Part-time Advanced Nuclear Fuels Engineer

Part-Time Advanced Nuclear Fuels Engineer

This position is part of the Amentum support to the NASA EM32 Advanced Metals Processing & Technologies Team under the Engineering Services and Science Capability Augmentation (ESSCA) contract to the NASA MSFC Engineering Directorate. The following position involves nuclear fuel expertise to support NASA's Space Nuclear Propulsion (SNP) Project. The opening emphasizes on consulting in regard to research, design, and testing of materials of interest at elevated temperatures and under a hot hydrogen environment. Position is part-time and has the option of being remote.

Responsibilities:

• Offers expertise in advanced nuclear fuels for space reactors, including addressing technology gaps and paths forward for NASA Space Nuclear Propulsion.
• Support ongoing growth of radiological labs with respect to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and MSFC Radiation Safety Officer. This involves health physics expertise to comply with federal radiological regulations.
• Works with other researchers to create fuel development plans and execute miscellaneous research activities with other collaborators from DOE, private sector, and academia.
• Supports synthesis of materials of interest for space nuclear propulsion including nuclear fuels, refractory metals, and ceramic materials.
• Presents research findings including scientific data to peers, managers, and outside collaborators.
• Ability to interact with senior level management and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to write research plans, technical reports, and research proposals to increase collaborations internally, with private sector, and academia.

Minimum Requirements:

• Master's degree in materials science, nuclear engineering, health physics, or closely related field (recent grads are welcome to apply). Typically, educational requirements are the equivalent of a BS with at least 5 years' experience.

Essential Functions:

Work Environment: General office environment (50%), nuclear materials laboratory environment (50%). Requires ability to interact effectively with co-workers, managers, and clients. Requires ability to provide clear, concise, and accurate communications, both verbally and in writing (50%).

Physical Requirements: Requires sitting for extended periods of time in meetings with peers, management, and with our client at MSFC facilities to discuss technical issues (25%). Requires sitting at a desk to write reports and perform engineering task activities (25%). Requires standing, sitting and walking in a lab environment with hazards that may require wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, hearing protection, foot protection, and gloves to perform some operations (50%).

Work will be performed on-site at NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center (100%). Use of stairs or elevators can gain access to buildings. Equipment and Machines: Requires ability to operate a personal computer, telephone, task related software, and other general office equipment (25%). Requires the ability to operate laboratory equipment such as noted above under preferred requirements (50%).

Attendance: This is a part time position requiring approximately 10 hours per week. Regular attendance is a necessity and adequate arrangements for delegating duties during absences are required.

Other Essential Functions: Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, and to make rational decisions, and to exercise good judgment (100%). Grooming and dress must be appropriate for the position and must not impose a safety risk/hazard to the employee or others. Proof of U.S. Citizenship is required.