Duties

As a Senior Reactor Engineer, provides thorough technical assessments of engineering aspects of reactor systems involving modeling and simulation of the design, analysis, fabrication, operation, maintenance and testing of reactor systems and components. Specific areas of technical assessments will involve structural and component performance and dynamics of mechanical systems, using multi-physics and artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms and data analysis. Evaluates the technical issues and resolutions of application of digital twins, big data engineering, domain expertise (e.g., data cleansing, data management, analytics, visualization and engineering), statistics and machine learning.

Duties include (but not limited to):

As the senior technical expert, provides thorough technical assessments of engineering aspects of reactor systems involving modeling and simulation of the design, analysis, fabrication, operation, maintenance and testing of reactor systems and components. Specific areas of technical assessments will involve modeling and simulation of structural and component performance and dynamics of mechanical systems, using multi-physics and artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms and data analysis and/or involve reactor operations, inspection, and monitoring, using multi-physics and artificial intelligence/machine learning algorithms and data analysis.

As the senior expert, evaluates the technical issues and resolutions of application of digital twins, big data engineering, domain expertise (e.g., data cleansing, data management, analytics, visualization and engineering), statistics and machine learning.

Interprets and consolidates complex and diverse technical data, views and recommendations into concise technical bases and positions to be developed into an overall technical resolution.

Identifies and promptly communicates to cognizant supervisor and may provide recommendations for addressing concerns about reactor safety and regulatory burden.

Recognizes issues in employee's areas of review that require expertise beyond that normally available within the branch. Recommends to management the type of evaluation or assistance needed; for example, assistance from another division or from a contractor.

Serves as the senior program manager in conducting, organizing, directing, and coordinating major research activities to evaluate engineering issues pertaining to the reactor systems and components.

Gives expert testimony or advice to the Commission, NRC boards, ACRS, and NRC stakeholders on engineering aspects of reactor systems involving modeling and simulation of the design, analysis, fabrication, operation, maintenance and testing of reactor systems and components, related to nuclear safety.

Writes and directs the writing of technical analysis to describe and support technical resolution.

Participates in the technical development and administrative processing of research programs, contracts and regulatory guides, standards, reports, regulations and value/impact statements.

Reviews and evaluates plans and proposals submitted by laboratories, universities, or other organizations for undertaking research efforts under contract and recommends program scope and awarding of contracts.

Reviews with technical staff and contractor personnel, the problems, accomplishments, milestones, and the usefulness of the results to the NRC; and based on such reviews and evaluations, clarifies for contractors technical issues such as loading definitions and categories, adequacy of safety margins, etc and prepares recommendations for changes consistent with NRC objectives.

Compiles and reviews comments received from public or proposed consensus standards and codes.

Confers with technical representatives of organizations having interests and responsibilities in the materials engineering aspects of nuclear power plants.

Serves as senior agency representative cognizant of and responsible for expressing the interests of the NRC on ASME, ASTM, ANSI or other national standards committees of working and review levels developing standards for use as a basis for licensing decisions. Attends meetings considers status of draft standards for submittal to the NRC review process. Reviews, comments, recommends changes, and coordinates the NRC review of proposed national standards as a potential basis for nuclear facility licensing decisions. Resolves conflicting comments and forwards NRC comments to standards working committees, national standards committees at working and review levels.

Prepares response to questions or comments from public or other government agencies regarding standards or issues in area of expertise.

Makes presentations to the ACRS and its subcommittees and internal NRC review committees.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• This is a Drug Testing position.
• U.S. Citizenship Required
• Background investigation leading to a clearance is required for new hires.

You must meet the qualifications for this position by no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Qualifications

In order to qualify for this position, you must have at least one year of specialized experience at the next lower grade level (14) in the Federal service or equivalent experience in the private or public sector.

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE is defined as experience that demonstrates a knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, and/or evaluation of nuclear plant components, structures, and/or facilities to understand the value and impact of the requirements of proposed standards.

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:

1. Demonstrated knowledge of the design, construction, operation, inspection, and evaluation of nuclear plant components, structures, and facilities to understand the value and impact of the requirements of proposed standards.

2. Demonstrated knowledge of NRC's regulations, principles and procedures, regulatory guides, and industry codes and standards applicable to the safety of reactor systems, structures, and components.

3. Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and control complex engineering, technical, and inspection projects.

4. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a broad range of audiences on technical issues, challenges, and resolutions.

A description of how you possess the specialized experience as well as how you meet the qualifications desired in an ideal candidate should be addressed in your resume.

Education

To qualify for these positions, you must meet BOTH basic education/professional knowledge requirements that apply to Federal engineering positions at all grade levels AND the specialized experience requirements outlined above no later than 30 calendar days after the closing date of this announcement and before placement in the position.

Candidates for Federal Government professional engineering positions must meet certain basic professional knowledge requirements. Generally these knowledge requirements are met by having a bachelor's or higher degree in a relevant professional engineering discipline (e.g., mechanical, metallurgical, materials, nuclear, structural, chemical, electrical) from a school of engineering with at least one professional engineering curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). However, if you do not possess such a professional engineering degree, you may still satisfy the professional knowledge requirements if you have current Professional Engineer (P.E.) registration in one of the relevant disciplines from any U.S. State or Territory; or if you successfully passed an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) written examination administered by a State Board of Engineering Examiners; or if you have either a related professional degree or at least 60 semester hours of specified engineering-related college courses COMBINED WITH at least a year of professional engineering work experience performed under professional engineer supervision and guidance.

Note: Engineering technology degrees are not generally qualifying unless supplemented by other evidence of the individual's professional knowledge (e.g., current P.E. license or EIT examination results, as discussed above).

More detailed information about these alternatives for meeting the knowledge requirements for Federal professional engineering jobs are described in the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Qualification Standards Operating Manual which may be accessed at the following Web site:

https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/files/allprofessional-engineering-positions-0800.pdf

You must include an unofficial or official copy of your college and/or university transcripts with your application.

Additional information

The duty location of this position is Rockville, MD (Headquarters). In general, employees are expected to be in the office at a minimum of 4 days per pay period. Telework schedules, including full-time telework, are approved, on a case-by-case basis. If selected, telework will be determined in accordance with Agency policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement, if applicable.