Senior Computational Reactor Physicist

Requisition Id 13190 

Overview: 

Nuclear energy found a home at Oak Ridge National Laboratory 80 years ago and never left. Today we build on our legacy of innovation, bridging from world-leading scientific discoveries to market-ready nuclear technologies. With more than 240 researchers and technical professionals, the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division (NEFCD) is a global leader in integrating the expertise of many disciplines to develop and demonstrate exciting new nuclear fuels, nuclear power systems, and the numerous supporting technologies the enable efficient, safe and secure delivery of the benefits of nuclear – today, tomorrow, and always.   

We are seeking a Senior Computational Reactor Physicist who will support the Nuclear Energy and Fuel Cycle Division in the Fusion and Fission Energy and Science Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).  

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an extraordinary 80-year history of solving the nation’s biggest problems. We have a dedicated and creative staff of over 6,000 people! Our vision for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) is to cultivate an environment and practices that foster diversity in ideas and in the people across the organization, as well as to ensure ORNL is recognized as a workplace of choice. These elements are critical for enabling the execution of ORNL’s broader mission to accelerate scientific discoveries and their translation into energy, environment, and security solutions for the nation.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Lead and develop scientific research in advanced reactor physics modeling and simulation through novel methods and algorithm design for CPU and GPU architectures

• Interact effectively across organization structures with staff scientists and engineers and be an effective representative of ORNL and their research to sponsors and the professional community

• Lead and contribute to new reactor physics research proposals and conduct world-class research that is published in peer-reviewed journals

• Mentor early career staff, postdocs and students

• Serve as a role model for integrity and safety in the conduct of research, mentoring of early career staff, and engagement with scientific and professional societies

• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering or a related field

• A minimum of 6 years of relevant research experience outside of Ph.D

Preferred Qualifications:

• Expertise in software development (C++ preferred) for advanced reactor modeling and simulation, as demonstrated through research and associated publications, with focus on one or more of the following: Monte Carlo transport, deterministic transport, depletion, multigroup cross section processing, and various geometry models (CAD, unstructured mesh, CSG, etc)

• Familiatry with established nuclear systems analysis software (such as SCALE, VERA, MCNP, Serpent, Griffin, and MOOSE computational software).

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory 

• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs

Special Requirements:

• This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain an HSPD-12 PIV badge.  

• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

Benefits at ORNL:

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov or call 1.866.963.9545.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.