Lead Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer — NRC Licensing

Generalmatter; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

General Matter is seeking a Lead Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer to build the criticality safety program for a Part 70 fuel cycle facility from the ground up. You will set the strategy and direct technical decisions, shaping licensing and operations for decades.

This role requires NRC-licensed facility experience or DOE criticality safety expertise, with the ability to translate methods into NRC compliance and lead a growing team.

Qualifications

• Evidence of exceptional ability (prior projects, portfolio of work, completed products, etc.).
• 8+ years of nuclear criticality safety experience, including direct authorship of criticality safety evaluations at a DOE or NRC-licensed facility.
• Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of criticality safety regulations, standards, and methodologies (e.g., 10 CFR Part 70, ANSI/ANS-8 series), and the ability to bridge DOE and NRC frameworks where they differ.
• Proficiency in computational tools such as SCALE, MCNP, or similar software.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals, even with partial information.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to regulators, operators, and leadership alike.
• Ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance and access authorization.

Responsibilities

• Own the criticality safety program end-to-end: set methodology, double-contingency strategy, and technical direction for the site.
• Develop and maintain nuclear criticality safety evaluations (CSEs) for processes involving fissile materials, and ensure CSE outputs are correctly integrated into the ISA as a foundational safety basis input.
• Perform criticality safety analyses using computational methods and tools (e.g., SCALE, MCNP) to assess system safety and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the primary technical point of contact on criticality safety matters during NRC licensing interactions, license amendments, and inspections.
• Ensure compliance with NRC, DOE, and ANSI/ANS criticality safety standards and regulations, translating DOE-derived methodologies into the NRC regulatory framework where applicable.
• Mentor and provide technical review for other criticality safety engineers, setting the technical bar for the team as it grows.
• Conduct audits, inspections, and reviews of facility operations to identify and mitigate criticality safety risks.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, and regulatory teams to implement effective safety measures.
• Provide technical guidance and training to personnel on criticality safety principles and procedures.
• Investigate criticality safety incidents and develop corrective actions as necessary.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records to support audits and regulatory reviews.

Skills

Nuclear criticality safety

DOE/NRC licensing

Computational tools

Communication skills

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or Physics

Tools

SCALE

MCNP

Job description

General Matter is seeking a Lead Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer to build the criticality safety program for a Part 70 fuel cycle facility from the ground up. You will set the strategy and direct technical decisions, shaping licensing and operations for decades.

This role requires NRC-licensed facility experience or DOE criticality safety expertise, with the ability to translate methods into NRC compliance and lead a growing team.