A computer implemented method , comprising: receiving at least one reactor core parameter distribution for a given state of a core of a reference nuclear reactor, wherein the state of the core is one of an equilibrium state, a near equilibrium state, a state approaching equilibrium, or a state of equilibrium onset for the core of the reference nuclear reactor; generating an initial fuel loading distribution for a simulated beginning-of-cycle (BOC) core of a nuclear reactor; selecting an initial set of positions associated with a set of regions within the simulated BOC core of the nuclear reactor; generating an initial set of fuel design parameter values utilizing at least one design variable of each of the set of regions; calculating at least one reactor core parameter distribution of the simulated BOC core utilizing the generated initial set of fuel design parameter values associated with the set of regions located at the initial set of positions of the simulated BOC core; and generating a loading distribution by performing at least one perturbation process on the set of regions of the simulated BOC core in order to determine a subsequent set of positions for the set of regions within the simulated BOC core; calculating at least one deviation metric between the at least one reactor core parameter distribution of the simulated BOC core and the received at least one reactor core parameter distribution associated with the state of the core of the reference nuclear reactor; and arranging at least one fuel assembly of a core of a nuclear reactor according to the subsequent set of positions of the set of regions of the simulated BOC core. receiving at least one reactor core parameter distribution for a given state of a core of a reference nuclear reactor, wherein the state of the core is one of an equilibrium state, a near equilibrium state, a state approaching equilibrium, or a state of equilibrium onset for the core of the reference nuclear reactor; generating an initial fuel loading distribution for a simulated beginning-of-cycle (BOC) core of a nuclear reactor; selecting an initial set of positions associated with a set of regions within the simulated BOC core of the nuclear reactor; generating an initial set of fuel design parameter values utilizing at least one design variable of each of the set of regions; calculating at least one reactor core parameter distribution of the simulated BOC core utilizing the generated initial set of fuel design parameter values associated with the set of regions located at the initial set of positions of the simulated BOC core; and generating a loading distribution by performing at least one perturbation process on the set of regions of the simulated BOC core in order to determine a subsequent set of positions for the set of regions within the simulated BOC core; calculating at least one deviation metric between the at least one reactor core parameter distribution of the simulated BOC core and the received at least one reactor core parameter distribution associated with the state of the core of the reference nuclear reactor; and arranging at least one fuel assembly of a core of a nuclear reactor according to the subsequent set of positions of the set of regions of the simulated BOC core. <EOS>