Principal Materials Engineer (Metallics) - Advanced Nuclear Technology

Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States; 5 days in office. Standard hours are 8:00am–5:00pm ET, Monday–Friday. Travel is expected up to 40%.

Salary: $140,000–$165,000 per year

Company

hirify.global develops advanced nuclear reactor technology and related systems and components.

What you will do

• Develop methodologies to qualify and characterize metallic alloys, graphite, composites, and welding materials for nuclear reactor applications, including high-temperature environments.
• Select materials, test methods, codes, standards, and specifications for component procurement.
• Support materials testing programs and establish the technical basis for material qualifications.
• Assess microscale behavior, grain boundaries, surface effects, corrosion, oxidation, neutron damage, tribology, and lifetime performance using simulations, calculations, and engineering judgment.
• Perform metallurgical analysis and support structural integrity, creep-fatigue, strain, and environmental assessments for reactor systems and components.
• Prepare design documentation, technical reports, calculations, drawings, V&V plans, and independent reviews in accordance with quality and configuration-management procedures.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in materials engineering or a related engineering discipline.
• Typically 10 years of engineering experience.
• Experience with metallurgical analysis and metallic alloy behavior.
• Ability to lead core tasks independently, exercise engineering judgment, and guide junior team members.
• Experience or knowledge in nuclear materials, including irradiation effects, degradation mechanisms, high-temperature behavior, mechanical testing, microscopy, and materials characterization.
• Ability to work onsite in Gaithersburg, Maryland, five days per week, during ET business hours.

Nice to have

• Experience with high-temperature gas-cooled reactors or Generation IV reactor concepts.
• Experience with thermodynamic modeling tools such as Thermo-Calc, Pandat, or CALPHAD.
• Experience with reactor materials surveillance, long-term degradation assessment, nuclear licensing, or regulatory interactions.
• Publication record demonstrating thought leadership in nuclear materials.

Culture & Benefits

• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development support.