Director of Engineering & Chief Engineer - Recycling

About the Role

SHINE is seeking an engineering leader for our used nuclear fuel (UNF) Recycling product line. The US has more than 95,000 metric tons of used nuclear fuel with no disposal solution. The Director of Engineering & Chief Engineer - Recycling will lead the engineering efforts to recycle this fuel into energy, overseeing the design, licensing, procurement, and construction processes.

Responsibilities

• Build and lead the core Recycling engineering team, setting technical standards and owning the engineering scope, schedule, and budget for the Pilot facility.
• Serve as Chief Engineer for the Pilot facility, making final technical decisions and owning the requirements strategy.
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to progress design and licensing, applying a graded approach to codes, standards, and nuclear quality requirements.
• Lead hazard and operability studies (HAZOPs), design reviews, and equipment layout decisions to maximize process efficiency.
• Identify and evaluate technical project risks, develop solutions, and communicate with senior management.
• Ensure proper documentation and configuration control of the baseline design.

Success in the First Eighteen Months

• A core engineering team is hired, retained, and operating to a defined technical standard.
• The baseline design reaches an agreed maturity and is under configuration control.
• The requirements set is reduced to a defensible minimum, with reasoning documented.

Requirements

• Evidence of building a technical team, recruiting senior engineers who had other options and retaining them.
• Demonstrated ability to challenge default regulatory requirements and find safer, more efficient alternatives.
• Ability to critically evaluate information, think strategically, and take decisive action.
• Experience designing or selecting equipment for harsh environments.
• Ability to manage multiple activities and prioritize for company success.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related discipline.
• Ten years or more of relevant engineering experience, including leading engineering teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of nuclear fuel cycle processes.
• Nuclear safety analysis experience.
• Experience with chemical process technology transfer.
• Experience scaling from Pilot to Commercial facilities.
• Familiarity with facility design, licensing, and construction under 10 CFR or equivalent DOE regulations.
• Experience interacting directly with regulatory bodies like the NRC.

Pay

The base salary range for this position is $175,000 - $225,000 per year, plus a comprehensive compensation package. Salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location.