Principal Engineer – Nuclear Systems, Plant Operations

Jobtailor; Colorado; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Up to 25% travel

Competitive benefits package

Job summary

Jobtailor in the United States is seeking a senior Nuclear Plant Controls authority to establish integration frameworks, drive risk management, and ensure regulatory compliance across the fleet.

You will mentor engineers, lead high-stakes technical reviews, and influence roadmaps while maintaining safety margins and cross-functional alignment. A Nuclear Operator license is a plus but not required, with travel up to 25% nationwide.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Engineering required.
• 10+ years in engineering/operations in Nuclear Power.
• 10 years of I&C experience in safety-critical environments.
• U.S. person status required.
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 25% (East Coast/Canada focus).
• Authorized to work in the United States.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical safety oversight and regulatory compliance across projects.
• Lead cross-functional teams, defend complex system architectures, and resolve high-stakes issues.
• Set standards, influence engineering decisions, and drive risk framework across the fleet.
• Own critical technical deliverables for the Nuclear Plant Controls team.

Skills

Nuclear Plant Controls

I&C Systems

10 CFR 50.59 Compliance

Cross-Functional Leadership

Technical Safety Oversight

Regulatory Design Processes

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering

Advanced Nuclear or Electrical Engineering degree preferred

Tools

Regulatory Design Tools

V&V Methodologies

Job description

• Serve as a recognized technical authority within the Nuclear Plant Controls space
• Set standards, influence engineering decisions, and drive the risk framework
• Establish an integration framework for control system requirements, architecture, and V&V methodologies for the nuclear fleet
• Ensure compliance and technical safety throughout complex, multi-disciplined nuclear integrations
• Represent the business as an expert regarding nuclear safety-critical design standards
• Influence product roadmaps to ensure compliance with the evolving global regulatory landscape
• Provide overarching technical safety oversight and protect technical safety and reliability margins
• Oversee interactions among requirements so technical dependencies are transparent, traceable, and validated
• Own critical technical deliverables for the Nuclear Plant Controls team
• Collaborate 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 system-level mitigations
• Stay current with emerging technologies, regulations, and industry trends
• Mentor and develop engineers and champion a system-level mindset
• Drive engineering excellence and support complex nuclear projects

Requirements

• 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 experience within highly regulated, safety-critical environments
• Restricted to U.S. persons due to access to export-controlled technology
• Must provide proof of U.S. person status prior to employment
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States
• Ability to obtain authorization for access to U.S. export-controlled information, if applicable
• 25% travel within North America, mainly the Eastern U.S. and Canada
• Occasional international travel
• Experience applying 10 CFR 50.59 and complex regulatory design processes
• Deep understanding of I&C platforms, electrical power systems, and Nuclear Balance-of-Plant operations
• Proven ability to lead technical teams and deliver results
• Ability to align cross-functional technical teams without direct line authority over project execution
• Proven ability to lead high-stakes technical reviews and defend complex system architectures
• Demonstrated excellence applying 10 CFR 50.59 and complex regulatory design processes to project lifecycles
• Experience interfacing with customers, conferences, and user groups
• Experience and demonstrated success working in a complex cross-functional environment
• Licensed Reactor Operator is desired, not required
• Advanced Mechanical, Nuclear, or Electrical Engineering degrees are desired, not required

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Nuclear Plant Controls, ensuring compliance with safety-critical design standards and regulatory requirements. Proven ability to lead technical teams, drive engineering excellence, and mentor engineers in a complex, multi-disciplined environment.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Nuclear Power Engineering
• Instrumentation & Control (I&C) Systems
• 10 CFR 50.59 Compliance
• Technical Safety Oversight
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Nuclear Plant Controls
• Risk Framework Development
• Control System Architecture
• Verification & Validation (V&V) Methodologies
• Technical Deliverable Ownership
• Electrical Power Systems
• Nuclear Balance-of-Plant Operations
• Regulatory Design Processes
• Technical Review Leadership
• Emerging Technologies Awareness

Soft Skills

• Mentoring
• Collaboration
• Problem Resolution
• Influencing Engineering Decisions
• Communication

Certifications & Qualifications

• Licensed Reactor Operator (Desired)

Industry Keywords

• Safety-Critical Environments
• Regulatory Compliance
• Complex Nuclear Projects
• Technical Safety
• U.S. Export-Controlled Technology