Criticality Safety Engineer – Nuclear Centrifuge Program

Napakiak Ventures LLC; Oak Ridge (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401-K benefits

Company benefits upon hire

Job summary

A leading environmental and construction services firm in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is seeking a Criticality Safety Engineer to develop and maintain safety programs for nuclear centrifuge operations. This full-time role involves criticality safety analysis, documentation, and inter-agency collaboration. A Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering is preferred, alongside strong technical writing skills. The position plays a crucial part in revitalizing U.S. domestic uranium enrichment capabilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering strongly preferred.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Strong technical writing skills needed.
• Strong technical writing skills and ability to communicate complex safety analyses to regulators and stakeholders.
• Experience supporting nuclear criticality safety analyses or safety basis documentation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the criticality safety program for centrifuge manufacturing.
• Perform and document nuclear criticality safety analyses.
• Support nuclear authorization activities.
• Support preparation and defense of documented safety analysis (DSA) and TSR content related to criticality safety.
• Support DOE nuclear authorization activities by providing technical justification for criticality safety assumptions, controls, and margins.
• Lead or support Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) determinations and change evaluations impacting fissile material form, mass, moderation, geometry, or operations.
• Evaluate design changes, process modifications, and abnormal conditions to ensure continued compliance with safety requirements.
• Support startup, testing, and readiness reviews, ensuring safety assumptions remain valid as the facility transitions into production.
• Collaborate with engineering, manufacturing, operations, quality, and nuclear safety organizations to integrate criticality safety into design and operations.
• Interface with regulators to explain criticality safety methodologies, assumptions, and regulatory posture.

Skills

Nuclear Engineering

Technical writing

Nuclear criticality safety analysis

US citizenship

Security clearance

Regulator communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering or related field

Tools

DOE Orders 10 CFR 830

ANSI/ANS-8 standards

Job description

Company Overview

Napakiak Environmental and Construction (NEC) is a leading provider ofinformation technology, technology development, andenvironmental and construction services, specializing in Federal and Commercial projects. Our company is committed to delivering high-quality solutions that meet stringent regulatory standards and client requirements.

About the Role

We are seeking a Criticality Safety Engineerto support a long-term, first-of-a-kind nuclear centrifuge manufacturing and enrichment program at a critical transition point as the facility moves from design into testing, startup, and sustained production.

This role is part of an innovative private company funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, leading a national effort to reestablish domestic uranium enrichment capabilities long furnished by foreign countries—directly strengthening U.S. energy security and national defense.

This is a full-time, long-term position based in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, with primary responsibility for nuclear criticality safety analysis, controls, and authorization supportas the program matures from design intent to operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain the criticality safety programfor centrifuge manufacturing, testing, enrichment, and associated material handling operations
• Perform and document nuclear criticality safety analyses (NCSAs)in accordance with DOE Orders, 10 CFR 830, and applicable consensus standards (e.g., ANSI/ANS-8 series)
• Define, evaluate, and maintain criticality safety controls, limits, and requirements for fissile material processes, equipment, and facility layouts
• Support preparation and defense of Documented Safety Analysis (DSA)and Technical Safety Requirement (TSR) content related to criticality safety
• Support DOE nuclear authorizationactivities by providing technical justification for criticality safety assumptions, controls, and margins
• Lead or support Unreviewed Safety Question (USQ) Determinationsand change evaluations impacting fissile material form, mass, moderation, geometry, or operations
• Evaluate design changes, process modifications, and abnormal conditions to ensure continued compliance with criticality safety requirements
• Support startup, testing, and operational readiness reviews, ensuring criticality safety assumptions remain valid as the facility transitions into production
• Collaborate closely with engineering, manufacturing, operations, quality, and nuclear safety organizations to integrate criticality safety into facility and process design
• Interface with federal regulators and reviewers to explain criticality safety methodology, assumptions, and regulatory posture
• Support development of long-term criticality safety strategyas the program scales and evolves

Qualifications & Experience Levels

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineeringstrongly preferred; other engineering or physical science degrees considered with relevant criticality safety experience
• U.S. citizenship required
• Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance, as required
• Strong technical writing skills and ability to communicate complex safety analyses to regulators and stakeholders

Experience will be scoped based on candidate level:

Early-Career / Associate (1–5 years)

• Experience supporting nuclear criticality safety analyses or safety basis documentation
• Familiarity with DOE nuclear safety requirements and ANSI/ANS criticality safety standards
• Experience supporting design reviews or process hazard evaluations involving fissile material

Mid-Level (5–10 years)

• Demonstrated experience authoring and maintaining NCSAs and criticality safety documentation
• Hands-on experience supporting USQs, safety basis updates, or operational authorization
• Experience supporting nuclear facility startup, testing, or operations involving enriched uranium

Senior / Principal (10–30 years)

• Extensive experience leading criticality safety programs for complex nuclear facilities
• Deep understanding of DOE nuclear authorization processes and regulator expectations for criticality safety
• Proven ability to define criticality safety strategy, mentor engineers, and guide facilities through initial authorization and operational expansion
• Experience briefing regulators and senior leadership on criticality safety posture and risk

About the Program

This program represents a strategic national investment in restoring U.S.-based uranium enrichment and centrifuge manufacturing. By replacing foreign-supplied capabilities with domestically designed and manufactured technology, the program strengthens America’s security, energy independence, and industrial resilience.

Napakiak Environmental and Construction (NEC) is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

All full-time employees are considered benefit eligible for company benefit programs and 401-K upon date of hire.