Nuclear Criticality Safety (NCS) Engineer

Generalmatter; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision & dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Stock options

Job summary

Generalmatter in Los Angeles is seeking a skilled Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer to ensure the safe handling of nuclear materials. You will develop and maintain criticality safety programs, conduct evaluations, and perform risk assessments.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering or related field, proficiency in computational tools like SCALE and MCNP, and strong analytical skills. The position offers a competitive salary range of $80,000-$170,000 annually and access to comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of criticality safety regulations and standards.
• Ability to perform trade studies for engineering solutions.
• Proficiency in computational tools relevant to nuclear criticality safety.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain nuclear criticality safety evaluations.
• Conduct audits and reviews to identify safety risks.
• Provide technical guidance on criticality safety principles.

Skills

Engineering fundamentals

Analytical skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Collaborative work

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, or related field

Tools

SCALE

MCNP

Job description

About This Role

We are seeking a skilled Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer to join our team and play a critical role in ensuring the safe and effective handling of nuclear materials. You will be part of the team responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining a criticality safety program to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards. You will conduct evaluations, perform risk assessments, and provide technical expertise to support safe operations within a nuclear fuel cycle facility.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain nuclear criticality safety evaluations (CSEs) for processes involving fissile materials.
• Perform criticality safety analyses, utilizing computational methods and tools (e.g., SCALE, MCNP) to assess system safety and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with NRC, DOE, and ANSI/ANS criticality safety standards and regulations.
• 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.

Basic Qualifications

• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information.
• 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).
• Proficiency in computational tools such as SCALE, MCNP, or similar software.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team‑oriented environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Evidence of exceptional ability (prior projects, portfolio of work, completed products, etc).
• Experience in a fast‑paced engineering environment or a highly technical role requiring a resourceful, entrepreneurial approach to complete tasks within tight timeframes or budget constraints.
• Certification as a Nuclear Criticality Safety Engineer (e.g., ANSI/ANS‑8.24).
• Advanced degrees.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred or the ability to obtain one.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Equal Opportunity Employer

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $80,000-$170,000 annually. Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full‑time hires, you may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.