Head of Project Development / Program Director (SMR)

BaRupOn LLC•Irvine, CA

About The Position

BaRupOn LLC is seeking an experienced and strategically minded Head of Project Development / Program Director to lead the end-to-end planning, execution, and delivery of its Small Modular Reactor (SMR) and Micro Modular Reactor (MMR) projects in the United States. This is a senior executive role with direct authority over all aspects of SMR program development — from early-stage site evaluation and licensing coordination through engineering integration, construction planning, and operational readiness. The Program Director will serve as the primary integrator across engineering, regulatory, procurement, and construction functions, ensuring every project is delivered on schedule, within budget, and in full compliance with U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requirements and applicable 10 CFR regulations. The ideal candidate is a proven large-scale nuclear project leader who has navigated the full complexity of U.S. nuclear project development — someone who can manage multidisciplinary teams with equal fluency across the technical, regulatory, and commercial dimensions of advanced reactor deployment. This role reports directly to the CEO and carries significant influence over BaRupOn’s near-term program trajectory and long-term growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Project Management, or a closely related field.
15+ years of experience managing large-scale nuclear or complex energy infrastructure projects, with preference for direct U.S. SMR, advanced reactor, or nuclear new-build experience.
Proven experience navigating NRC regulatory processes and U.S. nuclear licensing requirements, including 10 CFR Part 50, Part 52, and the emerging Part 53 framework for advanced reactors.
Demonstrated ability to lead large, multidisciplinary project teams across engineering, regulatory, procurement, and construction functions simultaneously.
Track record of successfully managing complex project schedules, multi-hundred-million-dollar budgets, and high-stakes risk mitigation in a regulated environment.
Executive-level stakeholder communication skills, including experience presenting to boards, investors, and federal agency leadership.

Nice To Haves

Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) in the U.S. – preferred.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification – strongly preferred.
Experience with modular construction methods, nuclear project execution strategies, and digital project management platforms.
Active membership in recognized nuclear or project management organizations, such as the American Nuclear Society (ANS) or Project Management Institute (PMI).
Familiarity with nuclear quality assurance programs, including 10 CFR 50 Appendix B and NQA-1 requirements.
Strong negotiation, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills in high-stakes, multi-party project environments.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, development, and execution of BaRupOn’s SMR/MMR projects from concept through construction authorization and operational readiness, ensuring full alignment with company strategy and NRC regulatory requirements.
Develop and own integrated master program schedules, identifying critical path dependencies, key milestones, and resource requirements across all project phases.
Manage project budgets, cost forecasts, and financial reporting, ensuring accountability to executive leadership and investors across all program expenditures.
Implement robust project management processes, governance standards, and quality assurance practices consistent with nuclear industry best practices and NRC requirements.
Coordinate directly with the NRC and other federal and state agencies on all licensing, permitting, and regulatory compliance matters related to project development and site authorization.
Partner with the Director of Licensing & Regulatory Affairs to align project schedules with licensing milestones, ensuring regulatory activities are fully integrated into the program plan.
Monitor NRC licensing progress, identify schedule risks arising from regulatory interactions, and develop mitigation strategies to protect program delivery timelines.
Represent BaRupOn in regulatory proceedings, public comment processes, and federal or state agency engagements related to project siting and permitting.
Lead and coordinate cross-functional project teams spanning engineering, licensing, procurement, construction, operations readiness, and finance to ensure coherent, integrated program execution.
Serve as the primary interface between technical teams and executive leadership, translating complex program status, risks, and decisions into clear, actionable reporting for the CEO, board, and investors.
Drive accountability across all project workstreams, establishing clear ownership, decision-making authority, and escalation paths for program issues.
Evaluate vendor, contractor, and utility partner performance against contractual and technical commitments, and manage relationships to support program objectives.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive program risk register, conducting regular risk assessments and implementing proactive mitigation plans across schedule, cost, technical, and regulatory risk categories.
Build and manage productive long-term relationships with contractors, equipment vendors, utilities, community stakeholders, and industry partners critical to project success.
Provide regular, transparent program updates to executive leadership, the board of directors, investors, and external stakeholders, communicating progress, risks, and strategic decisions with clarity and confidence.
Support business development activities including site selection analysis, offtake negotiations, and early-stage project feasibility studies as BaRupOn’s project pipeline expands.