Nuclear Engineer - BWR Systems New

Quest Defense; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Quest Defense Systems and Solutions is seeking an experienced Nuclear Engineer to support the design, modernization, and modification of complex nuclear power plant systems. This role requires understanding mechanical, electrical, I&C, software, and FPGA interactions within a nuclear environment, with emphasis on BWRs.

Remote work is possible from anywhere in the United States; US citizens or permanent residents only.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nuclear or related engineering field.
• 5+ years in nuclear power design engineering or related experience.
• Experience with Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) systems and I&C.
• Strong understanding of BWR architecture and plant-level requirements.
• Ability to translate safety and licensing requirements into system specifications.
• Experience with requirements decomposition, allocation, and verification.

Responsibilities

• Translate plant-level and safety requirements into system and subsystem requirements.
• Decompose requirements across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, and I&C.
• Develop and review system descriptions, ICDs, and drawings.
• Evaluate changes to safety systems and support design modifications.
• Participate in design reviews, licensing reviews, and FMEA activities.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to ensure proper interfaces.

Skills

Nuclear Engineering

Systems Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

I&C

FPGA

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering

Job description

Join the elite team at QDSS, where our engineers are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge Aerospace, Defense, Space, and Medical Device products. Your work will make a real impact, contributing to the core of engineering solutions that drive technological advancements.

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions (QDSS) is seeking an experienced Nuclear Engineerto support the design, modernization, and modification of complex nuclear power plant systems. This role will work across multidisciplinary engineering teams to evaluate plant-level requirements, support system and subsystem design, and ensure proposed changes meet applicable safety, regulatory, licensing, and operational requirements.

The ideal candidate will bring strong nuclear power design engineering experience with specific knowledge of Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) plants. This position requires a systems-level understanding of how mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls (I&C), software, hardware, and FPGA-based systems interact within a nuclear power environment. Experience with reactor protection, nuclear I&C, plant modernization, and legacy GE BWR architectures is highly valued.

This role can be performed remotely from anywhere in the United States. Candidates must be US Citizens or US Permanent Residents.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Translate plant-level, operational, and nuclear safety requirements into allocated system and subsystem requirements.
• Decompose and allocate requirements across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, FPGA, instrumentation, and control implementations.
• Develop, maintain, and review system descriptions, design specifications, interface requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), cabinet drawings, elementary drawings, and connection/route drawings.
• Evaluate proposed changes to mechanical, electrical, process, instrumentation, control, protection, and safety systems.
• Support the development and review of engineering change packages and plant design modifications.
• Perform requirements quality, completeness, consistency, and traceability reviews.
• Participate in technical and design reviews, Technical Specification markups, and licensing-related reviews.
• Evaluate potential nuclear safety, design-basis, and licensing impacts associated with design changes.
• Support resolution of technical issues, test anomalies, nonconformances, and design discrepancies.
• Perform or support functional analysis, requirements analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA), single-failure analysis, and design-basis evaluations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure system interfaces and requirements are properly understood and implemented.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of nuclear power design engineering or directly related nuclear engineering experience.
• Experience supporting Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) systems, instrumentation and controls, plant operations, or design engineering.
• Strong understanding of BWR plant architecture, system interactions, and plant-level requirements.
• Experience translating nuclear safety and plant-level requirements into system and subsystem engineering requirements.
• Experience with requirements decomposition, allocation, verification, and engineering documentation.
• Understanding of nuclear design-basis and licensing-basis requirements.
• Knowledge of safety classifications, including safety-related and important-to-safety equipment.
• Experience evaluating engineering changes and their impact on nuclear plant systems.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Relevant Technical Experience

Candidates should have experience with one or more of the following areas:

Reactor Protection & Instrumentation and Controls

• Reactor Protection Systems (RPS)
• Safety-related instrumentation
• Isolation and trip logic
• Digital and analog I&C systems
• Plant process computer and monitoring systems

BWR Design Basis & Safety Engineering

• Design-basis and licensing-basis requirements
• Safety classifications
• Equipment and environmental qualification
• Seismic requirements
• Failure modes and effects
• Technical Specifications and surveillance requirements
• Safety-related and important-to-safety systems
• Functional and requirements analysis
• Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA)
• Single-failure analysis
• Design-basis evaluations
• System safety and failure analysis

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct design engineering experience with BWR plants.
• Experience with Reactor Protection Systems (RPS) and Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS).
• Experience with nuclear digital I&C systems.
• Experience supporting BWR plant modification, modernization, or life-extension programs.
• Experience with nuclear system safety, reliability, and failure analysis.
• Experience working within an NQA-1 and/or 10 CFR 50 Appendix B quality assurance environment.
• Experience evaluating legacy nuclear designs and translating existing design information into modern system requirements.
• Systems-level experience spanning mechanical, electrical, I&C, software, hardware, and FPGA disciplines.

The QDSS Advantage:

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future.

WhatYou’llFind Here

• Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact.
• GrowthThat’sSupported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certificationassistance, and clear opportunities for advancement.
• A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued.

Benefits Include

• Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/lifeand disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace.

Full compensation package is based on candidate experience and certifications

Pay Ranges

$120,000 - $170,000 USD

At Quest Defense Systems and Solutions, we don’t just build technology — we engineer the future. From next-generation aerospace solutions to cutting-edge defense systems, we tackle the toughest, mission‑critical challenges that keep people safe and push the boundaries of innovation. This is where problem‑solvers, innovators, and visionary thinkers come together to shape the future. With over 25 years of aerospace and defense engineering expertise, our commitment to delivering high-quality, transformative solutions sets us apart — not just as an industry leader, but as a driving force for impactful change. Together, we’re not just leading the industry — we’re revolutionizing it.

Quest Defense provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.