Molten Salt Research Reactor Director

ACU College of Business Administration; Abilene (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Abilene Christian University’s NEXT Lab seeks a Reactor Director to lead MSRR operations and coordinate reactor activities. The role oversees licensing compliance, operator training, and safe execution of experiments within regulatory limits.

The successful candidate will mentor multi-disciplinary teams, coordinate with researchers, and ensure documentation and QA/QC requirements are met. Applicants should be committed to NEXT Lab’s mission and safety culture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field; master’s/doctoral for dual faculty appointment.
• NRC Senior Reactor Operator license or eligibility to obtain.
• 3–5 years reactor operations experience in research or commercial setting.
• Experience leading multi‑disciplinary teams and mentoring operators.

Responsibilities

• Lead the MSRR Operations & Control.
• Ensure compliance with NRC/DOE licenses and procedures.
• Train and mentor Reactor Operators and student operators.
• Support reactor experiments and ensure safety/licensing limits are met.
• Maintain records, logs, and required NRC/DOE reports.
• Drive continuous improvement and maintenance activities.

Skills

Reactor operations

Team leadership

Mentoring

Recordkeeping

Education

Nuclear Engineering (B.S.)

Mechanical Engineering (B.S.)

Physics (B.S.)

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

NRC Senior Reactor Operator license

Job description

• Safety & Emergency Preparedness

ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

The Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab at ACU is a world leader in molten salt reactor technology, whose mission is to provide global solutions to the world’s need for energy, water and medical isotopes by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors while educating future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. We are seeking to add a talented reactor director who is eager to lead, learn and explore molten salt reactor technologies with our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers. The lab is in the process of building a reactor on site, and the reactor director will oversee and coordinate technical operations related to the reactor. Additionally, the ideal candidate would qualify as a faculty member in the Onstead College of Science and Engineering to contribute to the educational mission of NEXT Lab.

NEXT Lab Core Values

• Christ-like Character
• Driven to Deliver
• Better Together

An ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong desire to integrate into a team that shares our core values and possess the skills listed below. Candidates who align well with our values but may not yet have all of the desired skills may still be considered.

Basic Responsibilities

• Lead the MSRR Operations & Control
• Compliance with NRC/DOE Licensing & Operating Procedures
• Operator Training & Mentoring
• Reactor Experiment Support
• Safety & Emergency Preparedness
• Documentation & Records Management
• Continuous Improvement & Maintenance Support

Essential Duties

Include the following. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable

Individuals To Perform The Essential Functions

Reactor Operations & Control

• Operate the MSRR in accordance with NRC/DOE licenses and approved procedures.
• Monitor reactor systems, instrumentation, and controls during operation.
• Perform startup, shutdown, and normal operating evolutions safely and efficiently.

Compliance with NRC/DOE Licensing & Operating Procedures

• Maintain an active NRC Senior Reactor Operator license.
• Ensure operations comply with technical specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Report deviations, non-conformances, or abnormal conditions immediately.

Operator Training & Mentoring

• Train and supervise Reactor Operators and student operators.
• Mentor new operators to achieve and maintain NRC operator licensing.
• Evaluate operator performance and provide constructive feedback.

Reactor Experiment Support

• Support setup and execution of approved experimental activities.
• Ensure experiments comply with reactor safety and licensing limits.
• Collaborate with researchers to integrate experiments into reactor operations.

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

• Participate in safety drills and emergency preparedness exercises.
• Enforce strict adherence to safety protocols.
• Serve as shift leader during abnormal or emergency situations.

Documentation & Records Management

• Ensure completion of accurate reactor logs, operating records, and NRC/DOE required reports.
• Maintain training and qualification records for operators.
• Ensure documentation meets NRC/DOE and internal QA/QC requirements.

Continuous Improvement & Maintenance Support

• Identify and report issues that impact reactor reliability or efficiency.
• Support maintenance activities by coordinating with engineering staff.
• Participate in corrective action and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Professional Development Requirements

• Strong technical knowledge of reactor systems and operations.
• Ability to lead teams under both normal and emergency conditions.
• Strong attention to detail in recordkeeping and compliance.
• Effective communication and mentoring skills.

Qualifications

Professional

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or related field. To be eligible for a dual faculty appointment, a master's or doctoral degree will be required.
• NRC Senior Reactor Operator license (or eligibility to obtain).
• Minimum 3–5 years of reactor operations experience in a research or commercial environment.
• Proven experience leading multi-disciplinary teams, managing external contractors, and mentoring reactor operators.
• Experience in academic or research institutions preferred.

Personal

• Calm and decisive under pressure.
• Commitment to nuclear safety and compliance.
• Strong teamwork and leadership abilities.
• Integrity, accountability, and reliability.
• Dedication to NEXT Lab’s mission.
• Must be willing to live in the Abilene area.

Physical Demands

• Able to lift 50 pounds on a regular basis.
• Able to stand 1 hour or more.

ACU does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, disability, genetic information, national or ethnic origin in employment opportunities, in keeping with applicable state and federal law.

ACU is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus environment and protecting the university's financial and physical assets. Therefore, Abilene Christian University conducts background checks on all candidates for employment in security sensitive positions. As a current employee, it will be determined if you need an additional background check upon your hire.