Nuclear Quality Representative

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Nuclear Quality Representative (early-to-mid career) to support the implementation of quality program requirements for Research & Development (R&D), Pilot Production, and emerging Manufacturing activities within the Enrichment Science and Engineering Division (ESED). This position resides in the Isotope Enrichment & Facilities Group within the Quality Assurance Division (QAD), Environment, Safety, Health, and Quality (ESH&Q) Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and is matrixed to the Systems & Process Assurance (SPA) Section within ESED, with primary support to Production Inventory Control and Manufacturing organizations. This role is ideal for a technically grounded, collaborative quality professional who understands nuclear quality requirements (e.g., NQA-1) and can apply them pragmatically and effectively within a fast-paced, evolving environment—balancing compliance with mission execution. As a field-deployed Nuclear Quality Representative, you will partner closely with engineering, design, procurement, and manufacturing teams to ensure quality requirements are appropriately defined, tailored, and implemented.

Requirements

B.S. with 5-7 years of relevant nuclear quality experience or an M.S. with 4-7 years of relevant nuclear quality experience
Ability to hold and maintain a DOE Q security clearance
Experience supporting R&D, production, construction or manufacturing environments
Possess in-depth knowledge of quality requirements and standards associated with, DOE O 414, NQA-1, and ISO 9001:2015
The ability to work flexible hours.
Minor travel may be necessary.
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence without authority
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment

Nice To Haves

Active DOE Q clearance
2+ years of experience in experimental R&D within a large, multiprogram research environment
Experience applying quality requirements in transition environments (R&D to production/manufacturing)
Experience working with design organizations on requirement flowdown
Familiarity with: Inspection and test planning, Traceability and configuration control, Supplier oversight and audits
Experience in nuclear, radiological, or high-consequence industries
Lead auditor or assessment experience

Responsibilities

Implement and support a graded approach to quality, ensuring rigor is commensurate with risk and technical maturity
Partner with Design, Procurement, and Manufacturing teams to define and flow down quality requirements that are both compliant and executable
Serve as a trusted advisor to customers, aligning quality expectations with operational needs
Support development and review of: Procurement and design specifications, Fabrication and inspection plans, Work packages and procedures
Assist in establishing appropriate quality controls (e.g., inspection points, traceability, configuration management)
Evaluate and tailor application of NQA-1 and related standards to fit the scope and complexity of the work
Lead or support assessments, focusing on effectiveness and practical implementation, not just compliance
Perform supplier evaluations, audits, and oversight activities as needed
Support nonconformance resolution and practical corrective actions
Participate in critiques and causal analyses with a focus on learning and improvement
Build strong working relationships across organizations to enable quality through collaboration, not enforcement alone