Director/Vice President, Nuclear Engineering

Lever, Inc.; Southwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Canadian Strategic Missions Corp. (CSMC) seeks a Director/VP of Nuclear Engineering to shape the company’s nuclear strategy and lead reactor design activities.

You’ll guide engineering governance, safety analyses and regulatory readiness, coordinating with executives to advance microreactor technology from concept to prototype and deployment. This on-site role is based in Waterloo, Ontario, five days a week.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or higher) in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 10–15+ years of experience in nuclear engineering, reactor development, or regulated nuclear programs.
• Demonstrated CNSC-regulated environment experience (VDR, PDR or licensing).
• Strong understanding of nuclear systems, reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, and multiphysics analysis.
• Hands-on with tools such as ANSYS, COMSOL, OpenFOAM, MCNP, SERPENT, or equivalent.
• Experience in nuclear management systems and CSA N286/N299.
• Proven leadership in engineering teams or technical programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Thrives in fast-paced, early-stage engineering environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead Nuclear Engineering department: reactor design, analysis, modelling, systems integration.
• Establish engineering processes per CSA N286, N299 and CNSC expectations for design control and baselining.
• Provide technical authority across reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, multiphysics modelling, safety engineering decisions.
• Oversee microreactor development: core design, heat-transport, shielding, safety components.
• Guide teams in producing high-quality deliverables and design documentation.
• Support prototyping, test planning and experimental validation.
• Support CNSC engagement: VDR, pre-licensing discussions and licensing strategy.
• Ensure outputs meet regulatory defensibility and licensing basis.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs, quality and safety to prepare technical docs.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams and external partners across concurrent projects.
• Lead technical planning, resource allocation, risk management and execution oversight.
• Support proposal development, customer engagement and strategic partnerships.
• Produce high-quality technical reports, studies and assessments.
• Present findings to executives, regulators, partners and review boards.
• Represent CSMC in technical forums and industry groups.

Skills

Nuclear engineering leadership

Reactor physics

Safety analysis

Regulatory engagement

Technical communication

Project management

Team leadership

Analytical modelling

Education

Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering or related field

PhD in a related field (optional)

Tools

ANSYS

COMSOL

OpenFOAM

MCNP

SERPENT

Job description

About Canadian Strategic Missions Corp. (CSMC)

Canadian Strategic Missions Corporation is building the capabilities that will shape Canada's future in space, defence, and energy. We focus on developing dual use systems that address critical challenges here on Earth while enabling sustained human activity beyond it.

Ina short time, CSMC hasestablishedreal momentum. WE have secured significant government investment to advance next generation micro nuclear reactors in partnership with leading institutions, alongside expanding a portfolio of technologies designed for remote environments, national defence, and future space missions. These efforts reflect a broader ambition to deliver reliable power and critical infrastructure where it matters most.

Our work is grounded in close collaboration with government and guided by a clear sense of purpose: to build sovereign capability at a time when it has never been more important. We care deeply about execution, long term impact and earning the trust required to deliver systems that will service Canada and its allies for decades.

CSMC is a company for builders. We are a group of people drawn to hard problems, meaningfulimpactand the opportunity to shape systems that matterata national and global scale. We are building a team that thrives in ambiguity, values execution, and is motivated by mission and impact.

Position Overview

The Director/VP of Nuclear Engineering is a senior technical leader responsible for CSMC’s nuclear engineering strategy, reactor design activities, and engineering governance. This role provides leadership across reactor physics, thermal‑hydraulics, systems engineering, safety analysis, and regulatory readiness, while supporting early CNSC engagement and licensing strategy.

You will work directly with the CEO, COO, Chief Scientist, and EVP Engineering Emeritus, playing a central role in advancing CSMC’s microreactor technology from concept to prototype and deployment.

This is an on‑site leadership role based in Waterloo, Ontario, 5 days a week.

Key Responsibilities

Nuclear Engineering Leadership

• Lead the Nuclear Engineering department, including reactor design, analysis, modelling, and systems integration.
• Establish engineering processes aligned with CSA N286, N299, and CNSC expectations for design control, configuration management, and technical baselining.
• Provide technical authority across reactor physics, thermal‑hydraulics, multiphysics modelling, and safety‑critical engineering decisions.

Reactor Design & Development

• Oversee development of microreactor systems, including core design, heat‑transport systems, shielding, and safety‑related components.
• Guide engineering teams in producing high‑quality technical deliverables, design documentation, and analysis packages.
• Support prototyping, test planning, and experimental validation activities

Regulatory & Licensing Support

• Support early‑stage regulatory engagement, including CNSC Vendor Design Review (VDR), pre‑licensing discussions, and licensing strategy development.
• Ensure engineering outputs meet regulatory defensibility standards and align with licensing basis expectations.
• Collaborate with regulatory affairs, quality, and safety teams to prepare technical basis documents, safety analyses, and design submissions.

Program & Project Leadership

• Manage multidisciplinary engineering teams and external partners across multiple concurrent projects.
• Lead technical planning, resource allocation, risk management, and execution oversight.
• Support proposal development, customer engagement, and strategic partnerships with government, national labs, and industry.

Technical Communication & Stakeholder Engagement

• Produce high‑quality technical reports, studies, and engineering assessments.
• Present engineering findings to executives, regulators, partners, and internal review boards.
• Represent CSMC in technical forums, industry groups, and strategic discussions.

Required Qualifications

• Master’s degree (or higher) in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• 10–15+ years of experience in nuclear engineering, reactor development, or regulated nuclear programs.
• Demonstrated experience in CNSC‑regulated environments, including VDR, PDR, or facility licensing.
• Strong understanding of nuclear systems, reactor physics, thermal‑hydraulics, and multiphysics analysis.
• Hands‑on experience with tools such as ANSYS, COMSOL, OpenFOAM, MCNP, SERPENT, or equivalent.
• Experience working within a nuclear management system and nuclear QA environment (CSA N286/N299).
• Proven leadership experience managing engineering teams or technical programs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, early‑stage engineering environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with advanced reactors, microreactors, or FOAK nuclear technologies.
• Experience in defence, aerospace, or remote‑operations energy systems.
• Background in robotics, automation, or mechatronics (asset).
• Experience with prototyping, experimental systems, or test loop development.
• Familiarity with nuclear economics, policy, and deployment strategy.

Why Join CSMC

CSMC is building technologies that will shape Canada’s future in energy, space, and national security. You’lljoin a team of engineers, scientists, and mission‑driven builders who care deeply about solving hard problems that matter. We move quickly, support each other, and take pride in doing work that hasrealimpact. Along the way,you’llhave access to competitive compensation, benefits, and equity, and the chance to grow with a company that values ownership, curiosity, and technical excellence.

Employment Eligibility

CSMC works with highly sensitive nuclear, defence, and aerospace technologies, and all roles require eligibility for federal security screening and compliance with controlled goods and export regulations. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Canada, able to obtain and maintain Government of Canada security clearance, and eligible to meet foreign affiliation and export control requirements. These conditions are mandatory Bona Fide Occupational Requirements and reflect the need to securely develop and protect nationally significant capabilities.