MPR Associates, Inc. (MPR), a thriving multi-discipline, specialty engineering services and consulting firm, is actively seeking capable and motivated Lead/ Principal Nuclear Engineers to join our team. If you are seeking a unique, challenging, and rewarding career opportunity, MPR may be the right company for you.

Founded in 1964, MPR has a wide and growing client base in the fields of power and energy, federal services, and health and life sciences. We work throughout the United States as well as internationally. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, we also have offices in East Lyme, Connecticut, Burlington, Massachusetts, and Salt Lake City, Utah. MPR makes challenging projects successful, delivering safe and reliable technical solutions across the entire project or product life-cycle to benefit our clients and society as a whole. We hire the best and brightest, which results in a high-performance culture built on trust and respect, making MPR an exceptional place to work.

General Job Description

MPR maintains a broad portfolio of work that provides protection from unexpected changes in an industry or a sector (e.g., government contracting).  In the nuclear industry, MPR works with developers and potential owners of new fission reactors and fusion devices incorporating various technologies.  In addition, our company provides engineering support on an on-going basis for operating nuclear plants and other research and test facilities. 

We are currently seeking an experienced nuclear engineer to guide, challenge, and mentor our growing team in a variety of reactor analysis activities. If you're looking for an opportunity to work on a broad variety of problems with bright and motivated analysts, engineers, and project managers, you will be hard pressed to find a better spot than at MPR. 

MPR solves complex problems across power, federal services, and life sciences by applying first principles and leveraging a multi-disciplinary team, focusing on problem-solving rather than repetitive, “turn-the-crank” work. In this context, nuclear engineers at MPR engage in diverse and challenging projects involving neutronics modeling and simulation, thermal-hydraulics, material irradiation, radiation shielding, radiological consequence evaluation, and radiation detection and measurement.  While nuclear-related work will be the primary focus, successful candidates will value continuous learning and be eager to take on challenging technical work beyond the nuclear field, supported by MPR’s collaborative, multi‑disciplinary team.

Work includes design, analysis, or evaluation of nuclear systems and components. At MPR, you will work on a constantly evolving range of nuclear engineering projects, driven by our broad client base and diverse opportunities, which will require you to adapt quickly, take initiative, and apply your technical skills across a variety of challenging problems. Work is accomplished by a multi-disciplinary integrated project team, typically beginning with problem definition, through detailed analysis, all the way through delivering and communicating the solution. As experienced staff, some team and project management responsibilities will be included. 

The Lead/ Principal Nuclear Engineer will:

• Plan, lead, and enable the nuclear design/analysis efforts of multi-discipline system designs, including coaching and mentoring other engineers through execution of the work.
• Take a lead role in client and stakeholder interactions by effectively communicating technical results, present at industry conferences, and engage with regulators and other external audiences.
• Develop design/analytical solutions for a range of technical challenges across various projects including, for example:
  • Neutronics simulations and core design (e.g., criticality safety evaluations, critical core configuration, fuel cycle management, activation calculations).
  • Radiation detection and shielding (e.g., alarm set point determination, shielding optimization, application of ALARA principles, dosimetry calculations).
  • Thermal Hydraulics and Heat Transfer (Heat removal, familiarity with heat removal systems, such as steam generators, condensers, and other NSSS components).
• Perform technical reviews of internal and external designs or analyses.
• Review work and analyses performed by other MPR engineers.

• Bachelor of Science, Nuclear Engineering, or Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Nuclear Engineering.
• An advanced degree is a plus but not required.

Technical Skills and Experience

• Eight (8) or more years’ work experience in the field of nuclear engineering, preferably with development of diverse skillsets such as neutronics, thermal hydraulics, radiation detection, etc.
• Experience developing technical solutions based on analysis or testing. Familiarity developing test plans to implement novel nuclear designs, such as new fuel forms, components, etc.
• Familiarity with common nuclear engineering software, such as MCNP, SCALE, ORIGEN, RELAP, etc.
• Able to work closely with engineers of all disciplines to evaluate all facets of a technical problem. Experience successfully working in a collaborative integrated design team is essential.
• Familiarity with both light water and non-light water reactor designs.  Alternatively, familiarity with fusion device thermal and radiological designs.
• Strong analytical skills with fundamental understanding of the underlying first principles of engineering, not limited to just nuclear engineering.
• Ability to teach and enforce best practices to less experienced engineers to provide accurate, optimal and efficient solutions.
• Construction, testing, operational and/or maintenance experience at a nuclear facility is a plus.
• Familiarity with Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and guidance for reactor analysis (e.g., loss of coolant accident analysis methods, source term).

Skills - Personal

• Dedication to technical excellence and ability to apply lessons learned across technologies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with clients, project team members, and senior management.
• Ability to multi-task across teams of engineers and managers on various projects.
• Ability to oversee and mentor less experienced engineers’ work efforts.
• Motivated to tackle new problems and take on new responsibilities.
• Ability to accept and grow from constructive feedback.
• Solid time management and organization skills.
• Persistent, questioning attitude and the ability to accept that in others.

Travel

As required by project assignments and opportunities. Estimated to be 10%-20%.

MPR Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, who participates in E‑Verify. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other classification as required by applicable laws. MPR is a certified Virginia Values Veterans (V3) employer.