Senior Project Design Authority Engineer

Savannah River National Laboratory; Aiken (SC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package

Medical, Dental, Vision

Disability insurance

Life Insurance

AD&D

Savings & Investment plan

Company match 50% up to 8%

Paid Time Off

Employee Assistance Plan

Job summary

Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina seeks a Project Design Authority Engineer to act as the technical authority for facility modifications, ensuring engineering rigor, safety basis alignment, and configuration management across the portfolio.

This role provides technical oversight, supports project execution, and interfaces with facility operations, nuclear safety, and external oversight bodies to resolve complex issues and maintain safety and reliability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear, Civil, Chemical, or related field).
• Minimum 7–10 years engineering experience, preferably in DOE, nuclear, or highly regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience as a system engineer, design authority, or safety basis engineer in facility or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of DOE Orders (e.g., 420.1C, 426.2), nuclear safety management, safety analysis methodologies, and configuration management principles.
• Ability to evaluate complex technical issues, make authoritative engineering decisions, and lead cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interface effectively with operations, safety, management, and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Design Authority for assigned systems, facilities, and project scopes, ensuring all modifications comply with engineering standards, safety documentation, design basis requirements, and DOE regulations.
• Review and approve engineering documents, technical reports, calculations, design packages, and configuration management changes.
• Provide technical guidance during project planning, design development, hazard analysis, construction, testing, and turnover.
• Ensure alignment with SRNL’s Conduct of Engineering Program and applicable DOE Orders, codes, and standards.
• Maintain strict adherence to Safety Basis, Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs), and nuclear safety management principles.
• Collaborate with Operations, Nuclear & Criticality Safety, Project Engineering, and external stakeholders to resolve technical issues and maintain facility safety and reliability.
• Support multi‑disciplinary project teams during design, review, and execution phases, including coordination with SRNS, DOE‑SR, design agencies, and subcontracted engineering organizations.
• Participate in readiness reviews, operational assessments, hazard control decision making, and design change evaluations.
• Provide mentorship, technical input, and subject‑matter guidance within the engineering organization.

Skills

Engineering leadership

DOE regulations

System engineering

Safety basis knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Job description

Job Description

The Project Design Authority Engineer will serve as the technical authority for facility and infrastructure modification projects, ensuring engineering rigor, safety basis alignment, disciplined conduct of engineering, and configuration management across SRNL’s Operations & Facilities portfolio.

Job Description

The Project Design Authority Engineer will serve as the technical authority for facility and infrastructure modification projects, ensuring engineering rigor, safety basis alignment, disciplined conduct of engineering, and configuration management across SRNL’s Operations & Facilities portfolio.

This role provides technical oversight, supports project execution, and serves as a key interface among facility operations, nuclear safety, engineering programs, and external oversight organizations.

Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as Design Authority for assigned systems, facilities, and project scopes, ensuring all modifications comply with engineering standards, safety documentation, design basis requirements, and DOE regulations.
• Review and approve engineering documents, technical reports, calculations, design packages, and configuration management changes.
• Provide technical guidance during project planning, design development, hazard analysis, construction, testing, and turnover.
• Ensure alignment with SRNL’s Conduct of Engineering Program and applicable DOE Orders, codes, and standards.
• Maintain strict adherence to Safety Basis, Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs), and nuclear safety management principles.
• Collaborate with Operations, Nuclear & Criticality Safety, Project Engineering, and external stakeholders to resolve technical issues and maintain facility safety and reliability.
• Support multi‑disciplinary project teams during design, review, and execution phases, including coordination with SRNS, DOE‑SR, design agencies, and subcontracted engineering organizations.
• Participate in readiness reviews, operational assessments, hazard control decision making, and design change evaluations.
• Provide mentorship, technical input, and subject‑matter guidance within the engineering organization.
• Serve as Design Authority for assigned systems, facilities, and project scopes, ensuring all modifications comply with engineering standards, safety documentation, design basis requirements, and DOE regulations.
• Review and approve engineering documents, technical reports, calculations, design packages, and configuration management changes.
• Provide technical guidance during project planning, design development, hazard analysis, construction, testing, and turnover.
• Ensure alignment with SRNL’s Conduct of Engineering Program and applicable DOE Orders, codes, and standards.
• Maintain strict adherence to Safety Basis, Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs), and nuclear safety management principles.
• Collaborate with Operations, Nuclear & Criticality Safety, Project Engineering, and external stakeholders to resolve technical issues and maintain facility safety and reliability.
• Support multi‑disciplinary project teams during design, review, and execution phases, including coordination with SRNS, DOE‑SR, design agencies, and subcontracted engineering organizations.
• Participate in readiness reviews, operational assessments, hazard control decision making, and design change evaluations.
• Provide mentorship, technical input, and subject‑matter guidance within the engineering organization.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical, Nuclear, Civil, Chemical, or related field).
• Minimum 7–10 years engineering experience, preferably in DOE, nuclear, or highly regulated environments.
• Demonstrated experience as a system engineer, design authority, or safety basis engineer in facility or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of DOE Orders (e.g., 420.1C, 426.2), nuclear safety management, safety analysis methodologies, and configuration management principles.
• Ability to evaluate complex technical issues, make authoritative engineering decisions, and lead cross‑functional teams.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to interface effectively with operations, safety, management, and external agencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineering (PE) license.
• Experience in nuclear facility operations, safety basis development, or implementation.
• Familiarity with SRNL, SRS procedures, and Conduct of Engineering processes.
• Experience leading or supporting design/build projects, facility upgrades, or major equipment installations.

About Us

“We put science to work!”

Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) is a multi-program laboratory applying state of the art science and practical, high-value, cost-effective solutions to complex technical problems to protect the nation. Located at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Savannah River Site (SRS) in Aiken SC, the laboratory develops and deploys innovative technologies to address some of the nation’s environmental, energy, and national security challenges.

Battelle Savannah River Alliance (BSRA) is constantly assessing trends to provide the best possible benefits to our workforce. We also negotiate cost effective premiums that will meet the needs of our evolving workforce.

Some of the *Benefits offered to employees include:

• Benefits vary based upon employment status
• Highly competitive Medical, Dental, and Vision options including HSA options with company provided seed
• Short- & Long-Term Disability (company paid)
• Life Insurance Non-Contributory 1X salary (company paid)
• AD&D Non-contributory 1x salary (company paid)
• Savings & Investment plan:
• Qualified Non-Elective Company Contribution of 5% each pay period with immediate vesting
• Company match 50 cents/dollar up to 8% (5 yrs. vesting in company match)
• Contributory Life Insurance up to 5x Salary with $1M Cap
• Contributory AD&D (employee, spouse and children)
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Plan
• SRNL offers a competitive relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions.

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at www.srnl.doe.gov .

BSRA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. BSRA is also committed to making our workplace accessible to individuals with disabilities and will provide reasonable accommodations, upon request, for individuals to participate in the application and hiring process. Please email us at [e-mail] with any questions regarding the hiring process or to request an accommodation.