Nuclear safety analysis engineer

THORIZON; Lyon; On-site; EUR 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

THORIZON in Lyon seeks a motivated Nuclear Safety Analyst to support the development of the Thorizon One reactor. In this role, you will take part in defining nuclear safety requirements and collaborating with design teams to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

We value innovation and creativity, allowing you to explore various aspects of safety analysis and contribute meaningfully to our mission of developing clean energy solutions through advanced nuclear technology.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in nuclear safety analysis, such as hazard or failure analysis.
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory approaches and processes.
• Excellent communication skills in English, and preferably also French or Dutch.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development of an ambitious licensing strategy.
• Provide fundamental elements of the nuclear safety demonstration.
• Define high-level nuclear safety requirements for design studies.
• Work closely with design and functional teams to reflect safety requirements.
• Prepare technical reports and contribute to licensing documentation.

Skills

Nuclear safety analysis

Regulatory knowledge

Communication skills

Creative problem-solving

Education

Master's degree in science or engineering

Job description

Your mission

Are you motivated to provide your expertise and know-how to the ongoing design studies for the Thorizon One reactor to ensure a high level of safety and security, and to play your part in obtaining the authorisations required for the construction, commissioning and operating phases of the reactor?

You will be involved in the missions of the Licensing & Safety team. You will participate in the nuclear safety engineering activity (design of the Pioneer nuclear demonstrator, design of the FOAK/NOAK), in close liaison with the design studies, by developing the nuclear safety demonstration of the reactor through the identification and analysis of the postulated initiating events and the assessment of internal and external hazards. You will also contribute to the development of basics and approaches in various areas (safety objectives, defence in depth implementation, safety acceptance criteria, safety classification, deterministic safety analysis rules, probabilistic safety analysis strategy, etc.). You will work at the interface with all the other disciplines in the company, in particular with the systems design teams, the functional teams (neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, chemistry, mechanical) and the development and prototyping team. You will play a key role in ensuring that the design takes account of the safety requirements imposed by regulations or meets high‑level standards. You will contribute to the various application files to be sent to the regulators and will defend the nuclear safety demonstration at review meetings.

In this environment, which combines both compliance with regulatory requirements and the development of an innovative reactor, you get the unique opportunity to put your knowledge to the best use, develop your ideas, explore many aspects and play a crucial role in the company’s growth.

In This Role You Will

• Contribute to the development of an ambitious and robust licensing strategy for the nuclear demonstrator and the commercial reactor, mitigating regulatory risks.
• Provide the fundamental elements of the nuclear safety demonstration (approaches, analyses supporting the demonstration, key elements of the demonstration).
• Define the high‑level nuclear safety requirements to be taken into account in the design studies.
• Work closely with the design teams to ensure that the safety requirements are properly translated into appropriate provisions.
• Work closely with the functional teams to ensure that the demonstration needs are correctly reflected in the supporting studies (transient analyses, research and development programme, etc.).
• Prepare technical reports and contribute to licensing documentation, including Safety Analysis Reports (PSAR/FSAR) and regulatory submittals.
• Support interactions with regulatory bodies and contribute to maintaining an active dialogue (in particular with ANVS, FANC and ASNR).
• Participate in specifying, selecting, and managing external contractors and suppliers that support Thorizon with the safety case.
• Participate in promoting the in‑house safety‑security culture.
• Participate in promoting internationally the development of a shared framework for Molten Salt Reactors, in the nuclear safety field.
• Report to the Nuclear Safety Analysis Lead.
• Actual position level and title will be determined based on assessment of qualifications.

About You

• Master’s degree in science, engineering or any relevant topic.
• You have proven experience in nuclear safety analysis, such as hazard or failure analysis, process hazard analysis, accident sequence development.
• You have in‑depth knowledge of regulatory approaches, processes and experience in preparing the required documentation, preferably in the Netherlands (ANVS). Experience with Belgian (FANC) and French (ASNR) regulators is a plus.
• Experience in the field of innovative reactor safety would be an advantage.
• You are eager to learn and like challenges.
• You are creative and innovative: You rethink issues to find practical solutions to difficult problems and you demonstrate agility by minimising complexity. You have a pragmatic and constructive mindset.
• You have a good sense of judgement: you think strategically (in your field and taking into account all the dimensions of the project), and you know how to prioritise your actions according to the key issues at stake.
• You have excellent communication skills: you listen before you react, you are concise, you treat people with respect, you keep calm in stressful situations, you have excellent writing skills.
• You are an excellent communicator in English, and preferably also French or Dutch, both spoken and written.
• You create impact: your productions are models for your colleagues.

About Us

At Thorizon, we’re a passionate team spread across Amsterdam and Lyon, all working together to develop new nuclear power solutions. We design and create frontier technology for Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs).

Our purpose is to accelerate the availability of clean energy and help solve the climate crisis.

We are in the development phase and aim to solidify our design through analyses, simulations, experiments, prototyping, and partnerships. At Thorizon, we believe a strongly coupled multidisciplinary technology development requires a culture of full openness and transparency. That’s why we foster values like unity, communication, and support to ensure we grow together as a team while achieving our purpose.