Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Engineer, Nuclear Heat Exchangers

📍 Location: Texas, Florida, Maryland, Washington, or remote

Salary Range: $85,000-$210,000, based on experience and equity desires

The Role

We are seeking a CFD Engineer focused on nuclear heat exchangers to support the analysis, design optimization, and performance validation of thermal systems used in advanced reactors and nuclear facilities. You will build and validate CFD models, interpret results for design decisions, and work closely with thermal, mechanical, and safety teams.

What You’ll Do

Develop CFD models for heat exchangers and thermal-hydraulic components (single and two-phase where applicable)

Perform sensitivity studies and design optimization (pressure drop, heat transfer, fouling margins, etc)

Support model verification and validation with test data and engineering correlations

Partner with mechanical design teams on geometry updates, manufacturability constraints, and design tradeoffs

Document analysis methods, assumptions, and results for internal review and external stakeholders

Contribute to safety and licensing deliverables where CFD supports key claims

Inform need for prototypes and test facilities as necessary

Qualifications

  • BS/MS/PhD in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or related field
  • 3+ years performing CFD in thermal systems (nuclear experience strongly preferred, decades of experience would tend to place higher onto listed pay range).
  • Proficiency with common CFD tools (ANSYS Fluent/CFX, STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, or similar)
  • Strong fundamentals in heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and numerical methods

Preferred

  • Experience with reactor thermal-hydraulics, sodium/salt/CO2 systems, or high-temperature heat exchangers
  • Familiarity with QA-controlled analysis environments and documentation rigor, especially NQA-1

Why This Role

  • Work on hard, high-consequence thermal problems that drive reactor performance and safety

Benefits

Competitive salary • 401(k) with match • Health, dental & vision insurance • Equity • Relocation Assistance