Senior Technical Nuclear Expert

The Nuclear Company•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet-scale approach to building nuclear reactors. Through its design-once, build-many approach and coalition building across communities, regulators, and financial stakeholders, The Nuclear Company is committed to delivering safe and reliable electricity at the lowest cost, while catalyzing the nuclear industry toward rapid development in America and globally. About The Role The Senior Technical Nuclear Expert is a highly specialized technical leadership role responsible for providing deep nuclear engineering expertise across reactor systems, safety analysis, regulatory compliance, and nuclear facility design and operations. This position requires extensive knowledge of nuclear physics, reactor theory, safety systems, and NRC regulations to support TNC's fleet-scale nuclear deployment. You'll serve as a subject matter expert and technical authority on nuclear engineering matters, ensuring that all aspects of nuclear facility design, construction, and operations meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and regulatory compliance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering (Master's or Ph.D. strongly preferred)
15+ years of experience in nuclear engineering, reactor design, or nuclear operations
10+ years working with commercial nuclear power plants or advanced reactor designs
5+ years in technical leadership or subject matter expert roles
Expert knowledge of nuclear reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and safety analysis
Deep understanding of reactor systems including primary coolant, emergency core cooling, containment, and auxiliary systems
Proficiency in nuclear safety analysis codes (RELAP, TRACE, PARCS, MCNP, or similar)
Strong knowledge of reactor core design, fuel management, and criticality safety
Experience with probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) and deterministic safety analysis
Understanding of radiation protection, shielding design, and ALARA principles
Knowledge of nuclear materials, corrosion, and aging management
Expert knowledge of NRC regulations (10 CFR Parts 50, 52, 100) and regulatory processes
Strong understanding of ASME Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code Section III (nuclear components)
Familiarity with IEEE standards for nuclear power plant instrumentation and control
Knowledge of ANSI/ANS standards for nuclear facilities
Experience with NRC licensing processes including design certification and COL
Understanding of ITAAC development, performance, and closure processes
Proficiency in nuclear analysis software and computational tools
Strong analytical skills with ability to solve complex technical problems
Experience with technical writing and preparation of regulatory documents
Knowledge of engineering design processes and configuration management
Understanding of digital instrumentation and control systems for nuclear applications
Familiarity with quality assurance and quality control principles

Nice To Haves

Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred
Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering or related field
Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) license or equivalent operational experience
Experience with advanced reactor designs (SMRs, Gen IV reactors)
Background in nuclear construction or commissioning
Experience with digital I&C systems and software-based safety systems
Knowledge of international nuclear standards (IAEA, WENRA)
Publications in peer-reviewed nuclear engineering journals
Active participation in ANS, ASME, or other professional societies
Experience with NRC or international regulatory agencies
Background in nuclear fuel cycle or waste management

Responsibilities

Serve as subject matter expert on nuclear reactor systems, safety analysis, and nuclear engineering principles
Provide advanced technical expertise on nuclear regulatory requirements including 10 CFR Part 50, 10 CFR Part 52, 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, and ASME NQA-1 standards
Lead technical reviews of design and construction processes associated with nuclear facilities
Coordinate technical reviews of facility nuclear safety features
Demonstrate deep knowledge of nuclear technology, reactor operations, and large-scale engineering systems
Provide technical guidance to engineering teams on nuclear safety systems and reactor design
Perform safety evaluations to verify that nuclear systems meet requirements and will perform as needed to afford reasonable assurance of plant safety
Analyze nuclear safety systems including reactor protection, emergency core cooling, and containment systems
Conduct reactor physics analyses including criticality, neutron flux distribution, and fuel burnup calculations
Evaluate reactor control systems and instrumentation for safety-related functions
Perform thermal-hydraulic analysis of reactor core and cooling systems
Assess accident scenarios and develop mitigation strategies
Review passive and active safety systems for defense-in-depth capability
Support NRC licensing activities including design certification, combined license (COL), and operating license applications
Lead ITAAC (Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria) development and closure to demonstrate compliance with design commitments
Prepare and review safety analysis reports (SAR/FSAR) for NRC submission
Support NRC inspections and respond to regulatory questions and requests for additional information (RAIs)
Ensure compliance with 10 CFR 52.103(g) requirements for fuel load authorization
Coordinate with NRC staff on technical issues and regulatory positions
Track and implement regulatory guidance including Standard Review Plans (NUREG-0800), Regulatory Guides, and industry standards
Review and approve nuclear system designs for safety, reliability, and performance
Evaluate equipment qualification for nuclear service including seismic, environmental, and radiation qualification
Assess nuclear fuel design including enrichment, burnup, and reload strategies
Review reactor core design including fuel assembly configuration and control rod patterns
Evaluate radiation protection and shielding design for personnel safety
Support nuclear island layout and arrangement optimization
Review nuclear-grade component specifications and procurement requirements
Ensure compliance with ASME NQA-1 quality assurance requirements for nuclear facilities
Review quality assurance programs for design, procurement, construction, and operations
Support 10 CFR 50 Appendix B implementation and compliance verification
Evaluate supplier quality programs for nuclear-grade components
Review inspection and test procedures for nuclear systems and components
Ensure traceability of nuclear safety-related items throughout the supply chain
Support corrective action programs for nuclear quality issues
Prepare technical reports and white papers on nuclear engineering topics
Develop design basis documents and technical specifications
Review and approve calculations, analyses, and technical evaluations
Create technical training materials for nuclear engineering staff
Document lessons learned from nuclear projects and operations
Maintain technical basis documents for design decisions and regulatory commitments
Interface with NRC staff on technical and regulatory matters
Collaborate with reactor vendors and nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) suppliers
Engage with industry organizations (NEI, EPRI, ANS) on nuclear standards and best practices
Present technical information to executives, board members, and external stakeholders
Support public outreach on nuclear safety and technology
Mentor junior engineers and technical staff on nuclear engineering principles
Provide nuclear technical expertise to Nuclear OS development teams
Ensure Nuclear OS features align with nuclear safety requirements and regulatory expectations
Review AI/ML applications for nuclear safety implications
Support digital twin development with nuclear system modeling expertise
Validate automated compliance tracking for nuclear regulatory requirements
Ensure technical accuracy of nuclear engineering data in Nuclear OS