Manufacturing Engineer at Standard Nuclear in Oak Ridge, TN

Location: Oak Ridge, TN   Schedule: Full-Time    Standard Nuclear is fueling America’s nuclear renaissance at industrial scale. Our mission is to deliver the essential building blocks of nuclear power—enabling cost-effective, safe, and secure energy for the world.  The Manufacturing Engineer is responsible for improving the flow, scalability, and production readiness of Standard Nuclear’s fuel characterization activities. This role works at the intersection of characterization, manufacturing, quality, and engineering to ensure that sample preparation, measurement, data review, and reporting processes can support increasing production demand.  This is a hands-on engineering role focused on turning characterization from a development-oriented laboratory function into a reliable manufacturing support operation. The Manufacturing Engineer will help identify bottlenecks, improve workflows, develop standard work, support capacity planning, and implement process improvements that increase throughput, consistency, and traceability.  The role requires enough technical understanding of materials characterization to work effectively with scientists and technical staff, while bringing a practical manufacturing mindset focused on cycle time, repeatability, equipment utilization, data flow, and production support.    RESPONSIBILITIES  Characterization Process Improvement  • Analyze characterization workflows from sample receipt through preparation, measurement, review, reporting, and release  • Identify bottlenecks, queue times, rework loops, and process gaps that limit characterization throughput  • Develop and implement improvements to reduce cycle time, improve consistency, and support production schedules  • Establish standard work, process maps, visual management tools, and workflow controls for characterization activities  • Support transition of characterization methods from development workflows into repeatable production support processes    Manufacturing & Production Support  • Partner with manufacturing, fuel development, quality, and characterization teams to align characterization capacity with production needs  • Help define characterization requirements, timing, and readiness inputs needed to support fuel production  • Support production planning by providing characterization capacity assumptions, turnaround times, and constraint information  • Work with technical teams to ensure sample flow, data review, and reporting processes support manufacturing decision-making  • Assist in resolving production delays or quality issues related to characterization throughput, data availability, or sample processing    Capacity Planning & Throughput Analysis  • Develop and maintain capacity models for characterization equipment, sample preparation steps, technician workflows, and data review processes  • Track key metrics such as sample throughput, turnaround time, equipment utilization, backlog, rework, and schedule adherence  • Use data to identify constraints and support prioritization of equipment, staffing, automation, and process improvement needs  • Help forecast characterization demand based on production plans, development programs, and qualification activities  • Communicate capacity risks and resource constraints clearly to characterization leadership and cross-functional stakeholders    Laboratory Systems, Equipment & Workflow Support  • Support layout, workflow, and equipment utilization improvements within characterization laboratory areas  • Assist with implementation, qualification, and readiness of characterization and sample preparation equipment  • Work with technical staff to improve equipment scheduling, preventive maintenance coordination, and tool availability  • Support sample tracking, data handoff, records management, and reporting systems  • Identify opportunities for automation, image analysis improvements, data capture improvements, and reduced manual handling    Quality, Data & Documentation  • Support development of controlled procedures, work instructions, forms, and records for characterization workflows  • Ensure characterization processes support traceability, audit readiness, and quality system expectations  • Work with quality and technical teams to improve data review, disposition, and reporting practices  • Apply basic statistical and industrial engineering methods to evaluate process variation, measurement flow, and operational performance  • Support corrective actions and root cause investigations related to characterization process performance    Cross-Functional Coordination  • Work closely with scientists, technicians, manufacturing engineers, quality engineers, production planners, and operations teams  • Translate technical characterization needs into practical manufacturing workflows and execution plans  • Challenge process assumptions constructively while respecting technical requirements and scientific judgment  • Help ensure characterization activities are integrated into broader manufacturing schedules and production readiness planning  • Communicate issues, tradeoffs, and improvement opportunities clearly across technical and operational teams    PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS  • Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline  • 3–7 years of experience in manufacturing engineering, industrial engineering, process engineering, quality engineering, metrology, laboratory operations, or a related technical role  • Experience improving workflows, throughput, capacity, or production support processes in a manufacturing, laboratory, inspection, or test environment  • Strong understanding of process mapping, standard work, bottleneck analysis, cycle time reduction, and continuous improvement methods  • Familiarity with materials characterization, microscopy, metrology, metallography/materialography, sample preparation, or laboratory testing preferred  • Experience with production support functions such as inspection, test, quality control, metrology, or analytical laboratories is strongly preferred  • Ability to work with technical experts and translate complex processes into practical, repeatable workflows  • Strong data analysis skills, including Excel and basic statistical analysis  • Experience developing procedures, work instructions, process documentation, or controlled records  • Familiarity with manufacturing quality systems, traceability, audit readiness, and regulated environments preferred  • Experience in nuclear, aerospace, defense, semiconductor, medical device, energy, chemical processing, or advanced manufacturing environments is a plus  • Practical, hands-on mindset with the ability to work effectively in laboratory and manufacturing environments    BENEFITS  • Health, Dental & Vision Insurance  • Health Savings Account  • Disability and Life Insurance  • 401(k) Plan  • Paid Time Off and Holidays    WORK ENVIRONMENT  This role is based in Oak Ridge, TN and involves work across office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments.  The position requires regular interaction with fuel characterization, manufacturing, quality, engineering, and technical teams. Work may involve characterization laboratories, sample preparation areas, metrology equipment, microscopy tools, controlled areas, and regulated manufacturing operations. Use of appropriate PPE and adherence to safety, quality, and radiological requirements is expected. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.    Standard Nuclear embraces equal opportunity and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.  To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.