Principal Mechanical / Nuclear Engineer

Are you interested in being part of an innovative team that supports Westinghouse’s mission to provide clean energy solutions? At Westinghouse, we recognize that our employees are our most valuable asset and we seek to identify, attract and recruit the most qualified talent while recognizing and encouraging the value of diversity in the global workplace.

Principal Mechanical / Nuclear Engineer

The role will span multiple disciplines including Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) Control Systems design and analysis, NSSS Design Transients, Low-Temperature Overpressure Protection System (LTOPS) analysis, Reactor Trip System (RTS) and Engineered Safety Feature Actuation System (ESFAS) Setpoint Uncertainty Analysis, and data / statistical analysis.  Individuals will work closely with numerous functional areas such as Safety Analysis, Fluid Systems, and Plant Licensing to ensure the successful completion of the project scope.

Your Day-to-Day:

• Functional Design is responsible for the functional design of the AP1000 digital Control Systems as well as legacy analog control and protection systems and determining setpoints that control the plant’s daily operation.  The role is responsible for developing and maintaining the NSSS Control System Functional Design as documented in the Functional Requirements and Functional Diagrams

•  In addition to the control system functional design, the engineer will be responsible for performing operational transient analyses to test the I&C logic and settings and demonstrate that the overall plant response is acceptable.  The engineer will analyze normal operating transients and propose plant modifications to address operational issues.

• At low temperatures, the reactor vessel and piping is susceptible to brittle fracture due to the potential over pressurization scenarios.  The LTOPS is designed to mitigate these scenarios to prevent reactor vessel and piping damage.  The role will be responsible for analyzing the overpressure transients to ensure the LTOPS is capable of mitigating the events and developing LTOPS configuration changes as necessary.

• A nuclear power plant experiences many cycles of pressure, temperature, and flow variations, which are accounted for in the component stress analysis via the NSSS Design Transients.  The engineer will be responsible for developing and maintaining plant NSSS Design Transients for the NSSS component qualification calculations.  The engineer will also analyze plant modifications to update NSSS Design Transients as needed.

•  Nominal Trip Setpoints (NTSs) exist in the RTS and ESFAS to ensure that plant safety limits are not exceeded. A trip will occur to ensure that the necessary counter action can be taken prior to the safety limit being reached. The engineer will be responsible for performing and maintaining uncertainty analysis using the Nuclear Regulatory Committee (NRC) approved Westinghouse Setpoint Methodology (WSM) for both AP1000 plants and other domestic nuclear plants. The calculations will ensure that the NTSs adequately protect the Safety Limits when all sources of process uncertainty and instrumentation uncertainty (such as transmitters, resistance temperature detectors, process racks, and indicators) are considered.

• In some instances, a nuclear power plant may seek to extend surveillance intervals (which are typically 18-months) for instrumentation (such as differential pressure transmitters) as a means of cost savings. The engineer will be responsible for performing statistical / data analyses to examine the instrument performance (drift) over time, and to project performance over a longer time period. The objective of this analysis will be to determine whether instrument drift is time-dependent and to determine if the surveillance intervals can be safety extended. Additionally, the engineer will also be responsible for ensuring that the surveillance extensions are adequately addressed in the setpoint uncertainty analysis.

• The Resistance Temperature Detectors (RTDs) in the Reactor Coolant System (RCS) experience a unique calibration process (referred to as RCS RTD Cross-Calibration). The engineer will be responsible for assisting AP1000 plants with performing the RCS RTD Cross Calibration Process utilizing the Westinghouse methodology and ensuring that all the RTDs are accurate and operable, and performing within the accuracy specified in the Setpoint uncertainty calculations.

Who You Are:

As a successful candidate, you will bring the following to the team:

•    BS in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering; 5+ years of similar work experience preferred
•    Strong technical interest, including a desire and willingness to learn.
•    Previous knowledge of overall design and operation of Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR)

and systems is highly preferred but not required. 
•    Experience modeling PWR transients is preferred, but not required.
•    A basic knowledge of statistics and data analysis is preferred, but not required. 

•    Ability to apply fundamental engineering principles

(including fluid mechanics and    thermodynamics).
•    Ability to evaluate analysis inputs and results to develop a specific technical solution that 

addresses the customer requirements.
•    Ability to work within a team and coordinate external support, as needed, to successfully

complete project scope.
•    Ability to effectively communicate (written and verbal) analyses basis, summary of results,

proposed solutions, and implementation instructions to customers and team members.
•    Ability to develop and maintain positive customer relationships by positively addressing

customer concerns and issues.

Why Westinghouse?

Westinghouse Electric Company is the global nuclear energy industry’s first choice for safe, clean, and efficient energy solutions. We enable our delivery of this vision by living our value system:

• Safety and Quality
• Integrity and Trust
• Customer Focus and Innovation
• Speed and Passion to Win
• Teamwork and Accountability

Westinghouse offers competitive benefits to all our employees around the globe to keep them healthy and enhance their well-being.  In the U.S. the following are representative of what we offer:

• Competitive Salary
• Comprehensive Health, Wellness and Income Protection Benefits
• 401(k) Savings Plan with Company Match
• Paid Vacations and Holidays
• Opportunities for Flexible Work Arrangements
• Educational Reimbursement Program
• Employee Referral Program

While our Global Headquarters are located in Cranberry Township, PA, we have over 9,000 employees working at locations in 19 different countries. You can learn more by visiting http://www.westinghousenuclear.com.

EOE of Minorities / Females / Vets / Disability.

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