R&D Thermal Hydraulics Technical Lead

Interested in helping us transform thermal and electric energy?

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

This position is remote until the office opens in or around Bryan, TX on or before February 2026, after which time it will be a 100% on site role.

Come join us at Terrestrial Energy, a US developer of advanced, Generation IV nuclear reactors.  We are growing our workforce to develop and deploy our Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) small modular nuclear plant to provide cost-competitive, clean firm heat and power to industry.

The Company has recently completed a merger creating a publicly listed operating company  (NASDAQ “IMSR”), to secure the capital resources for our next growth phase.  With the current alignment of US Federal and State government, as well as industry interest in Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and advanced reactor technologies such as Terrestrial Energy’s IMSR, there is today a unique and compelling opportunity to participate in the execution of the company’s growth business plan.

The Company is building a team of high-performing business professionals and leaders in engineering, R&D, product management and business development areas at our Charlotte, North Carolina headquarters and future project sites.  We are looking for talented individuals who can help build the organization, processes, and goal-orientated corporate culture to lead the company in our expansion.  We are seeking people who:

Have US market experience and perspectives bringing good judgement and innovative approaches to problem solving and business plan execution.

Have demonstrated exceptional performance in past engineering projects.

Offer exceptional leadership and team building capabilities.

Have a deep understanding of the requirements for advanced reactor development.

Can assist in the creation of the discipline and organized company structure, and contributed to a culture of excellence, necessary for the development and deployment of the Company’s IMSR plant.

Can thrive in a fast growing and opportunity business environment, and are capable of flexibility and adaptability at a time of organizational change.

Have the specific skillset and experience for the following role:

The R&D Thermal Hydraulics Technical Lead, reporting to the R&D Director, is primarily responsible for leading the design, execution, and analysis of thermal-hydraulic experiments. Responsible for both hands-on experimental work and building and managing a team of engineers to carry out testing, analyze data, and provide valuable insights to improve system performance. The role combines deep technical expertise in thermal hydraulics with the leadership and project management skills needed to drive successful R&D outcomes.

Other responsibilities include:

Design and Execute Thermal Hydraulic Tests: Lead the development and execution of thermal hydraulics tests, ensuring test designs and setups meet experimental objectives. Oversee the creation of detailed test matrices and ensure successful execution of experiments to gather reliable data.

Test Data Analysis & Reporting: Guide the collection, processing, and in-depth analysis of test data. Collaborate with R&D Data Scientists to improve simulation models based on experimental findings. Present results, assumptions, risks, and proposed solutions to the R&D Director.

Provision of Subject Matter Expertise: Provide expert advice on the development of thermal hydraulics test plans and experimental methodologies. Review and interpret internal and external documents related to test identification, design development, and experimental activities.

CFD Simulations and Optimization: Prepare meshes for 2D and 3D CFD models for various geometries, perform steady-state and transient simulations, and conduct sensitivity analyses and optimization studies to support experimental designs.

Scaling and Experimental Setup Design: Perform scaling analyses and evaluate scaling distortions to ensure the validity of experimental test setups. Identify sensor locations and instrumentation requirements and guide the development of test equipment and system configurations.

Leadership & Team Management: Build and lead a team of test engineers, providing hands-on guidance throughout the testing process, troubleshooting, and ensuring efficient team collaboration. Foster a culture of continuous improvement and technical excellence.

Collaboration with Cross-functional Teams: Work closely with the R&D Project Coordinator to maintain and update test schedules and project status. Collaborate with the TEI Engineering team to support design development and optimize test setups.

Presentations and Documentation: Prepare comprehensive reports and presentations for internal stakeholders, including test results, assumptions, risks, and constraints. Present proposals for future testing paths based on experimental findings.

Innovation and Improvement: Contribute to the development of new test methodologies, tools, and technologies to enhance testing capabilities. Ensure ongoing improvements in experimental design, analysis techniques, and the efficiency of test execution.

Core Competencies

Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Fluid Dynamics and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Experimental Design & Data Analysis

Problem Solving and Critical Thinking

Decision Making and Results Orientation

Leadership and Team Development

Communication (written and verbal)

Adaptability and Flexibility

Requirements

Master’s degree or higher in science, engineering or related field (preference to fluid flow and heat transfer fields);

A minimum of 4 years of hands-on experience in a research laboratory or R&D environment, with a focus on thermal hydraulic design and analysis, particularly within the power industry.

Extensive CFD experience using tools such as ANSYS Fluent and system-level thermal-hydraulic codes like Flownex.

Proven track record in experimental design, test rig development, and data analysis from thermal hydraulic loop tests.

Experience leading and mentoring technical teams, ensuring project delivery and meeting milestones.

Strong knowledge of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer fundamentals, with practical experience in the design, execution, and analysis of complex tests.

Experience with experimental design and the application of statistics/data analysis for experimental evaluation.

Familiarity with the working principles of pumps, heat exchangers, and other thermal hydraulic equipment.

Ability to manage shifting priorities and deadlines, while maintaining a high standard of work.

Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to foster strong relationships across teams and with external stakeholders.

Assets

Familiarity with simulation software for thermal-hydraulic analysis, in addition to CFD tools.

Knowledge of molten salt nuclear reactor working principles

Experience in industries such as nuclear, energy, or aerospace, where thermal-hydraulic testing plays a critical role

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]