabama and Georgia at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala., the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga., and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga.
The company recently achieved commercial operation on Vogtle Units 3&4, representing an historic achievement for the nuclear industry and the country. Vogtle Units 3&4 are the first new nuclear units to reach commercial operation and be built in the United States in the last three decades. Southern Nuclear is a recognized leader in the industry in nuclear and fuel innovation, having been the first to deploy Accident Tolerant Fuels and winning over 10 consecutive Top Innovative Practice (TIP) Awards and eight EPRI awards.
For more than 40 years, Southern Nuclear has operated nuclear energy facilities at the highest levels of safety and reliability, generating carbon-free electricity for millions of homes and businesses. The company’s headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala.
Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers across the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service is our mission. The company has electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company, a leading distributed energy solutions provider with national capabilities, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we are taking action to meet customers' and communities' needs while advancing our goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and are the key to our sustained success. We are transforming energy into economic, environmental and social progress for tomorrow. Our corporate culture has been recognized by a variety of organizations, earning the company awards and recognitions that reflect Our Values and dedication to service. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.
Southern Company invests in the well-being of its employees and their families through a comprehensive total rewards strategy that includes competitive base salary, annual incentive awards for eligible employees and health, welfare and retirement benefits designed to support physical, financial, and emotional/social well-being. This position may also be eligible for additional compensation, such as an incentive program, with the amount of any bonus/awards subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable incentive plan(s). A summary of the benefits offered for this position can be found here https://seo.nlx.org/southernco/pdf/SOCO-Benefits.pdf. Additional and specific details about total compensation and benefits will also be provided during the hiring process.
Southern Company is an equal opportunity employer where an applicant's qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Nuclear Engineer or Analyst– BWR Fuel Engineering, All Levels
JOB SUMMARY
This position is for a Nuclear Engineer within Southern Nuclear Operating Company’s (SNC) Nuclear Fuel & Analysis organization, supporting BWR Fuel Engineering at the company’s corporate office in Birmingham, Alabama.
SNC’s BWR Fuel Engineering department is responsible for nuclear fuel and core design, core management, operational support, reload safety analysis, and reload licensing to support two BWR nuclear units. The successful candidate will develop and deliver engineering products supporting nuclear fuel and core design, reload licensing, reactor operation, transient and accident analyses, and technical evaluations of existing and advanced BWR fuel technologies. The role provides significant ownership of technical products and decisions throughout the reload design, licensing, and operating cycle. SNC’s Nuclear Fuel & Analysis department also offers outstanding opportunities for innovation in the realm of nuclear fuel and core design.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Education
- Bachelor of Science in Engineering from an ABET accredited institution is required OR
- Professional Engineer (P.E.) license/certification required OR
- Accredited undergraduate degree in Applied Science, Mathematics, AND a Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from an ABET accredited program (Nuclear Engineering Analyst).
- A bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering is preferred.
Experience
The following experiences and qualifications are preferred:
- Experience in nuclear fuel engineering, reactor physics, core design, core management, reload safety analysis, or reload licensing.
- Commercial nuclear power plant experience including reactor engineering or plant engineering at a BWR or PWR.
- Experience associated with the systems, design, and analysis of BWRs or PWRs.
- Experience with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy or Global Nuclear Fuel reactor physics, fuel design, or safety analysis methods.
- Experience with CASMO/SIMULATE or comparable lattice physics and core simulator methods.
Candidates at all experience levels will be considered. For entry-level candidates, relevant internships, cooperative education assignments, graduate research, reactor physics coursework, research reactor experience, or other applicable nuclear experience may be considered.
(Note: The position title and level will be determined based on individual’s education and experience level.)
Desired Skills
- Ability and willingness to develop expertise in reactor physics, nuclear fuel, core design, reload safety analyses, and licensing.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to apply sound engineering principles to complex technical issues affecting nuclear safety, reliability, and plant operation.
- Ability to develop sound technical conclusions, clearly document their bases, and make timely engineering decisions within assigned responsibilities.
- Ability to work effectively with fuel vendors and multidisciplinary teams, including Reactor Engineering, operations, licensing, safety analysis, and site engineering organizations.
- Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical information to a variety of audiences.
Desired Behavioral Attributes
- Superior Performance: Demonstrates a commitment to nuclear safety, quality, teamwork, technical excellence, and continuous improvement.
- Total Commitment: Supports the success of employees, customers, shareholders, and the communities SNC serves.
- Initiative: Proactively identifies issues, takes ownership of assignments, and works effectively with appropriate independence.
- Accountability: Takes responsibility for technical decisions, behaviors, commitments, and results.
MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
- Perform reactor physics and core design analyses required to design, license, load, and operate BWR reactor cores.
- Perform and/or oversee reload safety analysis and licensing activities, including evaluation of analysis assumptions, operating limits, and licensing requirements.
- Monitor operating cores to confirm reactor performance, fuel exposure, and applicable analysis and licensing assumptions.
- Provide fuel engineering support to site organizations during normal operation, outages, startup, and other plant activities.
- Coordinate and support the cycle reload process, including reload design meetings, special analyses, exposure accounting, cycle management reports, and control blade and reactor component management.
- Perform analysis and vendor oversight to support storage of spent nuclear fuel in wet and dry storage in accordance with applicable regulations and licensing documents.
- Collaborate with site organizations, nuclear fuel vendors, and other engineering groups to resolve fuel- and core-related technical issues and evaluate applicable vendor products and methodologies.
- Serve as a member of the Emergency Response Organization.