Principal Materials Engineer

Position Overview

The Principal Materials Engineer will serve as the technical authority and program owner for materials engineering and degradation management at an APR1400 nuclear power plant operating four reactors. This role is responsible for ensuring safe, reliable, and regulatory-compliant operation through expert oversight of materials programs, asset integrity, and aging management strategies. The position requires leadership in cross-disciplinary problem-solving, program implementation, and continuous improvement to maintain plant safety and long-term asset performance.

Key Responsibilities

Program Ownership & Technical Leadership

• Lead and provide expert oversight of materials engineering programs, including:
• Boric Acid Corrosion Control (BAC)
• Nuclear Coatings Program
• Cyclic Transient & Fatigue Monitoring
• Corrosion Control Program
• Welding Program
• Reactor Vessel Surveillance Program
• Integrated Aging Management Program (IAMP)
• Serve as the plant’s subject matter expert (SME) on materials degradation mechanisms, inspection methods, and corrective actions.
• Establish and maintain technical bases, acceptance criteria, and inspection scopes in accordance with ASME BPVC , Regulatory Guides , and WANO/INPO operating experience.

Asset Integrity & Reliability

• Monitor and analyze material degradation trends across all four reactors, ensuring proactive interventions before safety or reliability is compromised.
• Provide engineering evaluations for repair, replacement, or mitigation of material-related issues, including weld defects, coating failures, corrosion, and fatigue damage.
• Lead root cause evaluations for significant materials-related events and develop corrective/preventive action plans.

Aging Management & Long-Term Operation

• Ensure compliance with Integrated Aging Management Programs to support plant life extension and safe long-term operation of reactors.
• Coordinate reactor vessel surveillance and irradiation embrittlement assessments.
• Champion innovative technologies (NDE, digital monitoring, predictive analytics) to improve materials management effectiveness.

Governance & Regulatory Interface

• Maintain compliance with national nuclear regulatory authority requirements and international nuclear standards (IAEA, ASME, ASTM, ISO Nuclear Material STD, EPRI guidelines).
• Support audits, inspections, and peer reviews, acting as the plant’s primary contact for materials engineering inquiries.
• Develop, update, and maintain procedures, engineering manuals, and technical specifications related to materials management.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary materials engineering team.
• Collaborate with operations, maintenance, chemistry, and safety departments to integrate materials management into overall plant operations.
• Promote a culture of prevention , ensuring small deviations are addressed before they escalate into major issues.
• Represent the plant in corporate engineering networks, technical committees, and industry working groups.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, or related discipline ( Master’s/PhD preferred ).
• Minimum 12 years of relevant engineering experience in materials engineering, with at least 3 years in nuclear power plant .
• 12+ years preferred with demonstrated program ownership and regulatory interface experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in ASME Section III & XI, fatigue management, corrosion science, welding technology, and nuclear coatings.

Technical Competencies

• Deep knowledge of nuclear materials degradation mechanisms (SCC, FAC, PWSCC, irradiation effects, etc.).
• Proficiency in NDE techniques, inspection planning, and failure analysis.
• Familiarity with digital monitoring systems, trending, and predictive maintenance tools.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills under high-stakes conditions.

Leadership Competencies

• Proven ability to lead complex engineering programs across multiple reactor units.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, with ability to engage regulatory bodies, industry peers, and executive management.
• Commitment to nuclear safety culture, integrity, and continuous learning.