Principal Nuclear Assurance Engineer

X-energy; Rockville (MD); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K matching

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

Paid Time Off

Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Dev

Job summary

X-energy in Rockville, MD, is seeking a senior engineering program leader to advance SMR development projects. You will identify and remove obstacles, coordinate across engineering, procurement, business development, and regulatory teams, and translate complex technical data into actionable executive insights.

The role emphasizes influence without authority, strategic decision support, and mentorship of junior staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, or 5 years of experience in lieu of degree.
• Twenty years of experience in a role in Engineering or related field.
• Experience in engineering project environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives without direct authority.
• Experience with project management methodologies.
• Experience leading enterprise-level or highly complex strategic initiatives.
• Ability to influence organizational direction and drive results on strategic matters.

Responsibilities

• Identify, track, and remove roadblocks to maintain progress against timelines.
• Coordinate with engineering, procurement, business development, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Translate complex technical information into concise executive-ready insights.
• Develop relationships with internal and external stakeholders early in discovery conversations.
• Establish effective communication channels and align priorities across teams.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives through influence and relationship-building.
• Assess customer needs and capture plant-design requirements for nuclear island and conventional island systems.
• Create and maintain project documents, decisions, and status reports for leadership.
• Support change management when project scope evolves.
• Develop metrics to monitor project health and progress.
• Anticipate obstacles and craft contingency plans.
• Resolve complex, high-impact cross-functional issues influencing execution.
• Frame issues for senior leadership and recommend paths forward.
• Drive alignment on engineering strategy and program priorities.
• Mentor junior team members and share knowledge on strategy and coordination.
• Represent the organization with internal and external stakeholders on sensitive matters.
• Maintain professional demeanor in all communications.

Skills

Cross-functional coordination

Influence without authority

Executive decision support

Strategic engineering leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering or related field

5 years of experience in lieu of degree

Job description

Job Description

This role plays a pivotal role in advancing small modular reactor development projects by proactively identifying and removing obstacles to ensure consistent progress toward key milestones. This position requires exceptional skills in cross‑functional coordination and the ability to influence without direct authority to drive initiatives forward. The role synthesizes complex technical information from across the organization to enable timely executive decision‑making while upholding the highest standards of nuclear safety and quality. At this level, the role is expected to operate as a recognized subject matter expert and strategic leader, shaping engineering strategy across major programs, influencing organizational priorities, and driving resolution of the most complex issues affecting project execution, stakeholder alignment, and long‑term business success.

Job Profile Tasks/Responsibilities

• Identify, track, and proactively remove roadblocks across HTGR reactor development projects to maintain progress against critical timelines.
• Coordinate with technical leads, Engineering, Procurement, Business Development, and regulatory stakeholders to resolve cross‑functional challenges.
• Consolidate and distill complex technical information into concise, actionable intelligence for executive leadership.
• Work directly with Business Development and Licensing Teams to promote relationship building internally and externally, such as in early discovery conversations to ensure credibility.
• Establish effective communication channels between technical teams internally and externally, ensuring alignment of priorities and resources.
• Lead cross‑functional initiatives through influence and relationship‑building rather than direct authority.
• Facilitate and assist in the assessment of customer needs and capture requirements and functions related to plant design including the nuclear island systems and conventional island systems.
• Create and maintain project documentation, decision matrices, and status reports for communication to leadership, the organization, or external partners and clients.
• Support change management processes when project scope or requirements evolve.
• Develop and track performance metrics to measure project health and progress.
• Anticipate potential obstacles before they impact schedules and develop contingency plans.
• Lead resolution of the most complex, high‑impact cross‑functional issues affecting reactor development strategy, program execution, and external stakeholder commitments.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leadership by framing issues, evaluating options, and recommending paths forward on significant technical and programmatic matters.
• Drive alignment across the organization on engineering strategy, program priorities, and execution risks where competing interests or ambiguity exist.
• Mentor more junior team members and share knowledge related to engineering strategy, project coordination, and cross‑functional execution across the organization.
• Represent the organization with internal and external stakeholders on highly sensitive, technically complex, or strategically important matters.
• Always maintain a professional demeanor and behavior in all forms of communication.
• Perform other duties as assigned by manager.

Job Profile Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related field, preferably in mechanical, chemical, electrical or other related discipline, or 5 years of experience in lieu of degree.
• Typically, twenty years of experience in a role in Engineering or related field required.
• Experience in engineering project environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional initiatives without direct authority.
• Experience with project management methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise‑level or highly complex strategic initiatives across multiple technical and business functions.
• Recognized ability to influence organizational direction, resolve highly ambiguous issues, and drive results on matters of major strategic importance.

Preferred Qualifications

• 15 years' experience in nuclear and non‑nuclear audit activities.
• Deep understanding and development of ASME codes and standards, quality processes, and procedures.
• Experience with setting up engineering processes and support quality programs that will enable us to obtain and maintain our quality certifications such as ASME N‑stamp.
• Working knowledge of metallic and non‑metallic components such as reactor, steam generator is required.

Location

9801 Washingtonian Blvd, Gaithersburg, MD

Work Site Expectations

Local Hybrid (3-4 days in office) / Remote eligible for non-local

Travel Expectations

30% (as needed for project assignment)

Hours

Standard office hours are 8:00am ET to 5:00pm ET, Monday - Friday

Compensation

As required by Maryland and other applicable state law, X Energy, LLC (X-energy) lists the expected compensation range for a publicly advertised job opportunity based upon the job requirements (e.g. education/training, experience, skill sets, etc.). Individual candidates who meet the job requirements for the posted position will be offered a salary within this range based on their respective levels of education/training, experience, and other qualifications unique to them. Salary ranges may vary based on the specific office location and region referenced in the posting to take into consideration differences in cost of living and may not be reflective of all regions. Please note that compensation ranges listed for US job postings reflect base salary only and do not include benefits or other incentives. Offers within the posted salary range are commensurate with the individual’s qualifications for the position, along with a view on internal equity, market data, and room for growth. The salary range for this position is: Level V: $180,000- $205,000/ Level VI: $225,000- $250,000

Position Job Classification

Full time - Exempt

Benefits

• X Energy, LLC offers a robust benefits package that includes a 401K plan with an employer match, Medical/Dental /Vision Insurance, Life and Disability Insurance, Paid Time Off, and a Tuition Reimbursement/Professional Development policy that supports the continuing education of our employees.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Right To Work Link

If you have the right to work, don't let anyone take it away (e-verify.gov)

E-Verify Participation Link

E-Verify Participation Poster English and Spanish

Company Culture

X-energy is delivering the next generation of carbon‑free energy by reinventing nuclear power. We believe in leaving a cleaner planet for our children and grandchildren, while continuing to provide sufficient and affordable power to sustain growing populations around the world. That is why we have reinvented nuclear power, with a unique combination of proven technologies and new innovations, to meet our current and future needs. Watch our Anthem here

Equal Employment Opportunity Posters

Equal Employment Opportunity Posters

Disability Accommodation

X-energy does not discriminate in employment against qualified individuals on the basis of a disability, and understands its obligation to make reasonable accommodation for individuals with physical or mental impairments that qualify as a disability under the ADA and ADAAA, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the company. It is an applicant’s or employee’s responsibility to participate in this interactive process by seeking an accommodation, assisting X-energy in reviewing accommodation alternatives and providing medical certification of the need for an accommodation. Any applicant or employee who wishes to seek an accommodation under this policy should contact the Human Resources Department via email at [e-mail]. Whether a requested accommodation would create an undue hardship will be determined based on the facts of each particular case.