Mechanical Engineer (Valve and Piping Systems)

Company: X-Energy, LLC
Location: Rockville
Posted on: January 30, 2025

Job Description:

X-energy LLC conducts a thorough recruiting process and will never issue offers without interview to discuss qualifications and responsibilities. All applications will be submitted via our company career page, www.x-energy.com/careers/ . We will never ask you to provide payment information as part of the recruiting process. If anyone claiming to represent X-energy directs you in a manner otherwise, please contact us at www.x-energy.com/contact-us .

Job Description
X-energy is seeking professionals to join our Xe-100 Systems Development team in the role of Mechanical Engineer II. This role is responsible for the engineering design and development of mechanical systems, structures, and components of the Xe-100 Main Power Systems (MPS, includes Reactor System, Steam Generator System, Helium Circulator System, and Reactor Cavity Cooling System). This role will focus specifically on the development of the valves, piping, and other flow control components that are within the system boundaries of the Main Power Systems. This includes concept development, evaluation of concepts, analysis of systems, structures, and components for their ability to perform their intended function, and ensuring they meet all technical specifications and requirements. The role will ensure the development of the systems and components through production including any necessary prototyping, testing, qualification, and commissioning.

Job Profile Tasks/Responsibilities

• Support team members with the execution of the core tasks and responsibilities listed in the Job Profile Task/Responsibilities under guided supervision.
• Coordinate with engineering team members, partners, and suppliers to facilitate the convergence of efforts, allow design closure, provide design assurance, and deliver high quality engineering work products.
• Develop mechanical/physical concepts, design and support development of processes to create or identify structures, systems, and components (SSCs) for use in nuclear products or facilities with a focus on nuclear safety.
• Identify, collect, and document applicable requirements, interfaces, design basis and criteria by coordinating with key stakeholders/systems engineers and support identifying applicable industry codes and standards and the direction of project leads and systems engineers.
• Planning and performing the analysis required to assess aspects of the SSCs to ensure they can perform their intended functions and meet technical specifications and design requirements.
• Perform computations utilizing hand calculations and analytical tools for structural, thermal, hydraulic, and other scoping calculations as required at the direction of project leads and systems engineers to ensure SSCs can meet technical requirements.
• The role may include specialization in one or more of the following areas:
  • Mechanical Design
    • Develop innovative mechanical solutions to refine and deploy concepts, technologies, and designs associated with X-energy developed reactors, including pressure vessels and piping, reactor internals, nuclear fuel, and high temperature materials such as graphite.
    • Integrate design activities across engineering team members, partners, and suppliers and perform supporting scoping and sizing calculations to downselect design features to meet design requirements using guidance from consensus codes and standards.
    • Create and maintain CAD-generated engineering models of reactor SSCs.
    • Structural Design
      • Perform and assist structural analysis for systems, structures, and components of X-energy developed reactors, including pressure vessels and piping, reactor internals, nuclear fuel, and high temperature materials such as graphite.
      • Use engineering tools, including finite element analysis (FEA) simulation software, hand calculations, and engineering judgment, to assess stress, deformation, degradation behavior, and lifetime mechanical performance of these nuclear reactor components.
      • Thermal Hydraulics
        • Responsible for providing heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and particulate mechanics analysis to support the design of various X-energy developed reactors and supporting subsystems.
        • Responsible for development, testing and verification of CFD models to support design and analysis which will form part of the reactor licensing basis (steady state and transient conditions, design basis events, anomalies, etc.).
        • Thermosystems
          • Perform system-level thermodynamic analyses and process design using system-level simulation codes to support design iterations of X-energy developed reactors and supporting subsystems.
          • Support the sizing and analysis of components including heat exchangers, pumps, circulators, and turbomachinery.
          • Support the development of reactor and plant control philosophy and implement in plant models, simulations, and digital twins.
            • Support the assessment of SSCs for manufacturability as well as assembly and integration considerations at the direction of project leads.
            • Write and develop design documentation including design basis documents, technical reports, calculations, and drawings in accordance with applicable procedures.
            • Develop Verification and Validation (V&V) plans for analytical tools and support qualification of toolset.
            • Perform work in accordance with X-energy quality procedures for design and configuration management to ensure project quality requirements are met.
            • Provide independent reviews and acceptance reviews of engineering deliverables and data.
            • Maintain professional demeanor and behavior at all times in all forms of communication.
            • Perform other duties as assigned by manager.
              
