Principal Engineer Nuclear Systems - Plant Operations

GE Vernova; City of Schenectady (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

GE Vernova in the United States seeks a Principal Engineer and CTH for Nuclear Plant Controls Services to lead advanced engineering, set technical standards, and mentor the next generation of engineers.

The role requires deep Nuclear I&C expertise, rigorous regulatory awareness (10 CFR 50.59), and the ability to drive system integration across multi-disciplinary teams, coordinating with Steam Turbine Controls and Power Operability to ensure safe, reliable plant operation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• 10+ years of experience in Nuclear Power engineering/operations
• 10 years of Instrumentation & Control (I&C) systems in highly regulated, safety-critical environments

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical authority within Nuclear Plant Controls space; set standards and influence decisions
• Establish an integration framework for control system requirements, architecture, and V&V methodologies
• Represent nuclear safety-critical design standards and influence product roadmaps for regulatory compliance
• Provide an overarching technical safety lens across lifecycle of complex, multi-disciplined integrations
• Own critical technical deliverables contributing to Nuclear Plant Controls team success
• Collaborate with Steam Turbine Controls Principal Engineer and Steam Power Operability teams
• Identify technical risks and lead cross-functional problem resolution with mitigations
• Stay current with emerging technologies, regulations, and industry trends
• Mentor and develop the engineering pipeline with a system-level mindset

Skills

Nuclear I&C experience

Cross-functional collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Job description

Job Description Summary

As Principal Engineer and Controlled Title Holder (CTH) for our Nuclear Plant Controls Services business, your mandate is to assure that our disparate controls disciplines coalesce into a singular, high-quality, reliable nuclear plant digital control solution.The Principal Engineer (CTH) serves as the recognized subject matter expert providing advanced technical leadership to the controls nuclear engineering team. You are responsible for driving engineering excellence, supporting complex nuclear projects, and mentoring next generation engineers.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a recognized technical authority within the Nuclear Plant Controls space , setting standards and influencing key engineering decisions and driving risk framework.
• Methodology & Governance: Establish an integration framework for control system requirements, architecture, and V&V methodologies for the nuclear fleet. Utilize deep expertise in 10 CFR 50.59 and regulatory design processes to ensure compliance and technical safety throughout the lifecycle of complex, multi-disciplined nuclear integrations.
• Regulatory & Safety Advocacy: Represent the business as an expert regarding nuclear safety-critical design standards; influence product roadmaps to assure compliance with the evolving global regulatory landscape.
• Systemic Integrity Oversight: Provide an overarching technical safety lens. While Project Engineers (PEs) and Technical Leaders (TLs) manage individual delivery, you ensure that technical safety and reliability margins remain uncompromised throughout the lifecycle of complex, multi-disciplined nuclear integrations.
• Strategic Interface & Requirements: Own the "glue" among requirements. Oversee how overlapping value streams interact to ensure that technical dependencies are transparent, traceable, and validated for quality.
• Own critical technical deliverables that contribute to the success of the Nuclear Plant Controls team.
• Collaborate directly with the Steam Turbine Controls Principal Engineer and Steam Power Operability team to review designs, align strategy, and provide technical direction.
• Identify technical risks, lead cross-functional problem resolution, and define effective mitigations at the system level.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, regulations, and industry trends to drive innovation and maintain technical relevance.
• Influence-Based Leadership: Mentor and develop the engineering pipeline. Champion a "System-Level Mindset," ensuring every engineer understands their contribution to the broader nuclear plant operational profile.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering
• At least 10 years of experience in engineering or operations capacity in Nuclear Power.
• 10 years of Instrumentation & Control (I&C) systems within highly regulated, safety-critical environments.

Eligibility Requirements:

• This role is restricted to U.S. persons (i.e., U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and other protected individuals under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) due to access to export-controlled technology. GE will require proof of status prior to employment.
• 25% travel within North America (mainly Eastern US & Canada) - Occasional International travel.

Desired Characteristics:

• Mechanical, Nuclear or Electrical Engineering advanced Degrees.
• Licensed Reactor Operator (Desired): We will evaluate the candidate's operational awareness and system-level perspective during the interview process.
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and deliver results.
• Exceptional ability to align cross-functional technical teams toward a common objective without direct line authority over project execution.
• Systems Integration Fluency: Deep understanding of the interplay between I&C platforms, electrical power systems, and Nuclear Balance-of-Plant (BOP) operations.
• Architectural Defense: Proven ability to lead high-stakes technical reviews and successfully defend complex system architectures to internal stakeholders and external regulators.
• Strategic Clarity: A gift for distilling multi-layered, system-level technical challenges into actionable, executable strategies.
• Regulatory & Process Fluency: Demonstrated excellence in applying 10 CFR 50.59 and complex regulatory design processes to project lifecycles.
• Experience interfacing with customers, conferences, user groups.
• Experience and demonstrated success working in a complex cross-functional environment.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. If applicable, final offers will be contingent on ability to obtain authorization for access to U.S. export-controlled information from the U.S. Government.

Additional Information

GE Vernova offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Vernova is an Equal Opportunity Employer . Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, se