BWXTEO - Director of Engineering

BWX Technologies • Oak Ridge, TN

2d • $161,000 - $233,000 • Onsite

About The Position

At BWXT, we are committed to delivering innovative nuclear solutions that contribute to a better world. We recently announced a new venture in advanced uranium enrichment, designed to support a new era of energy innovation and national security while modernizing the fuel cycle. As a trusted leader in nuclear operations, we are expanding into the enrichment sector and are actively seeking visionary leaders to help shape the future of nuclear energy in the United States. We are seeking a Director of Engineering to lead the design, construction, and startup of a high-precision, factory-of-the-future capable of delivering automotive-scale manufacturing throughput with aerospace-grade quality and nuclear safety standards. This role is ideal for a senior engineering leader who thrives at the intersection of advanced manufacturing, regulated environments, and startup execution, and who has successfully taken complex facilities from concept to full-rate production. Location On-site in Oak Ridge, TN

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive engineering leadership experience, with significant responsibility for manufacturing, facilities, and industrialization.
• Proven experience designing, building, and starting up a high-precision manufacturing facility, preferably in aerospace, nuclear, defense, automotive, or semiconductor industries.
• Demonstrated success delivering high-volume manufacturing at automotive pace with aerospace-level quality standards.
• Strong background in advanced manufacturing, automation, precision machining, assembly, and inspection systems.
• Experience operating in highly regulated environments with rigorous safety, quality, and compliance requirements.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance (active clearance strongly preferred).
• Ability to report to an assigned work location. This is not a remote opportunity.

Nice To Haves

• Automotive manufacturing and assembly experience, at full scale.
• Industry 4.0, digital thread/digital twin, or smart factory implementation.
• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement leadership.
• Experience scaling operations from early-stage development to full-rate production.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead the overall engineering vision, strategy, and execution for a greenfield uranium enrichment manufacturing operation.
• Build, lead, and scale a multidisciplinary engineering organization encompassing manufacturing engineering, facilities, process engineering, quality, automation, and industrialization.
• Lead end-to-end design and construction of a high-precision manufacturing facility, from conceptual layout through commissioning and full production ramp.
• Integrate advanced automation, digital manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 technologies to enable high throughput with exceptional quality.
• Deliver manufacturing systems capable of automotive-industry production pace while meeting or exceeding aerospace-level quality, reliability, and traceability standards.
• Drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Quality (DFQ) and Design for Cost (DFC) across product and process development.
• Ensure engineering designs and manufacturing processes meet nuclear regulatory requirements, safety standards, and BWXT quality systems.
• Partner closely with Quality, Manufacturing, EHS, Regulatory, and Operations to ensure safe, compliant, and repeatable production.
• Work closely with executive leadership, operations, supply chain, R&D, and external partners to align engineering execution with business objectives.
• Serve as a technical authority and executive advisor on manufacturability, scalability, and risk.
• Operate with urgency and accountability in a startup environment while leveraging BWXT’s established systems and governance.
• Lead rapid production ramp-up from prototype and pilot phases to sustained high-volume manufacturing.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
• Flexible work schedules and paid time off to promote a healthy work-life balance.
• Professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs and sponsorship for continuing education.
• An inclusive atmosphere that celebrates new perspectives and supports collaboration between different generations.
• The chance to be part of a mission-driven organization making a positive impact on the future of energy.
• Opportunities for continuous learning and training to grow throughout your career!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees