Fuels Engineer

Deploy the next generation of energy infrastructure with Applied Atomics

Applied Atomics delivers firm, clean electricity with proven technology. We design, build, and operate nuclear plants directly alongside the facilities they power. With no reactor science or new fuel to invent, we have no reason to stall. We are the first fully integrated nuclear power provider built to deploy now.

Founded by a team of engineers and operators who built the launch sites, test complexes, and factories behind SpaceX, designed and commercialized nuclear reactors, and ran billion-dollar asset portfolios, the team is now focused on clean power deployment. Applied Atomics is backed by Alpaca VC, Transition, and Morpheus Ventures.

About the role

Applied Atomics is seeking a Fuels Engineer to support the design, analysis, and development of the nuclear fuel system for our next generation reactor. As an early technical hire, you will work closely with our nuclear engineering team to evaluate commercial fuel designs, perform fuel performance modeling, assess material behavior under irradiation, and support the integration of fuel into the overall reactor core design.

As an early technical hire, you will interface closely with external fuel suppliers, understand fabrication and QA constraints, and translate commercial fuel design data into internal models and design decisions.

This role is ideal for someone who understands commercial LWR fuel behavior, enjoys multi-disciplinary engineering, and wants to help build and qualify a FOAK (first-of-a-kind) system based on proven nuclear fuel technology.

Why we need you

We are transitioning nuclear energy from a theoretical science into a practical reality, and that requires practical problem-solvers. We need engineers who are eager to take direct responsibility for their work and see it through to completion. Your role will be critical in transforming complex designs into safe, reliable, and operational power plants that will operate for decades to come.

What you will do

Fuel Design & Development

• Support the design of the reactor's fuel system, including fuel form, pellet/compact/slug geometry, cladding, and standard assembly geometries.
• Evaluate fuel thermal and mechanical behavior including pellet-clad interaction, fission gas release, swelling, densification, creep, corrosion, and cladding oxidation.
• Analyze fuel performance under stead-state, transient, and accident conditions using validated models and industry methods.
• Coordinate with commercial nuclear fuel suppliers to obtain design data, fabrication constraints, mechanical tolerance, and irradiation performance information.
• Incorporate suppliers inputs into Applied Atomics' internal designs and integration studies.

Fuel Performance Modeling

• Build and run fuel performance models using tools such as BISON, FRAPCON/FRAPTRAN, FAST, Falcon, or similar.
• Analyze fuel burnup, isotopic depletion, fuel cycle length, and end-of-life behavior.
• Validate and benchmark models using available data and support Verification & Validation (V&V) efforts.
• Materials & Irradiation Behavior
• Characterize and assess cladding and structural materials.
• Evaluate mechanical limits including stress/strain profiles, ductility margins, etc.
• Support materials qualification efforts and irradiation test campaigns as needed.

Testing, Data, & Qualification

• Assist with development of test plans for fuel samples, irradiation capsules, and post-irradiation examination.
• Interface with external suppliers to understand fuel fabrication processes, QA/QC pathways, material specifications, and qualification documentation.
• Gather and interpret data from national labs, test facilities, and suppliers to validate models and inform safety analysis inputs.
• Prepare technical reports and documentation for design decisions, integration reviews, and licensing support.

Core Integration & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work with the engineering teams to ensure consistent coupling between fuel performance, neutronics, and thermal hydraulics.
• Collaborate with mechanical, thermal-fluids, and reactor design teams on fuel assembly geometry and manufacturability.
• Serve as a technical liaison between Applied Atomics and commercial fuel vendors to ensure compatibility of supplier designs with internal core and system-level requirements.
• Support trade studies for enrichment levels, burnup targets, cladding options, and fabrication routes.

Additional Responsibilities

• Take end-to-end responsibility for your projects, from initial concepts through to deployment and ongoing operations
• Partner closely with our multidisciplinary team of experienced engineers to tackle complex, cross-functional challenges
• Deliver high-quality work steadily and safely, ensuring every solution meets our rigorous quality standards while also for solving scalability issues in the future
• Continually improve our internal engineering processes, documentation, and tools to support the team as we scale

What you bring to the table

Need to haves

• Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or related field.
• 4+ years of relevant industry experience.
• Experience with nuclear fuel behavior and/or material science under irradiation.
• Familiarity with fuel performance or nuclear materials tools (BISON, FRAPTRAN, MOOSE, FAST, or similar).
• Understanding of neutronics and thermal-hydraulics principles as they relate to fuel performance.
• Strong analytical, communication, and documentation skills.
• Self-starter and comfortable working in a fast-paced, hardware-focused environment.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Material Science, or related field.
• Direct experience with commercial fuel assembly performance, enrichment strategies, and burnup behavior.
• Experience with cladding behavior modeling (creep, corrosion, oxidation, hydriding, and mechanical integrity limits).
• Familiarity with fuel fabrication processes and QA/QC systems.
• Experience interfacing with fuel suppliers, test reactors, PIE facilities, or national lab programs.
• Background supporting safety basis, technical specifications, or commercial nuclear licensing activities.
• Experience supporting FOAK or modified LWR designs a plus.

Benefits & Perks for Eligible Employees

• Substantial incentive stock plan for all full-time employees.
• Medical / Vision / Dental (details forthcoming).
• Flexible PTO policy.
• Hybrid and remote work options depending on role.
• Other benefits to be announced at offer stage.

• We are unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.
• This position involves access to technology that is subject to U.S. export controls.
• Any job offer made will be contingent upon the applicant's capacity to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls.

Remote pay range $138,342—$195,322 USD