Senior Licensing Engineer

Bechtel Corporation•Reston, VA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Bechtel executes complex nuclear projects supporting the design, licensing, procurement, and construction of commercial nuclear power facilities and advanced reactor technologies. As an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractor, Bechtel is responsible for developing safety‑focused, regulatory‑compliant designs and delivering high‑quality engineering solutions across balance of plant and supporting nuclear systems. Projects may include first‑of‑a‑kind or next‑generation nuclear technologies, such as AP1000 pressurized water reactors, small modular reactors (SMRs), and other advanced reactor designs, requiring rigorous licensing integration, configuration management, and collaboration with customers, regulators, and technology suppliers. Licensing personnel play a critical role in ensuring that engineering, design, and construction activities align with applicable regulatory frameworks, safety requirements, and project objectives. These efforts directly support the safe, efficient development of modern nuclear infrastructure and long‑term clean‑energy generation. The Senior Licensing Engineer serves as a subject‑matter expert for licensing strategy, regulatory interpretation, and high‑impact technical documentation. This role leads major licensing deliverables, oversees change processes, resolves complex regulatory issues, and supports regulatory engagement for the project. The position advises project leadership and guides the licensing team to ensure safe, compliant, and cost‑effective design integration. This position is designated as part-time telework per our global telework policy and will require at least three days of in-person attendance per week at the assigned office or project. Weekly in-person schedules will be determined by the individual and their supervisor, in consultation with functional or project leadership.

Requirements

Requires bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) or advanced degree in Engineering or related technical field and 8-10 years of relevant experience in nuclear licensing, regulatory compliance, or nuclear engineering.
Demonstrated experience leading licensing scope on large projects.
Ability to obtain and maintain security clearance.
Recognized expertise in nuclear regulatory frameworks and licensing processes.
Ability to develop or defend approaches for meeting or departing from regulatory codes and standards.
Strong experience with complex or first‑of‑a‑kind nuclear technologies and advanced reactor systems.
Ability to lead regulatory meetings and communicate high‑impact technical issues.
Demonstrated ability to oversee change control, configuration management, and QA requirements.
Strong leadership capabilities, including mentoring, team coordination, and strategic problem‑solving.

Responsibilities

Lead development and major updates to licensing basis documents, including SAR chapters, topical reports, and technical reports.
Lead and oversee licensing change processes such as license amendment packages or international equivalents.
Independently assess regulatory risks, develop regulatory strategies, and define mitigation or bounding approaches.
Coordinate licensing positions across disciplines, ensuring consistency with technical, schedule, and contract requirements.
Represent the project in high‑level technical discussions with regulators, customers, and suppliers.
Provide senior‑level QA/QC of all licensing deliverables within assigned scope.
Mentor and train licensing engineers; conduct performance reviews and assist with staffing decisions.
Resolve complex technical issues involving regulatory codes, standards, and design requirements.
Lead preparation of cost estimates and support proposal development related to licensing scope.
Integrate multi‑disciplinary inputs and ensure licensing documentation remains accurate and traceable to design.
Champion improvements to licensing procedures, workflows, tools, and configuration management.
Support development of regulatory roadmaps and long‑term licensing strategies for major initiatives.