Nuclear Safety & Licensing Lead Engineer

About Zap Energy

Zap is advancing the next generation of nuclear power technology across fusion, fission and hybrid applications. Built on an integrated platform of high-energy-density physics and pulsed power, liquid metals and advanced materials, and compact, modular systems, Zap is building the foundational technologies needed to deploy the energy sources of the future.

About The Opportunity

Zap Energy is seeking a Nuclear Safety & Licensing Engineer to lead efforts in support of the Zap Micro Reactor (ZMR) program. In this role, you will be a part of an integrated project team to deliver a liquid metal cooled fission reactor in support of Zap’s integrated nuclear mission. The ideal candidate has experience navigating both NRC and DOE regulatory frameworks, including development of a robust risk-informed performance-based (RIPB) safety case for advanced fission reactors. This role requires identifying and solving ill-defined first-of-a-kind problems. Being a team player is foundational to success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership: Plan, organize and lead an integrated nuclear safety case and licensing approach within an NQA-1 program that includes:

• DOE/NRC Engagement Planning
  
  

• Safety/Licensing Basis Event identification
  
  

• Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA)
  
  

• SSC Safety Classification
  
  

• Transient Analysis
  
  

• Software V&V
  
  

• Integration of Safety Case, Design, and Testing Activities
  
  

• Development of Safety Case Documentation
• Line Manager: Build out the Nuclear Safety & Licensing team. Act as line manager for your team. Develop and monitor metrics to assess and improve team performance. Own your team’s technical performance, delivery of scope, and their professional development.
• Individual Contribution: Perform engineering analysis in support of safety case development. Write high quality documentation with rigor commensurate with the stage of the project and required quality level. Plan and assign work packages to meet schedule milestones. Review and approve safety deliverables. Be the primary point of contact for the ZMR safety basis.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with design, testing, and integration teams to ensure design basis and safety basis are in-sync. Identify and evaluate engineering trade-offs for safety basis and design basis, especially when in conflict. Identify key testing activities to simplify or bolster safety case. Actively identify areas for engineering and process improvement, including implementation of solutions.
• Quality Assurance: Perform work within a graded quality assurance program. Identify and implement right-sized solutions to increase efficiency in execution, especially for cross-organizational functions related to quality assurance.
  
  

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering or related field from an ABET-accredited program is required.
• Technical Experience: At least 8 years of experience in nuclear reactor safety basis development, safety analysis, NRC licensing, and DOE authorization, preferably related to advanced reactors, especially liquid metal or molten salt designs.
• Technical Skills: Expert in nuclear safety case development. Expert in NRC licensing and/or DOE authorization framework, including accepted methodologies and standards. Proficiency in nuclear reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, and transient behavior. Experience using reactor analysis tools and software, including writing design and calculation reports. Knowledge of modern software engineering practices and programming languages, such as Python.
• Managerial Experience: At least 2 years of experience managing a team of three or more direct reports.
• Communication: Excellent technical writing skills and the ability to clearly present complex information to both internal and external stakeholders, including regulators.
• Licenses/Certifications: A Professional Engineer (PE) license is a bonus.
  
  

Personal Attributes And Skills

• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and ethical standards in engineering, including the ability to infuse this commitment throughout the organization.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail.
• Self-starter and can-do attitude.
• Familiarity and competence with basic program management processes and tools.
• Outside the box thinking, grounded in practical engineering solutions.
• Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
• The ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Adaptability, resilience, and commitment to continuous learning.
  
  

Employment may be conditioned upon the ability to obtain export authorization. Estimated salary range: $150,000-210,000 annually. Candidates may be considered for other positions at Zap Energy and actual salary will be based on relevant education, experience, and other qualifications. Range is published in accordance with Washington Equal Pay and Opportunity Act.

Zap Energy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.