Nuclear Engineer (San Francisco)

Overview

Make Energy is developing micro modular nuclear reactors that deliver safe, clean, and continuous power in places the grid cannot reach (military bases, remote villages, space missions, disaster relief, etc). Using TRISO fuel, graphite moderation, and a sodium-cooled heat-pipe design, our systems are inherently safe, transportable, and capable of years of operation without refueling. We are backed by leading venture investors, and the team brings experiences from Apple, NASA, SpaceX, and other hardware companies.

Summary

As a Nuclear Engineer at Make Energy, you will bridge nuclear engineering fundamentals, thermal sciences, and computational modeling to support the early design of our micro modular reactor (MMR). Success in this role means running reactor physics studies, building thermal feasibility models, and producing design documentation that directly informs our first commercial concept. Your work will combine simulation, analysis, and early prototyping to advance a sodium-cooled, heat-pipe reactor system that delivers safe, reliable, off-grid power.

Responsibilities

• Perform parametric OpenMC/Serpent reactor physics studies (pitch, pipe fraction, reflector tradeoffs).
• Develop heat-pipe transport models (spreadsheet + Python) to validate thermal margins.
• Build 1-D/2-D thermal conduction models of reactor blocks with embedded pipes.
• Draft design memos and short reports summarizing lattice/core tradeoffs with plots and recommendations.
• Create an initial Rev-A parametric CAD model of the core (baseline geometry, not fabrication-level detail).
• Collaborate with engineers on thermal-hydraulics, fuel design, and safety case considerations.

Qualifications

• Senior undergraduate, MS, or early PhD student in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field .
• Strong foundation in reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, and heat transfer .
• Experience with one or more reactor codes ( OpenMC, Serpent, MCNP ; MOOSE/Griffin/Pronghorn/SAM preferred but not required).
• Comfort with Python/NumPy/Matplotlib for scripting and parameter sweeps; meshing tools ( Gmsh, SALOME, Cubit ) a plus.
• Exposure to CAD modeling (FreeCAD, SolidWorks, or similar) for parametric geometries.
• Familiarity with sodium coolant systems , high-temperature materials, or licensing fundamentals is a plus.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for documenting and presenting results.
• Compensation: $200,000 $300,000 , depending on experience and skillset
• Equity participation in Make Energy
• Relocation stipend (if out of San Francisco, CA)
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• 401(k) with company contribution
• Opportunity to shape the future of clean, off-grid energy

Let's {make energy} together.

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