Fuel Performance Lead

Are you a technically minded, self-driven engineer or scientist who understands how credible models can be used to underpin how

nuclear fuel really behaves?

Join Blykalla and support our fuel development and SEALER demonstration effort through predicting, validating, and defending fuel

behaviour for the western world’s first lead-cooled SMR. With the Fuel Industrialisation and Qualification Lead you’ll own the

delivery of the fuel qualification programme, and lead Blykalla’s efforts to influence and develop the models and codes that allow

for producing regulator-ready evidence to validate our in-core fuel performance.

Blykalla is a Swedish deep-tech company at the forefront of the nuclear industry. Blykalla is developing and building small

modular reactors to deliver the next generation of clean energy. We take leading research to industrialization through our Swedish

Advanced Lead Reactor (SEALER).

Your mission is to ensure that we can predict, explain and justify fuel behaviour with confidence, developing the validated

models, defensible assumptions and traceable data that will feature as part of Blykalla’s licensing submission.

• Take ownership of the development, extension, and adaption of fuel performance models for a lead-cooled fast-spectrum

operation, with a focus on physical mechanisms rather than just black-box use.

• Lead the benchmarking of models against multiple fuel types (including nitride, oxide and metallic fuels) and fuel performance

codes, to support comparison, validation, and fallback options.

• Understand and improve model behaviour by analysing why models work, where they break down, and what must be changed for

lead-cooled fast spectrum operation.

• Work closely with fuel experimentalists, materials and nuclear design teams to specify experimental testing and examinations

that generate data relevant for model development or validation.

• With the Fuel Industrialisation and Qualification Lead, and wider fuels team to specify irradiation tests and pre- and

post-irradiation examinations that generate data relevant for model validation or development.

• Integrate data from experiments, literature, and historical programmes to calibrate models, assess validity ranges, and reduce

key uncertainties

• Contribute to cross-disciplinary activities between reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, materials, backend, safety and

licensing to ensure design coherence, manufacturability, and regulatory compliance.

• Define, maintain and own the modelling basis used in fuel qualification, including scope, gaps, assumptions, acceptance

criteria, and regulatory expectations

• Lead from the fuel performance/modelling perspective, engagement with international labs and irradiation facilities to secure

the knowledge and services (experiment design, irradiation cycle, PIE) needed to reach test and licensing goals.

• Ensure Blykalla is pro-active in interfacing with regulatory bodies and relevant programs that support advanced fuel

qualification/performance modelling (including, but not limited to: SSM, DOE/NRC and IAEA).

• Contribute to the establishment of modelling workflows, documentation, and quality practices that ensure traceability,

reproducibility, and regulatory readiness

• With the Head of Fuel, Head of Materials and Nuclear Safety and Engineering Manager, coordinate cross-disciplinary integration

of the fuel design between nuclear design, thermal-hydraulics, materials group, fuel experimental and modelling teams to ensure

design coherence, consistent modelling assumptions, manufacturability, and regulatory compliance."

• With the Head of Fuel, support the transfer of knowledge and development of the next generation of “subject matter experts”

across both fuel performance authorities or cross-disciplinary technical leadership.

You will be part of a highly skilled team with a can-do attitude. We value personnel chemistry and strive to create a workplace

where you enjoy coming to. There are however a few things that we think will help in order for you to succeed in this role, these

are:

• At least 10-years post undergraduate degree of experience in nuclear fuel modelling, experience of fuel development and/or

qualification programmes is an advantage.

• Modelling and simulation experience covering code/model modification, development or critical assessment rather than

“black-box” use

• Experience in defining and integrating experimental data from irradiation tests, post-irradiation examinations, literature, or

historical programmes to support and improve modelling and accelerate fuel qualification

• Ability to define what data and experiments are needed to support model credibility and uncertainty reduction, and to work

effectively with experimental and qualification teams

• Demonstrated ability to understand fuel behaviour at the mechanism level and to diagnose why models work, where they fail, and

how they must be improved

• Hands-on experience with fuel performance codes such as TRANSURANUS, FRAPCON/FRAPTRAN, BISON, or similar tools, including

extending, adapting, or validating models

• Ability to communicate and defend modelling assumptions, limitations, and results in technical discussions with regulators,

authorities, and partners

The Fuel Performance Lead sits in the Fuel management team Team within Blykalla, and reports to the Head of Fuel. We are a diverse

team that is passionate about our work and Blykalla.

Don't miss the chance to be at the forefront of revolutionizing nuclear power. Join our team as Fuel Performance Lead and help

shape the energy landscape of tomorrow. Apply today with your resume and a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and

achievements.

We are proud to foster an inclusive workplace free from discrimination. We strongly believe that diversity of experience,

perspectives, and background will lead to a better environment for our employees and a better product. This is something we value

deeply, and we encourage everyone to be a part of changing the way the world thinks about power supply!

As part of our recruitment process, we conduct background checks on all candidates. We may also conduct reference checks to gain a

well-rounded understanding of your professional experience, performance, and ways of working. This includes both references

provided by you and, where relevant, conversations with other professional contacts who have worked closely with you. We strive to

be transparent about our reference-checking process and handle all personal data in accordance with applicable data protection

regulations. Any additional references will be sought with professional judgment and only when considered relevant to the role.

Note on AI Use: Blykalla may use AI technology to assist with certain administrative aspects of the hiring process, such as

note-taking, interview documentation, and reporting. However, every resume and application is reviewed directly by our recruiting

team. AI tools are used solely for operational support and do not influence candidate evaluation or hiring decisions.