Manager, Licensing

AECON • Charlotte, NC

1d

About The Position

We are seeking a Licensing Manager to lead and play a key role in the licensing and regulatory strategy for advanced reactors, SMRs, and other nuclear new build projects. This position will help build Aecon’s U.S. Nuclear Licensing organization and directly support deployment of advanced reactors and SMRs across North America. The Licensing Manager will serve as a strategic leader, helping customers navigate regulatory pathways while supporting pursuit, development, and execution of next-generation nuclear energy projects. This position offers the opportunity to directly support NRC interactions, licensing basis development, and the deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies. This role serves as a technical leader within the licensing organization, providing strategic regulatory guidance, mentoring junior engineers, and supporting business growth initiatives across Advanced Reactor and Nuclear New Development programs. Due to the nature of work that Aecon performs, candidates must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States with the ability to obtain unescorted access to a Nuclear Power Plant.

Requirements

• B.S. in Nuclear Engineering or a related engineering discipline from an accredited four-year university.
• 10+ years of overall licensing experience.
• Experience leading and growing technical teams to impact client projects throughout AESI.
• Working knowledge of applicable NRC regulations including 10 CFR Parts 50, 52, 71, 72, and associated guidance documents.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Must be able to obtain unescorted access to nuclear plants and other facilities requiring background checks and pre-employment/random screening.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting licensing of advanced reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Design Certifications, Construction Permits, Combined License Applications (COLA), or Part 52 licensing activities is preferred.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license in the U.S. preferred.
• Field experience at an operating nuclear plant preferred.
• Advanced reactor licensing.
• Design Certification Applications (DCA).
• Construction Permits (CP).
• Combined License Applications (COLA).
• Early Site Permits (ESP).
• Part 53 framework development.
• Reactor vendor engagement (X-energy, GEH, TerraPower, Holtec, Westinghouse).

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review engineering and licensing documents assessing the safety analyses impacts of nuclear plant modifications and license.
• Prepare and review technical responses on behalf of the client for eventual submittal to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) correspondence, including bulletins, information notices, generic letters, and requests for additional information from the NRC pertaining to installation, modification, or license activities at an operating nuclear power plant.
• Engage in and maintain an awareness of nuclear industry regulatory trends and changes that relate to operating nuclear power plants, nuclear power plant decommissioning, spent nuclear fuel, and ISFSI operations.
• Work with the project team to develop licensing, quality assurance, and environmental compliance positions and strategies.
• Perform regulatory reviews of impacts or changes to nuclear plant UFSAR, Operating License, Technical Specifications & Bases, Plans and Programs to ensure they do not reduce regulatory effectiveness or commitment.
• Prepare and review licensing procedures, documents, regulatory interpretations, and reports to management.
• Perform and/or review a License Amendment Request (LAR) along with justification to the NRC when there is a potential reduction in regulatory effectiveness or commitment.
• Perform and/or review 10 CFR 50.59 and 10 CFR 72.48 Screens and Evaluations of plant activities.
• Maintain a working knowledge of applicable NRC Regulatory Guidance documents, NEI Guidelines, and Industry Standards.
• Serve as the primary interface with the NRC, supporting audits, inspections, public meetings, regulatory engagements, and Requests for Additional Information (RAIs).
• Support licensing basis management, commitment management, configuration control, and regulatory requirements traceability.
• Support licensing activities associated with Nuclear Quality Assurance programs, including NRC and ASME NQA-1 requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentoring to junior licensing engineers and multidisciplinary project teams.
• Support NRC relationship management, inspections, audits, assessments, and regulatory readiness activities.
• Build, manage, and mentor a growing licensing organization within Aecon U.S. Nuclear.
• Develop staffing plans, recruiting strategies, and resource forecasts to support future project opportunities.
• Establish licensing processes, procedures, tools, and governance frameworks.
• Support integration of licensing activities with engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and quality assurance organizations.
• Participate in development of project execution strategies and licensing risk mitigation plans for major EPC pursuits.
• Lead development and implementation of licensing interfaces with Nuclear Quality Assurance programs compliant with ASME NQA-1 requirements.
• Support regulatory readiness assessments, audits, supplier qualification activities, and licensing-related quality program development.
• Develop regulatory strategy.
• Develop licensing roadmap.
• Conduct vendor qualification reviews.
• Support stakeholder engagement.
• Manage licensing risk.
• Support proposal development.
• Perform customer-facing presentations and workshops.

Benefits

• Health Insurance Benefits (Comprehensive Plan - Dental, Medical, Vision).
• 401(k) (comprehensive match plan).
• Paid Vacation (vacation/wellness days).
• Health and Wellness Home Benefit (wellness subsidy for fitness/health).
• Tuition Reimbursement (strong career growth support for approved degrees, diplomas, and courses).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager