Senior Licensing Engineer - Environmental

Blue Energy•Chevy Chase, MD

About The Position

Blue Energy’s mission is to unlock energy abundance, energy affordability, energy security, and turn-key decarbonization by developing the fastest path to deploying new nuclear MWs at scale. We are utilizing shipyard manufacturing supply chains and techniques from offshore oil and wind to reduce the cost of nuclear plants by over 60% and the manufacturing timeline to 24 months. Blue Energy is a platform technology that makes use of the latest NRC-approved reactors and is in negotiations with existing nuclear and industrial sites, enabling a much faster regulatory pathway to deploy our first unit. With our innovative centralized shipyard manufacturing approach, we can put nuclear power on a cost-reduction learning curve akin to wind, solar, and lithium-ion batteries. Role Summary We are seeking a talented Senior Licensing Engineer - Environmental to join our regulatory team to bring our innovative nuclear power plant designs through the regulatory approval process. You will play a critical role in Blue Energy’s mission by supporting the regulatory strategy, collaborating with the engineering team and commercial/development team, and engaging with the NRC and other regulatory agencies. You will support critical NRC interactions, spanning from topical report submissions to licensing applications. You will lead key regulatory projects, directly contributing to submissions and managing external vendors used to support our regulatory efforts.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher in science (e.g., physics, chemistry, etc) or engineering (nuclear, mechanical, electrical, or a related field).
8+ years of experience in regulatory affairs or licensing within the nuclear industry or a relevant governmental agency (e.g., NRC, DOE).
Deep knowledge of NRC regulations, licensing processes, and safety standards.
Experience with 10 CFR Part 50 and 10 CFR Part 51, especially the construction permit application process; experience with Gen 3+ or advanced reactor designs is a plus.
Strong ability to interpret complex regulatory requirements and translate them into actionable tasks.
Excellent communication (both verbal and written) and project management skills, with a proven track record of working effectively with engineering, legal, and regulatory teams.
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced startup environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience working on small modular reactors (SMRs) or other advanced reactor technologies.
Experience with PSD/NSR air permitting for natural gas turbine power projects.
Experience working in a collaborative, high-growth startup environment where problem-solving and adaptability are crucial.
Extensive experience with NEPA projects and the development of detailed environmental site assessments.
Experience with site screening, site selection, and site due diligence for industrial projects.

Responsibilities

Support VP of Regulatory Affairs and the Director of Environment & Permitting in developing and executing Blue Energy’s licensing/permitting strategy for nuclear power plant deployment.
Perform and lead licensing/permitting work (e.g., topical report development and RAI responses) collaboratively with Blue Energy licensing staff and contractors.
Prepare, submit, and track regulatory filings, including Blue Energy’s Construction Permit Application (CPA), and supporting documents needed to support the NRC licensing process.
Develop topical reports, white papers, Environmental Reports (ERs), and other federal/state/local permit applications, as needed.
Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to ensure alignment between regulatory requirements and engineering designs, site selection, and plant construction timelines.
Interface with the NRC and other federal/state/local regulatory bodies to address regulatory questions, provide data, and manage requests for additional information (RAIs).
Participate in regulatory meetings, audits, and inspections, representing Blue Energy’s interests to ensure smooth and timely licensing.
Stay current with evolving regulatory standards and frameworks, including NRC regulations (e.g., 10 CFR 51), NUREGs, and relevant international guidelines, to anticipate their impact on Blue Energy’s projects.
Collaborate with engineering teams and vendors to develop and review documentation supporting regulatory submissions and design certification applications.
Build and maintain relationships with regulators, policymakers, and external stakeholders to advocate for policy changes that enable more efficient nuclear power deployment.