Fuel Materials Scientist

Position Title: Principal Fuel Materials Scientist

Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Principal Fuel Materials Scientist opportunity.

Job Responsibilities

• Experimental Architecture: Design and execute rigorous experimental campaigns to address qualification data gaps in the thermomechanical properties of the CVI SiC matrix under simulated extreme conditions.
• Vendor Campaign Oversight: Contribute directly to planning of fuel irradiation campaigns, make precise modifications to existing fuel specifications based on empirical data, and oversee external fuel fabrication with strategic vendors.
• In-House Capability Development: Lead the strategic roadmap for bringing critical fuel fabrication steps in-house. Develop and refine operational methodologies for sol-gel processes, TRISO particle coating, binder jet 3D printing, and internal CVI capabilities. Architect the phased transition plan from small-scale laboratory fabrication to commercial-volume process scale-up.
• Characterization: Develop and validate parallel fuel characterization methods to ensure internal processes meet strict regulatory standards.
• Materials Qualification Basis: Define the material attributes, process parameters, characterization methods, sampling plans, and acceptance criteria that demonstrate TRISO particles and ceramic-matrix fuel lots are representative, reproducible, and suitable for irradiation and safety-test qualification credit.

Job Qualifications

• Education: Advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Materials Science, Nuclear Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a strictly related highly technical discipline.
• TRISO & Ceramic Expertise: 5+ years of experience in nuclear-fuel, coated-particle, ceramic, or composite materials characterization and testing. Direct knowledge of kernel and coating-layer attributes, SiC or ceramic-matrix processing, defect mechanisms, microstructure, thermophysical properties, irradiation behavior, and high-temperature degradation.
• Method Qualification: Demonstrated ability to develop, validate, and transfer destructive and nondestructive characterization methods, including calibration, measurement uncertainty, detection limits, repeatability, reproducibility, and reference standards.
• Sampling & Lot Acceptance: Experience defining material lots, statistically defensible sampling plans, acceptance criteria, defect populations, and data-reduction methods for heterogeneous or low-defect-rate fuel products.
• Nuclear QA & Traceability: Experience executing qualification work under ASME NQA-1, 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix B, or equivalent nuclear QA controls with specimen identity, chain of custody, data pedigree, nonconformance, and configuration management.
• Specification & Scale-Up: Proven ability to translate process-structure-property relationships into controlled material and manufacturing specifications suitable for representative fuel production.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• Direct applied experience developing chemical vapor deposition/infiltration (CVD/CVI) systems, sol-gel chemistry, or advanced binder jet 3D printing processes.
• Track record of successfully scaling complex materials manufacturing processes from R&D laboratory scale to commercial production.
• Deep materials science expertise derived from parallel, extreme-environment industries transitioning into the nuclear sector.

Job Details

• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary Range: $155-175K
• Location: Oak Ridge, TN (Onsite)

About Protingent

Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation - from software and aerospace to AI, clean tech, medical devices, and connected technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.