Director, Nuclear Project Quality Assurance

Elementl Power

11d•$175,000 - $200,000•Remote

About The Position

Elementl Power Inc. is seeking a Director, Nuclear Project Quality Assurance to join their regulatory and licensing team. This role will be responsible for the nuclear project quality assurance strategy and implementation across the project portfolio, establishing and maintaining the QA program throughout the project lifecycle. The initial focus will be on supplier qualification, implementing quality controls for licensing, engineering, environmental, site characterization, and procurement, and preparing for NRC licensing. As projects mature, the role will expand to cover long-lead equipment procurement, construction, testing, operational readiness, and long-term operating QA. A key initial responsibility is revising and implementing the NIAC-reviewed Quality Assurance Program Description (QAPD) for development-phase activities, utilizing a lean internal model supported by contractors and consultants.

Requirements

At least 10 years of progressively responsible experience implementing, overseeing, or leading nuclear quality assurance programs under 10 CFR Part 50, Appendix B and ASME NQA-1.
Current or previously qualified NQA-1 Lead Auditor credential (or the ability to regain qualification promptly).
Hands-on experience qualifying and overseeing suppliers performing safety-related or quality-affecting nuclear work, including audits, surveillances, corrective actions, and ASL management.
Hands-on experience with NRC quality assurance and reporting requirements, including 10 CFR Part 50 Appendix B, 10 CFR Part 21, 10 CFR 50.55(e), ASME NQA-1, and NRC Regulatory Guide 1.28.
Hands-on experience auditing or overseeing architect-engineers, reactor vendors, EPC contractors, manufacturers, laboratories, or engineering consultants.
Hands-on experience developing or implementing QA procedures for design control, procurement, supplier qualification, records management, software QA, and corrective action.
A B.S. in a STEM discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, military service, technical training, certifications, and relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

Established or implemented a QA program for a new nuclear project, advanced reactor project, or first-of-a-kind deployment, ideally standing it up before major procurement, construction, or NRC application submittal.
Supported engineering, licensing, environmental, or site-characterization activities performed under Appendix B or graded project quality controls.
Experience with NRC licensing activities supporting construction permits, combined licenses, design certifications, or operating licenses.
Experience supporting operating nuclear plants, operational readiness, startup and testing, or operating-phase QA programs.
Participated in or led industry shared supplier assessments through NIAC or NUPIC.
Comfortable with electronic quality management or corrective action systems.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, and maintain Elementl's supplier qualification strategy and program, and establish and maintain the Approved Supplier List (ASL).
Qualify and periodically requalify reactor vendors, architect-engineers, EPC contractors, owner's engineers, environmental consultants, and other suppliers subject to Appendix B, 10 CFR Part 21, or Elementl project quality controls.
Evaluate supplier quality assurance programs through audits, surveillances, performance history, corrective actions, and industry data (NIAC, NUPIC), and build a risk-ranked qualification plan tied to project milestones and procurement needs.
Oversee quality assurance flowdowns and sub-tier supplier control, including procurement-document requirements.
Plan, conduct, and coordinate supplier audits, surveillances, assessments, and corrective action verification, overseeing contracted auditors and technical specialists as needed.
Participate in shared industry supplier assessments through NIAC, NUPIC, and other recognized organizations.
Monitor supplier corrective actions, lead continuous supplier performance monitoring, and maintain audit and qualification records.
Maintain Lead Auditor qualification and ensure Elementl retains sufficient internal or contracted lead-auditor capability.
Ensure engineering and licensing activities supporting feasibility studies, pre-FEED, FEED, and NRC licensing are conducted under appropriate quality assurance controls.
Verify QA implementation for engineering calculations, licensing analyses, environmental and site-characterization data, software, records, and technical deliverables.
Coordinate with Licensing to ensure technical information used in NRC submittals is controlled, traceable, and supported by retrievable records.
Lead the QA interface among Engineering, Licensing, Environmental & Permitting, Procurement, Project Management, and Legal — reviewing QA requirements in statements of work, contracts, and supplier flowdowns.
Revise the existing NIAC-reviewed QAPD and implement supporting procedures for supplier qualification, audits, document control, records management, corrective action, software QA, and nonconformance control.
Manage QA program changes under applicable NRC change-control requirements, and lead evaluation, disposition, and escalation of deviations and nonconformances.
Lead preparation of the QA program for future NRC licensing applications, inspections, and supplier oversight, and develop the roadmap for expansion into construction, testing, and long-term operating programs.
Develop future QA staffing and contractor-support strategy as Elementl's projects mature.
Serve as Elementl's senior functional owner for nuclear project quality assurance, advising project management and executive leadership on quality risks, supplier status, audit results, and corrective action trends.
Maintain sufficient authority and direct access to executive leadership to identify quality problems, initiate corrective actions, and elevate quality concerns independent of cost and schedule pressure.
Promote a strong nuclear safety and quality culture, hire and develop QA team members, and support NRC inspections, supplier interactions, and project-readiness reviews.