R&D Physics Scientist

Interested in helping us transform thermal and electric energy?

Become a part of the leading Generation-IV nuclear plant development team.

Terrestrial Energy is developing for near-term commercial operation, a zero-emissions cogeneration plant for a global industry using its proprietary Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) fission technology in an innovative, small and modular plant design.

Over the last 5 years, the Company has recognized the exceptional and unmatched opportunities in US markets created by the policies of the US Federal and States’ governments, and by the actions of the US industrial private sector, including its world leading IT sector developing AI commercial product. The Company recognizes that its path to business success and likely sole path to success, is to wholly align with the US market as a US company, and effect all the organizational changes necessary to achieve this alignment. 

In pursuit of this objective, Terrestrial Energy initiated a transaction to legally redomicile the business to the US in 2023, which it completed in April 2024, with 100% shareholder support.  This transaction was the first step in its US domiciliation strategy. The Company is currently completing a transaction to secure a US exchange (NASDAQ) public stock listing, which is expected to secure the capital resources necessary to complete its US domiciliation as well as execute on its business plan focused on the US market.  

The Company is focused on building a team of business professionals and leaders in the engineering, R&D, product management and business development areas out of our Charlotte, North Carolina location.  These key resources will help build the organization structure and processes in Charlotte, NC, which will be the cornerstone to add talented people to the US team, each of whom:

• Will offer US market experience and perspectives bringing innovative approaches to problem solving and business plan execution.
• Has demonstrated exceptional results in past engineering projects.
• Will offer exceptional leadership and team building capabilities.
• Has a deep understanding of the requirements for advanced reactor development.
• Will assist in the creation of the organization architecture and structures based in Charlotte and necessary for the successful design development of the Company IMSR plant.
• Is capable of flexibility and adaptability at a time of organizational change.
• Has the skillset and experience that relate to the following role:

The R&D Physics Scientist, under the direction of the R&D Director and in collaboration with the R&D Technical Project Lead (Physics), will contribute to the initiation and execution of test programs to investigate and validate the reactor physics of the IMSR. This role is closely integrated with Terrestrial Energy (TE) Engineering Physics and contributes to the Materials Engineering, Thermal Hydraulics, Instrumentation and Controls, and Chemistry groups within the R&D program. Within this role, responsibilities include:

• Reactor physics modelling and simulation to evaluate the function of reactor core design concepts and interacting systems;
• Criticality, depletion, sensitivity and uncertainty, and shielding analyses to develop physics test setups in alignment with IMSR design requirements and in accordance with applicable safety and licensing standards;
• Preparation of documents tailored to identifying and justifying necessary physics tests in support of the IMSR design, safety analysis, licensing activities, and other integrated system designs;
• Review of internal documents and published literature as related to test identification and experimental procedures to create detailed scopes of work and instrument specifications for test activities;
• Detailed experimental design and test data analysis in coordination with test Supplier(s) and R&D group members;
• Detailed reviews of test Supplier experimental procedures, calibration methods, uncertainty propagation, and data outputs to qualify results, resolve technical issues, and extend analyses to applications required by TE Engineering;
• Application of uncertainty quantification methods to simulation and measurement results;
• Reporting and presentation of Physics R&D activity development, results, risks, assumptions, and constraints to the R&D Director and general technical audiences, and proposing paths forward;
• Collaboration with TE Engineering Physics and other interfacing teams to manage the alignment of modelling and simulation activities as well as to implement relevant R&D results in reactor design development;
• Collaboration with the R&D Project Coordinator to maintain and update the R&D Program schedule, including the status and cost of all projects;
• Contributions to code verification and validation plan development and documentation.

Core Competencies

The R&D Physics Scientist is an enthusiastic, motivated, and results-oriented scientist with a strong background in experimental nuclear physics that can contribute to TE’s R&D mission. This role relies on a combination of technical skills and a willingness to collaborate and iterate during novel experimental campaigns. Success in this role involves the following core competencies:

• Nuclear Engineering;
• Critical thinking;
• Written and oral communication skills;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Organization and time management to progress multiple concurrent projects;
• Flexibility to adjust to shifting priorities and deadlines;
• Strong problem identification and problem resolution skills;
• Team player with the ability to collaborate and interact with multidisciplinary groups; and
• Skills to quickly learn and apply new concepts, analysis methods, and technologies.

Requirements

• M.S. or Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering, Nuclear Physics, or a related field.
• More than 2 years of work or relevant academia experience in nuclear power, nuclear reactor design, nuclear data, or a related field, or with respect to research activities at reactor or accelerator facilities.
• Experience with computational and analysis software for nuclear reactor design such as Serpent, SCALE, MCNP, or similar.
• Experience with neutron, X-ray and gamma-ray, and/or charged-particle spectroscopy and data analysis, or similar characterization techniques.
• Experience with experimental design for tests under irradiation and/or for post-irradiation examination activities.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills, including experience delivering technical presentations and writing manuscripts and/or technical reports for subject matter experts.
• Demonstrated success in project delivery and the execution of research and development activities.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask and manage numerous short- and long-term projects concurrently.
• Proven experience conducting instrument/experiment calibrations as well as handling measurement uncertainties.
• Experience with programming and scripting languages in support of experimental activities, with proficiency in at least one of Python, MATLAB, C, or equivalent.

Assets

• Knowledge of nuclear design codes & standards (e.g., NRC NUREG, ANSI/ANS, IAEA SSG, ASME).
• Experience with target fabrication and/or sample preparation techniques for irradiation, and associated material characterization activities.
• Experience with the development of modelling verification and validation plans.
• Experience with multi-physics computational platforms for transient thermal hydraulic and/or thermomechanical modelling.
• Knowledge of the historic and current landscape of molten salt reactors.
• Experience with radiation protection and radiological design assessment for radiation protection.
• Experience with analog and digital data acquisition electronics.

Benefits

• Extended Healthcare Plan 
• A vacation policy designed to support your work-life balance
• EAP Programs available to you and your family
• Wellness Subsidy
• Annual Performance Review
• Paid Volunteer Days – A chance to give back!
• Career development opportunities
  

Please submit a Resume and Cover Letter.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in USA without the need for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Terrestrial Energy requires that the successful candidate be able to access and use information subject to U.S. Export Control Laws, which mandate all citizenships (including dual citizenships) be from the U.S. Department of Energy’s List of Generally Authorized Countries (10 CFR Part 810 Appendix A and can be found here:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-10/chapter-III/part-810/appendix-Appendix%20A%20to%20Part%20810) unless a specific authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy is obtained or unless you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, U.S. permanent resident, or protected individual under the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)). Additional information can be found here: https://www.energy.gov/nnsa/10-cfr-part-810.

Terrestrial Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Minority / Female / Disability / Gender Identity / Sexual Orientation / Age.  The Company encourages applications from all qualified individuals.

If you require accommodation during the application or interview process, please advise us as soon as possible so appropriate arrangements can be made. If you require technical support in a format that is accessible to you, please contact [email protected]