Criticality Engineer

Role Description

As a Criticality Engineer, you will contribute to the design activities of the Lead Fast Reactor (LFR) by performing criticality studies that are essential for the safety of nuclear facilities. Your role will involve analysing, modelling and justifying configurations related to fuel, out-of-core configurations .

Within the reactor engineering team, and in close collaboration with the Head of Unit and associated technical teams, you will contribute to engineering studies in the field of criticality. You will also work closely with several teams (safety, mechanical design, MOX plant, etc.) to ensure the consistency and robustness of the analyses.

Your work will directly contribute to the safety demonstration of the facilities and to the design of an innovative next-generation reactor. The analyses you perform will support the technical justification of design choices and the preparation of regulatory documentation.

Main activities

• Perform nuclear criticality safety analyses for the entire nuclear island, with a particular focus on the fuel route (storage, handling and transport).
• Define and specify criticality safety requirements.
• Carry out the criticality calculations required for the safety demonstration using Monte Carlo or deterministic scientific tools.
• Analyse different scenarios and operating conditions to ensure the robustness of the studies.
• Prepare technical reports describing input data, methodologies used and obtained results.
• Contribute to design decisions through criticality studies.
• Participate in the preparation of regulatory documentation.
• Contribute to responses to nuclear safety authorities’ questions and provide technical support on these topics.
• Ensure regulatory and standards monitoring in the field of criticality.
• Share technical feedback and contribute to continuous improvement.
• Maintain effective communication between the various technical teams involved in the studies.

Desired qualifications

• An engineering degree, ideally with a specialisation in nuclear physics or neutron physics.
• An initial experience in reactor physics, criticality or nuclear safety is appreciated.
• Knowledge of criticality safety and/or reactor neutron physics.
• Experience with Monte Carlo scientific codes for neutron calculations.
• Proficiency in a Linux environment.
• Programming or scripting skills (Python or equivalent) are appreciated.
• Knowledge of fast reactors or nuclear facilities would be an asset.
• Professional English required in an international environment