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The Nuclear Company

Senior Technical Nuclear Expert

The Nuclear Company, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127

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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.

Senior Technical Nuclear Expert

Position Overview The Senior Technical Nuclear Expert is a highly specialized technical leadership role responsible for providing 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.

Key Responsibilities Nuclear Technical Leadership & Expertise

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

Reactor Systems & Safety

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

Review passive and active safety systems

for defense‑in‑depth capability

Regulatory Compliance & Licensing

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

Quality Assurance & Standards

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 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

Technical Documentation & Analysis

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

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

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 >Required Qualifications Education & Experience

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

Professional Engineer (PE) license preferred

Nuclear Technical Expertise

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

Regulatory & Standards Knowledge

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)

amiliarity

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

Technical Skills

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

Soft Skills

Excellent communication skills

with ability to explain complex nuclear concepts to diverse audiences

Strong leadership

and mentoring capabilities

Strategic thinking

with focus on safety and regulatory compliance

Attention to detail

for safety‑critical applications

Ability to work collaboratively

across multidisciplinary teams

Problem‑solving mindset

with systematic approach to technical challenges

Preferred Qualifications

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

Office‑based with occasional site visits to nuclear construction sites and operating plants

Collaboration with engineering teams, regulatory agencies, and industry partners

Travel to NRC headquarters, industry conferences, and project sites (20‑30%)

Interaction with senior leadership and external stakeholders

May require security clearance for certain projects

Why This Role Matters As TNC pursues fleet‑scale nuclear deployment, the Senior Technical Nuclear Expert provides the critical nuclear engineering expertise needed to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient design, construction, and operation of nuclear facilities. Your deep knowledge of nuclear systems, safety analysis, and regulatory requirements will be essential to achieving NRC licensing, maintaining the highest safety standards, and building confidence with regulators and stakeholders. This role is fundamental to TNC’s mission of accelerating clean, carbon‑free nuclear energy deployment while maintaining uncompromising commitment to nuclear safety.

Compensation

Competitive compensation packages

401k with company match

Estimated Starting Salary Range The estimated starting salary range for this role is $170000 - $200000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi‑weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.

EEO Statement The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.

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