Head of Nuclear Operations & Economics

Steady Energy; Finland; Hybrid; EUR 89,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Insurance coverage

Paid annual leave

Epassi lunch benefit

Hybrid/remote options

Career progression

Job summary

Steady Energy, a Finnish nuclear technology company, seeks a Head of Nuclear Operations & Economics to build the operating model and the economics for its future LDR-50 fleet. You will shape the organization, define maintenance and O&M practices, and lead the transition from development to commercial operations.

As part of the leadership team, you will collaborate with external partners, influence plant design for lifecycle cost efficiency, and map the capabilities and roadmaps required to

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in power, heating or complex plant operations, ideally with nuclear exposure.
• Strong understanding of plant operations, maintenance, and asset management.
• Solid commercial and financial understanding of operating economics and OPEX structures.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering, economics or related field.
• Ability to translate complex operational requirements into clear operating models and plans.
• Experience working across organizational boundaries with external partners.
• Excellent written and spoken Finnish and English.

Responsibilities

• Define and develop the operating and maintenance model for Steady Energy’s future nuclear fleet, from development through operational readiness.
• Develop OPEX models and optimize operating cost drivers for fleet operations.
• Define capabilities and resources for a standardized fleet, including external partners.
• Collaborate with the nuclear operator partner to develop operating and maintenance practices.
• Influence LDR-50 design and development by embedding operational and lifecycle economics into engineering decisions.
• Build the roadmap and ways of working for transitioning to first commercial operations.

Skills

Power plant operations

Nuclear energy exposure

Asset management

Operations finance

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in engineering or economics

Job description

Steady Energy is a Finnish nuclear technology company developing the LDR-50, a new generation of nuclear heating plants designed to provide emission-free heat for cities and industry.

We are now looking for a Head of Nuclear Operations & Economics to take a key role in building the foundations for how our future nuclear fleet will operate.

This is a unique opportunity to build the operating model, economics and organization for a new nuclear fleet – and grow with it from development into operations leadership.

You will shape how our plants will be operated and maintained, what their operating organization will look like, and how we achieve safe and cost-efficient fleet operations. As our first commercial plants move towards operations, your role and responsibilities will grow with them.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build the operating model: Define and develop the operating and maintenance model for Steady Energy’s future nuclear fleet, from development through operational readiness.
• Shape the economics of fleet operations: Develop OPEX models, understand and optimize operating cost drivers, and own operations-related inputs to our financial models and business cases.
• Build the future operations organization: Define the capabilities, organizational structure and resources required to operate a standardized fleet efficiently, including the optimal use of external partners.
• Lead our operations partnership: Work closely with our experienced nuclear operator partner to develop operating and maintenance practices.
• Bring an operator’s perspective into plant design: Influence LDR-50 design and development by bringing operational, maintainability and lifecycle economics into engineering decisions.
• Prepare for commercial operations: Build the roadmap, capabilities and ways of working required as Steady Energy transitions from technology development into operating its first commercial plants.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of relevant experience in power, heating or other complex plant operations, ideally with exposure to nuclear energy.
• A strong understanding of plant operations, maintenance, and asset management.
• Solid commercial and financial understanding of plant operating economics and OPEX structures.
• A relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree in engineering, economics or related field.
• The ability to turn complex operational requirements into clear operating models, plans, and practical ways of working.
• Experience working across organizational boundaries and with external operating, maintenance, or technical partners.
• Excellent written and spoken Finnish and English.

We are looking for someone who can think like both an operator and a builder.

You understand what it takes to operate industrial assets safely, reliably and economically, but you are equally motivated by the opportunity to create something that does not yet exist. You can move comfortably between operating economics, organizational design, technical discussions, and strategic decisions.

You can challenge established ways of working; simplify complexity and make pragmatic decisions about what capabilities Steady Energy should build internally and where experienced partners can create greater value.

Most importantly, you are excited by the opportunity to build today what you may lead tomorrow.

What We Offer:

This is an opportunity to join Steady Energy at a defining stage: our technology is moving towards commercial deployment, and the operating organization and model for our future fleet are now being built.

You will have significant influence over how Steady Energy approaches nuclear operations from the beginning, from operating economics and organizational capabilities to O&M strategy and operational readiness.

The role is designed to evolve with the company. As our first plants move from development and construction into operations, you will have the opportunity to grow into a broader nuclear operations leadership role and help shape how an entirely new fleet is operated.

• Comprehensive occupational health care (through Terveystalo Sujuva).
• Accident and travel insurance cover both work and leisure time.
• Paid annual leave from the start of employment.
• Epassi benefits: lunch and flex-benefit.
• Salary range: € 8 000 – € 9 000 per month depending on experience.
• Flexible hybrid/remote working options where applicable.
• Opportunities for learning, professional growth, and career progression.
• Location: Espoo or Rauma
• Working model: Hybrid, remote work practices are agreed within the team
• Employment type: Permanent, full-time
• Preferred start date: As soon as possible

Other Terms and Conditions:

The position requires a security clearance conducted by the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (Supo). Employment is subject to passing clearance.

About Steady Energy:

Steady Energy is a Finnish nuclear technology company developing the LDR-50, a simplified small modular reactor designed specifically for district heating.

We are moving rapidly from technology development towards commercial deployment. Construction of our full-scale LDR-50 pilot is underway in Helsinki, with testing scheduled to begin in 2027. Our goal is to move towards the first commercial plant investment and construction in the coming years and commercial operations in the early 2030s.

Operations are a fundamental part of our business model. Steady Energy intends to develop a standardized fleet of nuclear heating plants and take responsibility for their operation and maintenance. In 2026, we deepened our cooperation with Fortum, which brings decades of nuclear operating experience to the development of our O&M model and future operations.

Our ambition is not simply to build individual nuclear plants, but to create a scalable model for operating a fleet safely, reliably and cost-effectively. For the person joining us as Head of Nuclear Operations & Economics, this means an unusual opportunity: the operating model, economics and organization you help build now will form the foundation for how our future fleet operates.