Nuclear Engineer

National Nuclear Security Administration•Washington, DC

About The Position

This position is part of the Deputy Administrator for Naval Reactors, Department of Energy. The Deputy Administrator is also the Director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program and Deputy Commander of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Directorate, Naval Sea Systems Command. The position serves as Director, US/UK Technology Exchange, advising the Director of the External Affairs Division on policies affecting program planning, budgets, priorities, and complex issues concerning nuclear-powered warships. The role manages the budget and US prime contractor workforce supporting the nuclear propulsion plant technology exchange program between Naval Reactors and the UK Ministry of Defense. It oversees procurement, manufacture, and transportation of US-manufactured reactor plant government-furnished equipment for the UK, including reimbursable industrial base development. The position coordinates support for UK submarine shipbuilding and maintenance, including design of the SSN-AUKUS Class and related technology transfer and US embed management. The position provides technical leadership to engineers and project managers, advises senior government and industry officials on submarine nuclear propulsion plant design and lifecycle matters, and coordinates US/UK research and development projects. It also aligns priorities and messaging with the Naval Reactors AUKUS Technical Director and manages external correspondence and engagements, including Congressional briefings and information requests.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship is required.
Obtain and maintain an interim and/or final DOE Q level security clearance before entering duty.
Pass a pre-employment drug test and submit to random testing.
Submit an OGE-450 financial disclosure report upon entering the position and annually.
Provide two forms of identification under HSPD-12.
Meet at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-15 or NN-04 in the Federal service, including extensive knowledge of advanced nuclear engineering principles.
Have knowledge of applying nuclear propulsion to naval nuclear reactor plant design, construction, repair, maintenance, modernization, testing, and operation, and of nuclear safety regulations, practices, and procedures.
Have knowledge and ability to coordinate external correspondence and engagement pertaining to technology exchange.
Meet the basic engineer education or qualification requirements: a bachelor's degree or higher in engineering; an appropriate professional bachelor's degree plus at least one year of professionally supervised engineering experience; at least 60 semester hours in specified physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and engineering courses; or qualifying Professional Engineer registration in or closely related to nuclear engineering.
Provide transcripts supporting educational claims; foreign education must be reviewed by an organization recognized by the US Department of Education.
Submit a resume no longer than two pages.
Meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

Advise the Director, External Affairs Division for Naval Reactors on policy issues affecting major program planning, budgets, and priority objectives.
Advise on complex problems affecting nuclear-powered warships.
Apply fiscal, contracting, security, and administrative policies and practices to manage the budget and US prime contractor workforce for the US/UK nuclear propulsion plant technology exchange program.
Direct and oversee procurement, manufacture, and transportation of US-manufactured reactor plant government-furnished equipment procured for the UK, including reimbursable industrial base development.
Coordinate Naval Reactors and prime contractor support for UK submarine shipbuilding and maintenance programs, including design of the SSN-AUKUS Class.
Oversee technology transfer efforts supporting SSN-AUKUS, including US embed management, to enable timely and cost-effective technology insertion.
Provide technical guidance and leadership to supervised engineers and project managers, and coordinate technical personnel to keep them informed of technological, scheduling, and administrative changes.
Advise senior domestic and foreign government and industry officials on submarine nuclear propulsion plant design, construction, operation, safety, regulation, maintenance, and disposal.
Coordinate and promote US and UK technical personnel's mutually beneficial propulsion plant research and development projects.
Coordinate with the Naval Reactors AUKUS Technical Director to align strategic priorities and messaging with the UK in support of the AUKUS initiative.
Coordinate external correspondence and engagements related to US/UK Technology Exchange, including Congressional briefings and requests for information.