Head of Nuclear

SkillSource; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

SkillSource is recruiting a Head of Nuclear for a confidential client aiming to develop nuclear-powered commercial vessels. You will shape the reactor strategy, integrate with vessel systems, and build a small expert team to move the program forward.

This hands-on leadership role requires reviewing technical work, challenging assumptions, and communicating progress to investors and regulators.

Qualifications

• Degree in nuclear engineering or related field with technical depth.
• Proven leadership in nuclear engineering, reactor development, or closely related programs.
• Strong systems judgment to evaluate approaches, risks, and integration.
• Experience in a demanding safety culture with disciplined documentation and reviews.
• Ability to lead a small team and manage external specialists in an early-stage setting.

Responsibilities

• Lead reactor technology evaluation and develop a strategy and development plan.
• Define program requirements and coordinate interfaces with naval architecture, propulsion, electrical systems, and operations.
• Establish rigorous safety, documentation, design reviews, and risk ownership with clear owners.
• Develop a regulatory engagement plan with nuclear and maritime specialists and prepare material for authorities.
• Build and lead a focused engineering team; scope consultant work and oversee vendors.
• Develop milestones, resource plans, and budget recommendations; track dependencies and communicate changes.
• Represent the company credibly in technical diligence, partner discussions, and public settings.

Job description

SkillSource is recruiting a Head of Nuclear for a confidential client developing nuclear-powered commercial vessels. The company is at an early stage, bringing nuclear engineering and shipbuilding together around a practical path to deployment. Its next stage requires clear technical choices, disciplined safety thinking, and a development plan that connects engineering work to commercial needs.

The role

The Head of Nuclear will lead the client’s nuclear engineering program. You will shape its reactor strategy, guide integration with the vessel, and build the team and specialist network needed to move the program forward. Working closely with company leadership, you will turn open technical questions into documented decisions, credible milestones, and well-scoped work.

This is a hands-on leadership role with substantial responsibility for execution. You should be comfortable reviewing technical work, challenging assumptions constructively, and explaining both progress and uncertainty to investors, potential partners, and regulators.

What you will do

• Lead reactor technology evaluation and recommend a selection and development strategy, including the work the company should own and where specialist vendors or partners are needed.
• Define nuclear program requirements and coordinate interfaces with naval architecture, propulsion, electrical systems, operations, and other vessel disciplines.
• Establish a rigorous approach to safety, technical documentation, design reviews, and independent challenge. Identify critical assumptions and make sure unresolved risks have owners and next steps.
• Develop the regulatory engagement plan with qualified nuclear and maritime specialists. Prepare clear technical material and coordinate discussions with relevant authorities and classification organizations.
• Build and lead a focused engineering team. Scope consultant and vendor work, assess deliverables, and bring in expertise where the program needs it.
• Develop milestones, resource plans, and budget recommendations. Track dependencies and communicate changes early so leadership can make informed funding and business decisions.
• Represent the company credibly in technical diligence, partner discussions, and public settings, making claims that are proportionate to the evidence and the stage of development.

What you will bring

• A degree in nuclear engineering or a relevant engineering discipline, or equivalent depth of technical experience.
• A record of leading meaningful work in nuclear engineering, reactor development, nuclear operations, or a closely related nuclear program, with accountability for technical quality and delivery.
• Strong systems judgment: the ability to evaluate competing approaches, understand integration risks, and know when specialist analysis or independent review is needed.
• Experience working within a demanding safety and quality culture, including disciplined documentation and technical review.
• The ability to lead a small team, manage external specialists, and stay close to the work in an early-stage company with limited resources.
• Clear communication with technical and nontechnical audiences, sound professional judgment, and a collaborative approach to disagreement.
• Readiness to make a sustained commitment to the role, with clear arrangements for outside activities, confidentiality, and ownership of work.

Useful additional experience

Marine or naval nuclear systems; commercial shipping or shipbuilding; advanced reactor development; nuclear licensing or regulatory engagement; supplier qualification; or early-stage technology companies. Depth in one or more of these areas is valuable. You do not need to be the specialist in every discipline.

What success looks like

Early success means a defensible reactor strategy, clearly defined vessel integration requirements, and a development plan with explicit assumptions, milestones, and resource needs. The most important technical risks are visible and actively managed. The company has a practical plan for regulatory engagement, the right specialists involved, and technical materials that stand up to scrutiny. As the program grows, you build a team that delivers dependable work and raises concerns early.