Senior Chemist - Nuclear Fuel

Job Description Summary

The Senior Chemist is a key technical contributor in developing new laboratory methods to support the production of metallic nuclear fuel for a commercial sodium fast reactor design.

The analytical development work will be performed in the existing Chemet Laboratory at Global Nuclear Fuel in Wilmington, NC that performs metallurgical and chemical analyses supporting the production of oxide nuclear fuel for commercial boiling water reactor nuclear power plants.

In this hands‑on position, you will be responsible for laboratory safety and efficient, compliant laboratory activities.

The Senior Chemist will perform environmental, metallurgical, spectrographic, and wet chemistry analyses supporting the development of a new metallic fuel manufacturing process.

Responsibilities include:

• Support Global Nuclear Fuel’s nuclear safety culture, where work is performed with an overriding priority on integrity, safety, security, and quality.

• Work effectively and make positive contributions in a dynamic team environment. Partner with process engineering and quality for development of analytical methods to meet customer and operations requirements.

• Identify technical solutions to complex (
  mainly inorganic
  ) chemical and materials challenges in support of new products or emerging issues.

• Develop new methods to prepare and analyze metal fuel samples to determine if the samples meet the engineering product specification.

• Apply appropriate use of laboratory, analytical, and statistical techniques. Perform data and statistical analysis using strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.

• Create, review, and update laboratory procedures for qualification, operations, and safety compliance activities.

• Interface with a variety of individuals with diverse backgrounds, including internal and external stakeholders.

• Train team members in sound techniques and proper operation of laboratory instruments, programs, and processes.

• Understand computer hardware, software and network system fundamentals, and perform basic maintenance and troubleshooting to these systems.

• Perform basic administration to laboratory information management system (LIMS).

• Understand fundamentals of Oracle relational database system. Retrieve data from LIMS using SQL for auditing, data evaluation, or other similar purposes.

• Ensure team members are provided adequate training and support to assure safe and compliant laboratory practices that comply with the Chemical Hygiene Plan in a nuclear regulated environment.

• Support, encourage, and facilitate excellent Human Performance and Lean Manufacturing principles.

• Understand capital expense budgeting and procurement processes. Lead or participate in equipment selection, purchasing, method development, procedure writing, and training, etc.

• Master’s Degree in a technical discipline such as Chemistry, Metallurgy, Material Science, or Engineering that demonstrates proficiency in conducting independent research work.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a chemical laboratory, including laboratory equipment troubleshooting.

• Technical proficiency with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) and its associated sample preparation and introduction methods.

• Ability and willingness to work with acids, bases, solvents, radioactive materials, pyrophoric materials, and other hazardous materials.

• Ability and willingness to follow strict radiation protection, criticality, and industrial safety regulations.

• Ability to operate computers.

• Proficiency and experience with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook)

• Strong experience in inorganic chemistry (Candidates with this skillset will be prioritized)

• PhD Degree in a scientific discipline.

• Experience working in Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulated environment.

• Technical proficiency with wet chemical methods (i.e. titrimetric, gravimetric, colorimetric, chromatographic).

• Technical proficiency with Non‑Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) elemental analysis, including carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen.

• Technical proficiency with x‑ray fluorescent (XRF) elemental analysis.

• Technica…