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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.


Senior Functional Controls Engineer


The NSSS Control System functional designer develops and maintains the control system design for a plant specific BWR or PWR project. This includes development and maintenance of the project specific functional requirements and diagrams, the development and maintenance of the project specific simulation model, and the design verification/analysis. Experience in simulation modeling of control system using third-party software is required. A functional designer must have a nuclear, mechanical, or chemical engineering background with experience in control systems and nuclear systems. At least 5 years of experience with Westinghouse PWR and/or General Electric BWR plant designs is required. A functional designer issues the testing guideline documentation and leads the customer witnessing testing. A functional designer will interface with other design engineering organizations, customer engineering groups, and project management organizations. Onsite plant support is performed to verify the control system installation and functionality. Prior onsite plant experience in plant startup, plant operation, and/or plant testing is highly recommended. Domestic travel is required for approximately 20% of the time. Training and development of a functional designer takes 3-5 years through mentoring and performing job tasks under a qualified engineer. The functional designer role is a full-time position and leads to many exciting opportunities to work with different major design organizations within Westinghouse.


Functional Designer Roles/Responsibilities

The NSSS Control System functional designer develops and maintains the control system design for each project. A detailed list of the roles/responsibilities for this position are provided below:

  • Develop and maintain the project specific functional requirements and diagrams for PWR and BWR plants.
  • Develop and maintain the project specific simulation model (i.e., ACSL/Matlab).
  • Perform and document project specific design analyses with the simulation model.
  • Document the SWIL Test Guideline document.
  • Perform Pre-SWIL activities to support Software Implementation, including working with the project hardware/software WEC team members.
  • Perform SWIL testing activities with the customer using the simulation model.
  • Understand and drive interfaces with Safety Analysis, Licensing, Setpoint Uncertainties, Fluid Systems, Nuclear Operations, Plant Operations, Plant Systems, Plant Licensing, Plant Reactor Engineering, etc.
  • Interface directly with our customers during project execution as the functional design lead.
  • Perform the Software-In-Loop (SWIL) demonstrations with the WEC and customer Test Team.
  • Support the project through Simulator FAT, Hardware FAT, and System Installation.
  • Issue Power Ascension Test guidelines to support PAT testing procedures.
  • Support Power Ascension Testing onsite from initial criticality to 100% power.
  • Support innovation projects to develop the next generation of PCSE products.
  • Provide support for emergent issues for operating plants with digital upgrade systems (i.e., walk-in work).
  • Provide support for emergent issues for operating plants with analog legacy systems (i.e., walk-in work).
  • Provide initial plant startup support for NSSS control system for AP1000 plant design.
  • Technical training/mentoring of the team members and next NSSS control system functional designers within PCSE.
  • Provide technical support and input to Westinghouse I&C management.

Qualifications for NSSS Control System Functional Designer

  • Mechanical Engineer, Chemical Engineer, and Nuclear Engineering Degrees
    • Reactor Kinetics, Fluid Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Pump and Valve Principals, Energy Systems, and Mathematical Method.
  • At least 5 years of experience in Westinghouse PWR and GE BWR plant design analysis is recommended
    • safety analysis, fluid systems, nuclear operations, design transients, setpoint uncertainty, I&C design, licensing, turbine control systems, or etc.
  • Prior onsite plant experience in plant startup, plant operation, and/or plant testing is highly recommended.
  • Experience with computer simulations based on first principals and using codes such as Matlab, LOFTRAN, RETRAN, Advanced Continuous Simulation Language (ACSL), or other simulation codes.
  • Interest/passion in control system design, simulation models, and I&C design.
  • Familiarity in electronics and/or computers.
  • The functional designer role is a full-time position. It is only recommended to utilize engineers from other groups during initial onboarding/training. The additional functional design engineers would be expected to provide full-time support dedicated to the role for the projects.

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.