Nuclear Safety and Criticality Lead

Quantum Leap Energy • ,

5d • Onsite

About The Position

This role is responsible for leading nuclear safety, criticality, and radiological protection analysis across both Quantum Enrichment (laser‑based) and Aerodynamic Separation (ASP) programs, from lab experiments through pilot and plant‑scale facilities. The engineer will own the development of nuclear criticality safety evaluations, radiation exposure and shielding analyses, and associated limits and controls that underpin safe enrichment process design and operation. Working cross‑functionally with experimentalists, simulation engineers, and process designers, this role ensures that safety basis assumptions, exposure limits, and criticality constraints are correctly translated into hardware design, operating procedures, and scale‑up plans. This is a safety‑critical lead position with significant influence on design decisions, operating envelopes, and regulatory posture.

Requirements

• 5–10+ years of relevant experience in nuclear criticality safety, radiation protection, or nuclear safety analysis in fuel‑cycle, reactor, or research facility environments
• Demonstrated experience performing and documenting nuclear criticality safety evaluations and/or shielding and dose analyses using industry‑standard codes
• Experience supporting design or modification of facilities handling fissile or radioactive materials, including participation in formal safety reviews or licensing processes
• Experience mentoring engineers or leading safety‑focused technical efforts, with a track record of sound technical judgment in safety‑critical contexts
• Deep knowledge of nuclear criticality safety principles, methods, and regulations, including experience preparing or reviewing formal criticality safety evaluations for fuel‑cycle or similar facilities
• Strong understanding of radiation physics, shielding design, and dose assessment, including familiarity with Monte Carlo or deterministic transport tools used for shielding and criticality analysis
• Familiarity with relevant nuclear safety standards and guidance (e.g., NRC, DOE, or international equivalents) and their application to fuel‑cycle/enrichment or research facilities
• Ability to connect unit‑level physics models (e.g., neutron transport, source terms) to system‑level safety margins, operating envelopes, and design constraints for enrichment processes
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, including competence with technical computing tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, or similar) for pre/post‑processing, sensitivity studies, and uncertainty analysis
• Effective collaboration skills for working with experimental, simulation, process, and operations teams, and for translating safety requirements into clear, actionable guidance
• Clear written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain safety assumptions, limits, and residual risks to both technical staff and non‑specialist stakeholders

Nice To Haves

• Prior exposure to enrichment, fuel‑cycle, or advanced nuclear technology programs is highly desirable; experience in early‑stage or R&D environments is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead development and maintenance of nuclear criticality safety evaluations for enrichment equipment and processes (laser‑based and aerodynamic), including definition of subcritical limits, double‑contingency arguments, and administrative/engineered controls
• Perform radiation transport, dose, and shielding calculations for lab setups, test rigs, and scale‑up facilities to ensure worker, public, and environmental exposures remain within applicable limits and ALARA principles
• Define and maintain nuclear safety and criticality limits, assumptions, and requirements and ensure they are correctly implemented in equipment design, operating procedures, and interlock/monitoring systems
• Support hazard analysis and safety‑basis development for new experiments and process configurations, including identification of credible accident scenarios, source terms, and radiological consequences
• Review and approve nuclear safety and criticality analyses performed by internal and external contributors, providing independent checks of assumptions, modelling approaches, and calculation adequacy
• Prepare clear technical reports, documentation, and presentations for internal stakeholders and regulatory bodies
• Specify and interpret radiological monitoring and dosimetry requirements for lab and facility operations, including guidance on survey practices, instrumentation, and personnel dose assessments
• Provide nuclear safety input into process and facility design reviews, including equipment layout, shielding design, material holdup/segregation strategies, and fissile material handling and storage schemes
• Develop and maintain documentation such as Criticality Safety Evaluations, radiation shielding and dose reports, operating limits and conditions, and contributions to safety basis or licensing packages
• Act as a key technical interface with external reviewers and regulators on nuclear safety, shielding, and criticality topics, helping to substantiate the safety case for novel enrichment technologies

Benefits

• Competitive base salary aligned to global compensation bands and local market data
• Bonus eligibility: Target % based on level and impact
• Equity participation: Reflecting your contribution to QLE’s long-term success
• Comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for global mobility across US, UK, and ZA operations

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree