Nuclear Remote Systems Engineer

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Nuclear Remote Systems Engineer to work on our Hot Cell Instrumentation and Data team. Our team works a 4x10 schedule located out of our Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC) with every Friday off.

This position is located at our Materials and Fuels Complex, which hosts the core of the U.S. nuclear research and development capabilities with a diverse array of facilities designed for remote work on highly irradiated fuels and materials. A new fuel idea can be designed, fabricated, tested, and analyzed at MFC to better understand the effects of irradiation. Many groups, such as universities, industry partners, other national laboratories, international research organizations, and other federal agencies are working at MFC.

The Nuclear Remote Systems Engineer develops, operates, and maintains remotely operated mechanical systems and hot cell equipment in support of advanced nuclear research at the Materials and Fuels Complex (MFC). This role collaborates closely with researchers, technicians, operators, and scientists across the full equipment lifecycle from conceptual design and mockups through fabrication oversight, installation, and long-term configuration management.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the development and production of remotely operated process equipment/systems for use in the harsh environments represented in hot-cell and glove-box applications. Support of the operation and maintenance of remotely operated process equipment/systems and technical baseline.
• Provide imaginative and practical engineering solutions to research related programmatic issues and challenges where highly specialized equipment solutions are required to be designed (typically one-of-kind design).
• Design and development of new processes and handling equipment. Design systems, equipment, and fixturing, for remote applications.
• Modify existing process equipment/systems to support new missions. Adapt commercially available equipment for remote applications. Install and qualify (Mockup) of new Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) and test equipment & Instrumentation.
• Serve as a technical interface between nuclear facility, principal investigators, projects and programs.
• Support research through process development, operation and data analysis of nuclear fuel and material measurements in Nuclear Facilities.
• Interact with research personnel to establish experiment specific requirements for remote processes and examinations.
• Complete design reviews and verification.
• Configuration management of assigned systems and Engineering Change (EC) process.
• May be responsible for procurement, quality level determination, scheduling, and cost estimating for small projects.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Use scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Identify complex problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

Minimum Requirements:

• Level 3: Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, or a directly related engineering field from an ABET-accredited institution or other related field and 5 years of experience. Master's and 2 years of experience. PhD and 2 years of experience.
• Level 4: Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, nuclear engineering, or a directly related engineering field from an ABET-accredited institution or other related field and 9 years of experience. Master's and 6 years of experience. PhD and 4 years of experience.
• Must be a US Citizen and have the ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a DOE "L" clearance.
• Experience in development testing, electro-mechanical design, fabrication support, mock-up qualification testing, installation support, and acceptance testing.

The Ideal Candidate Will Have:

• Demonstrated ability to operate within regulated, procedure-driven environments where safety, compliance, and documentation rigor are paramount. Experience in the DOE complex, nuclear facilities, or similarly regulated industries is a plus.
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills with demonstrated ability to translate effectively between operations staff and research scientists, adjusting depth and style as needed
• Advanced proficiency in Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) with demonstrated experience applying GD&T principles to drawing creation, tolerance stack-up analysis, and design for manufacturability.

Job Information:

• The pay range for this position is: Level 3 ($95,256 - $195,288/ Level 4 ($114,360 - $234,336). At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
• Multi-Level: This is a multi-level posting and you will be placed at the appropriate level dependent on depth and breadth of proven experience and skills.
• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.
  

Physical Requirements:
While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, and work in an office and laboratory environment. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to keyboard or type, handle materials, manipulate tools, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.