Plant Engineer

Hadron Energy, Inc. • Full-time • San Francisco Bay Area, US • $100,000 - $150,000 / year • 6d ago

Company Description

Hadron Energy specializes in Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) development, design, and research based in the San Francisco Bay Area. As the leading MMR developer, Hadron Energy is building factory-produced, transportable microreactors that provide 24/7 carbon-free power for data centers, government facilities, industrial sites, and remote communities. Our mission is to create a brighter, healthier, and more equitable energy future.

Balance of Plant Engineer – Role Description

This is a full-time on-site role for a Balance of Plant (BOP) Engineer, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The position is ideal for candidates with strong mechanical or systems engineering experience who are passionate about designing and integrating the supporting systems that enable reliable and scalable nuclear power generation.

The Balance of Plant Engineer will lead the design, analysis, and integration of all systems external to Hadron’s microreactor core—including heat exchangers, power conversion systems, cooling loops, structural interfaces, and auxiliary systems. This individual will collaborate closely with reactor, thermal-hydraulic, electrical, and controls engineers to ensure the overall plant design meets performance, safety, and manufacturability requirements.

You will play a critical role in developing Hadron’s next-generation micro modular reactor platform—translating conceptual designs into detailed engineering systems and ensuring seamless mechanical and thermal integration across all subsystems in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and development of Balance of Plant systems, including primary and secondary heat transport, power conversion, and auxiliary systems
Perform system-level modeling, thermal-hydraulic analyses, and flow simulations to optimize performance and safety margins
Collaborate with nuclear, mechanical, and structural engineers to ensure seamless integration between the reactor module and external systems
Support component specification, material selection, and vendor coordination for critical BOP subsystems (heat exchangers, pumps, valves, condensers, piping, etc.)
Develop P&IDs, system flow diagrams, and interface control documents to define plant configuration and system boundaries
Conduct trade studies on system configurations, materials, and technologies to maximize efficiency, maintainability, and scalability
Contribute to system safety assessments and design reviews in accordance with NRC and ASME standards
Collaborate with manufacturing and procurement teams to ensure BOP systems are compatible with modular, factory-built assembly
Support prototype development, testing, and commissioning activities as the design matures
Document system requirements, analyses, and results to support design certification and licensing submittals

Qualifications & Skillsets

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Mechanical, Nuclear, or Systems Engineering (PhD preferred for senior roles)
5+ years of experience in thermal-fluid systems, plant design, or power generation systems
Strong proficiency with thermal-hydraulic modeling and simulation tools (e.g., RELAP5, MATLAB, Modelica, ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL)
Knowledge of heat exchangers, pumps, valves, piping design, and pressure boundary components
Experience with system integration, interface control, and mechanical design for power or process plants
Familiarity with ASME Section III, ASME B31.1, or equivalent design codes
Understanding of nuclear safety, containment, and regulatory frameworks is a plus
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
Ability to thrive in a collaborative, multidisciplinary startup environment
Passion for advancing clean energy and engineering solutions that drive a sustainable future