Senior Nuclear System Thermal-Hydraulics Analyst

About newcleo

Since launching in 2021 newcleo has quickly established itself as innovator in the field of nuclear energy. newcleo is working to design, build, and operate Gen-IV Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs) that are cooled by liquid lead and fuelled by reprocessed nuclear waste.

Through an innovative combination of existing and proven technologies, and by reviving a nuclear industry model based on the manufacture and multi-recycling of Mixed Oxide fuel, newcleo aims to close the nuclear fuel cycle while safely producing clean, affordable, and practically inexhaustible energy required for low carbon economies.

With a EUR 70m group turnover in 2024, EUR 645m of private funding and over 100 partnerships and collaborations across the nuclear industry, the growth of the newcleo group is supported through the targeted acquisition of key companies with strong capabilities in nuclear engineering, manufacturing, and waste management.

Through its workforce of over 900 highly qualified employees across France, the U.S., the UK, Italy, Switzerland and Slovakia, newcleo is not only developing and delivering the skills and services required for the group’s own ambitious project timelines, but also supporting the development of Small Modular Reactor supply chains in Europe and beyond.

Role description

In the framework of our LFR projects in France, Slovakia and US, we are looking for a senior nuclear system thermal-hydraulics analysts to perform studies in support of reactor design and safety assessment.

You will be part of the Engineering Department, particularly of the Plant Thermal Hydraulics Unit. You will closely collaborate with the other Engineering units as well as with the other scientific departments.

As a senior thermal-hydraulics analyst, you will be responsible for execution and the coordination of technical studies, the follow-up of externalized activities, the drafting of project deliverables, the reporting of costs and schedules.

Main activities

• Conceptualizing, modelling, and analysing thermal hydraulic systems, with particular emphasis on steady-state and transient modelling of nuclear reactor primary and secondary cooling systems, both in normal and off-normal conditions, mainly by using 1D / lumped-parameter computer codes and possibly other thermal-hydraulic analysis tools such as CFD codes, both for design purposes and for safety assessment.


• Supporting the design activities of the various components, specifically the heat exchangers directly interacting with the lead pool


• Supporting thermal-hydraulic code V&V activities, and helping identifying validation gaps and R&D needs.


• Collaborating cross-functionally to define design requirements, and providing technical feedback to quick-iterating design teams.


• Supervising the studies of junior team members, participating in the definition of each activity (kick-off) and selecting the appropriate calculation tools and analysis methods to ensure timely and effective results


• Mentoring young engineers to quickly become efficient while fostering knowledge sharing and capitalization within the unit


• Drafting and reviewing project deliverables, such as calculation notes, design specifications, technical reports, etc.

Desired qualifications

Education

• MSc in Nuclear Engineering (Master or PhD is a plus) or other relevant domains (mechanical engineering, etc.)

Experience

• Robust experience in the fields of thermal-hydraulics of single-phase and two-phase flows and heat transfer for nuclear applications and fluid systems engineering.


• Sound knowledge of nuclear reactor safety principles


• Proven experience with at least one of the 1D system thermal-hydraulic codes typically used for nuclear reactor safety assessment, e.g. RELAP5, CATHARE, ATHLET.


• Expertise in CFD is a plus


• Experience with liquid metal reactors is a strong plus


• Strong analytical skills


• Ability to participate in team meetings and give technical presentations


• Proficient in programming languages (Python, C++,...) for data analysis, post-processing or tool developments

Language Proficiency

• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English (CEFR C1+)


• Fluent in Italian (CEFR C1+), French is a plus