The generation of a nuclear core loading distribution includes receiving a reactor core parameter distribution associated with a state of a reference nuclear reactor core, generating an initial fuel loading distribution for a simulated beginning-of-cycle (BOC) nuclear reactor core, selecting an initial set of positions for a set of regions within the simulated BOC core, generating an initial set of fuel design parameter values utilizing a design variable of each of the regions, calculating a 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 a perturbation process on the set of regions of the simulated BOC core to determine a subsequent set of positions for the set of regions within the simulated BOC core.