Materials Characterization Engineer

Position Title: Materials Characterization Engineer

Position Description: Protingent Staffing has an exciting direct hire Materials Characterization Engineer opportunity.

Job Responsibilities:

• Define laboratory capabilities, equipment requirements, facility needs, commissioning priorities, and phased development plans.
• Develop characterization plans that connect testing and measurements to manufacturing performance, material requirements, failure mechanisms, and fuel qualification objectives.
• Establish mechanical-testing methods for brittle ceramics, SiC, coated particles, FCM fuel forms, and other advanced materials.
• Develop NDE approaches, including method selection, defect detection, resolution requirements, and correlation with destructive examination.
• Conduct hands-on specimen preparation, testing, instrument operation, calibration checks, data analysis, and method optimization.
• Support fuel qualification through pre-irradiation characterization, mechanical-property measurements, defect analysis, and controlled technical documentation.
• Coordinate with national laboratories, universities, and commercial testing providers, reviewing external data and transferring appropriate methods into laboratory.

Job Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in materials science, ceramic engineering, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, applied physics, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience in mechanical testing, NDE, materials characterization, advanced ceramics, SiC, ceramic-matrix composites, nuclear materials, or comparable high-consequence materials.
• Hands-on experience preparing specimens, operating test or characterization equipment, developing methods, troubleshooting instrumentation, and interpreting materials data.
• Strong understanding of brittle-material mechanics, fracture, defect characterization, interfaces, and process-structure-property relationships.
• Experience with at least one major NDE method, such as micro-CT, radiography, ultrasonics/acoustic microscopy, or advanced optical/3D metrology.
• Experience developing or adapting test methods, including calibration, repeatability, measurement uncertainty, detection sensitivity, and method limitations.
• Ability to translate engineering and qualification questions into practical characterization plans and defensible technical recommendations.

Preferred Job Qualifications: 

• Ph.D. in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience with TRISO fuel, FCM fuel, SiC, ceramic-matrix composites, advanced reactor fuels, or nuclear fuel materials.
• Experience with micro-CT, fracture mechanics, high-temperature mechanical testing, nanoindentation, or interface characterization.
• Experience establishing or commissioning an advanced materials or nuclear fuels laboratory.
• Experience selecting and procuring characterization equipment and leading factory or site acceptance testing.
• Experience working with national laboratories, universities, fuel vendors, or independent testing laboratories.
• Familiarity with ASME NQA-1, laboratory quality assurance, equipment controls, specimen traceability, and controlled data systems.

Job Details:

• Job Type: Full-time
• Salary Range: $110-$255K
• Location: Oak Ridge, TN (Onsite).
• Due to government contract requirements, this position is restricted to U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residential or GC Holder only.

About Protingent: Protingent is an Award-Winning provider of top-tier Engineering and IT talent, trusted by companies at the forefront of innovation — from Software and Aerospace to AI, Clean Tech, Medical Devices, and Connected Technologies. We’re passionate about making a positive impact by connecting exceptional talent with meaningful opportunities and helping our clients build the future.