              Job Profile Minimum Qualifications
              
              • Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, or related engineering discipline (e.g., nuclear aerospace, chemical, etc.) from an ABET accredited university required.
              • Typically, three years of experience in an engineering role required. A master's degree in engineering or related field (may include a combination of experience obtained through an academic institution, e.g., design projects, research, or design teams, as well as professional experience) may be in lieu of two years of experience. Previous experience at X-energy exceeding performance standards may be in lieu of years of experience.
                
              • Experience with the following is preferred:
                
                o Commercial nuclear power plant operations
                
                o NRC regulations and licensing requirements for safety-related systems
                
                o Design using ASME BPVC, B31.1, and other industry standards
                
                o Valve selection, sizing, and specification development
                
              • Proficiency with engineering hand calculations is required.
                
              • Experience and/or knowledge in a minimum of one of the following areas:
                
                • Thermodynamics
                  • Use of 1D flow-solvers performing heat/energy and mass balance (e.g., RELAP, Flownex, NPSS, SINDA/FLUINT, Flomaster, or similar).
                  • Mechanical Design
                    • Designing and developing mechanical or fluid systems, assemblies, or components.
                    • One plus years of demonstrated hands-on experience developing and delivering hardware or manufacturing processes in a production environment is required. May include industry internship experience, hobby, or participation in collegiate engineering projects such as: Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Design Build Fly, Rocket Club, etc.
                    • Hardware ownership including manufacturing and testing oversight.
                    • Use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and product lifecycle management (PLM) software. (e.g. UG/NX, SolidWorks, Pro-Engineer, Teamcenter, Windchill, or similar).
                    • Structural Analysis
                      • Analytical experience with structural analysis hand calculations and structural FEA software programs (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS, NASTRAN, FEMAP, CAESAR, ROHR, LS-DYNA, PIPESTRESS).
                      • Thermal Hydraulics
                        • Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis codes (e.g., STAR-CCM+, Fluent, or similar).
                        • Mechanical Process Equipment
                          • Piping, Ducting, HVAC, Fire Suppression, Pumps, Valves
                            
                            Location: 530 Gaither Road, Rockville MD
                            Work Site Expectations: 4-5 days a week in office
                            
                            Travel Expectations: up to 10% as needed
                            
                            Hours: Standard office schedule are 8:00am-5:00pm ET, Mon-Fri
                            
                            Compensation
                            
                            As required by Maryland and other applicable state law, X Energy, LLC (X-energy) lists the expected compensation range for a publicly advertised job opportunity based upon the job requirements (e.g. education/training, experience, skill sets, etc.). Individual candidates who meet the job requirements for the posted position will be offered a salary within this range based on their respective levels of education/training, experience, and other qualifications unique to them. Salary ranges may vary based on the specific office location and region referenced in the posting to take into consideration differences in cost of living and may not be reflective of all regions. Please note that compensation ranges listed for US job postings reflect base salary only and do not include benefits or other incentives.
                            
                            A reasonable estimate for this position at the level of experience required is:
                            Level II: $102,960 to $131,560; Level III: $109,890 to $140,415
                            
                            Position Job Classification
                            Full time - Exempt
                            
                            Benefits
                            
                            X Energy, LLC offers a robust benefits package that includes a 401K plan with an employer match, Medical/Dental /Vision Insurance, Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off, and a Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Development policy that supports the continuing education of our employees.
                            
                            An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.
                            
                            X Energy, LLC participates in E-Verify. Please visit the links below for more information about E-Verify and the protection of your Right to Work.
                            
                            Right To Work Link: If you have the right to work, don't let anyone take it away (e-verify.gov)
                            
                            E-Verify Participation Link: E-Verify Participation Poster English and Spanish

Keywords: X-Energy, LLC, Columbia , Mechanical Engineer (Valve and Piping Systems), Other , Rockville, Maryland