Belcan · 1 month ago
Mechanical Engineer – Structural Analyst
Alameda, CA
Contract
Onsite
Senior Level
$65/hr - $65/hr
5+ years expBelcan is a leading provider of qualified personnel to many of the world's most respected enterprises. They are seeking a Mechanical Engineer to support the structural integrity design and analysis of KP-FHR reactor structures, ensuring compliance with safety standards and regulations.
Enterprise SoftwareIndustrial EngineeringProject ManagementSoftwareTechnical Support
Responsibilities
Perform structural integrity evaluations of KP-FHR reactor components (e.g., vessels, internals, core supports, graphite and metallic structures, piping, and supports) in accordance with ASME Section III, Division 5 / HBB and related subsections
Plan and execute high-temperature thermo-mechanical analyses (elastic-plastic, creep, creep-fatigue, ratcheting, and thermal transients) using FEA tools (e.g., ANSYS, ABAQUS or similar) to support code compliance, design margins, and component life assessments
Evaluate multiple load categories and combinations (pressure, temperature, seismic, transients, test conditions, handling, and upset events) and clearly define design-basis load cases for KP-FHR structures
Apply first-principles thinking and simplified models (hand calculations, closed-form solutions, bounding and reduced-order models) both to scope new work and to provide independent checks on complex FEA
Support design-by-analysis (DBA) evaluations under ASME Section III, including primary/secondary stress categorization, fatigue usage, creep-fatigue damage, buckling, and other high-temperature acceptance checks
Perform integrity assessments of flawed or damaged components (e.g., crack-like indications, wall thinning, weld imperfections) using fracture mechanics, crack-growth, and fitness-for-service style approaches, aligned with applicable codes and standards
Work with materials engineers to integrate high-temperature material properties, environmental effects (fluoride salt, irradiation where applicable), and degradation mechanisms into analysis models and design criteria
Develop and maintain high-quality calculation packages and design reports that clearly document assumptions, models, inputs, results, uncertainties, and code compliance conclusions for internal stakeholders and potential regulatory submittals
Contribute to structural sizing and design trade-offs for critical KP-FHR components and interfaces, providing clear design direction and feedback to CAD and design engineers
Help refine and standardize internal structural integrity methodologies, tools, and templates for high-temperature KP-FHR components, enabling reproducible and auditable workflows
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to early-career engineers on fundamentals of structural mechanics, high-temperature design, and good analysis/documentation practices, commensurate with experience
Perform other duties as assigned in support of KP-FHR design, testing, licensing, and deployment
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering (or closely related discipline) required
Typically 5+ years of relevant experience in mechanical/structural design and analysis for safety-critical systems (nuclear, power, petrochemical, aerospace, or similar)
Direct experience with pressure-retaining and structural components designed to ASME BPVC; strong preference for experience with ASME Section III, Division 5 / HBB and design-by-analysis for high-temperature components
Demonstrated proficiency with advanced FEA for thermo-mechanical problems (linear and nonlinear, including contact, inelasticity, creep/viscoplasticity, and buckling)
Solid foundation in solid mechanics, fatigue and creep-fatigue, fracture mechanics, stability, and high-temperature failure modes
Experience preparing formal calculation packages and design documentation that satisfy internal quality requirements and, ideally, regulatory/licensing expectations
Strong analytical skills and engineering judgment, including comfort working with incomplete information in a first-of-a-kind advanced reactor context
High degree of ownership and attention to detail; takes pride in clean, review-ready models, calculations, and documentation
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of explaining assumptions, methods, and limitations to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
Proven ability to work effectively in a multi-disciplinary, collaborative environment and to contribute to a culture of trust, respect, open communication, and teamwork
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality work in a fast-moving project setting
Preferred
advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) preferred, especially with a focus in solid mechanics, high-temperature design, or structural integrity
familiarity with quality and configuration-management practices (e.g., working under NQA-1 or ISO 9001-like quality programs) is highly desirable
experience with scripting or numerical tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar) for model setup, parametric studies, and post-processing is a plus
Professional Engineer (PE) license, or eligibility and interest in obtaining one, is a plus; experience interfacing with regulators or code committees is a differentiator
Company
Belcan
Belcan is a engineering services company offering design, manufacturing, and IT solutions for aerospace, defense, automotive, and more.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Belcan has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (4)
2024 (3)
2023 (1)
2022 (4)
2021 (7)
2020 (16)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2024-06-10Acquired
Leadership Team
Dave Brandel
President & COO, Engineering Solutions
David Moya
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Recent News
2025-10-31
2025-09-30
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