What we do at Blykalla

Blykalla is a global leader in advanced nuclear technology, commercialising the next generation of clean, reliable energy through its lead-cooled reactor, the SEALER. By combining decades of specialised research with world-class partners, Blykalla is building the backbone of the global AI and industrial economy. For more information, visit https://www.blykalla.com.

What you’ll get to do

Our team at Blykalla is looking for a materials specialist with deep expertise in fuel cladding, fuel-cladding interaction and irradiation effects. You will define how our cladding behaves inside the core, how the cladding reacts chemically with uranium fuel on the inside and liquid lead on the outside, and how the material changes under neutron irradiation. Your work decides which cladding we can qualify, and how to get the data needed.

You join the materials team as the technical owner for qualifying the fuel cladding. The cladding is the first barrier around the fuel, and it must keep its integrity for the full core life in a hot, irradiated, liquid-metal environment. You will work closely with the fuel, core design, and safety analysis teams as well as research institutions across Europe and the US.

Responsibilities

• Own the technical basis for the cladding material and its corrosion-protective layer, from specification through qualification.

• Assess and test fuel-cladding chemical interaction with uranium fuel, including carbon and nitrogen transport.

• Assist with the irradiation programme to ensure all needed data is gathered. Interpret post-irradiation examination data on hardening, embrittlement, swelling, irradiation creep and helium effects.

• Turn test results into design limits and lifetime models, together with the core design and fuel teams.

• Map nuclear codes and standards, such as ASME Section III Division 5, onto cladding qualification, and contribute to the safety case for licensing with SSM and NRC.

• Write and review technical reports and data packages and keep the team manager and other projects updated on progress, challenges and risks.
  

Who you’ll get to work with

The Materials Specialist sits in the Materials Engineering Team within Blykalla, and reports to the Head of Materials. We are a diverse team that is passionate about our work and Blykalla.

Who you are

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:

• Master’s degree or PhD in materials science, nuclear engineering or a related field.

• Proven experience with fuel cladding materials for fast reactors or other advanced reactors, including fuel-cladding chemical interaction.

• Solid understanding of irradiation effects in steels and how they translate into design limits and qualification requirements.

• Hands-on experience of microstructural analysis.

• Experience working with test reactor operators, research institutes or suppliers on material development.

• Fluency in English, spoken and written. Swedish is an advantage.

Nice to have

• Experience with various fuel systems.

• Knowledge of liquid metal corrosion and liquid metal embrittlement.

• Experience with ferritic, FeCrAl or oxide-dispersion-strengthened steels, or with thermal spray and laser cladding of tubes.

• Familiarity with ASME, RCC-MRx and nuclear quality assurance requirements such as NQA-1.

• Experience with fuel performance or materials modelling.
  

Salary range is flexible based on candidate profile, our band is from 57 000 - 75 000 sek/monthly.

Location

This position is for our office in Stockholm.

So, what do you think?

Don't miss the chance to be at the forefront of revolutionizing nuclear power. Join our team as Materials Specialist 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!

Reference & Background Checks

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.

We offer competitive compensation aligned with our internal salary framework and growth potential in the role.

We do not accept applications via email.

We are not open to external help from recruitment agencies.

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.