VP of Radiological Operations

About the role

The Vice President of Radiological Operations at Zeno Power is a rare opportunity to help industrialize a new category of energy infrastructure and build the operational foundation for the radioisotope power era. The role will lead operational readiness and all radiological activities at Zeno's Bay Area facility, and is critical to our transition from R&D to production-scale operations by 2028.

Responsibilities

• Lead the stand-up, commissioning, operational readiness, and long-term operation of Zeno’s radiological facility in the Bay Area, including ownership of the departmental budget and resource allocation.
• Build and lead a high-performing radiological operations organization, including hot cell operators, health physicists (HPs), radiological control technicians (RCTs), radiological protection, and maintenance personnel.
• Move with urgency to transition facility and radiological operations from existing partners to Zeno’s Radioactive Materials license to support customer deployments in 2027.
• Drive the development and scaling of radiological operations, including implementation of a comprehensive radiation protection program encompassing personnel dosimetry, monitoring, and radiological procedures, to enable the manufacturing and deployment of Zeno’s nuclear RPS technology.
• Own the development and maintenance of facility procedures, work control and integration processes, readiness reviews, and radiological safety standards across all radiological facility activities, including implementation of ALARA principles, corrective action programs, safety-conscious work practices, work authorization controls, and hazard analyses.
• Oversee compliance programs, including nuclear material accountability, security, and regulatory safeguard requirements.
• Maintain strong working relationships with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), California Department of Health (CDPH), and other relevant regulatory agencies, and ensure facility operations comply with Radioactive Materials license, transportation, and security requirements and standards.
• Partner cross-functionally with engineering, regulatory, supply chain, and project management teams to industrialize Zeno’s technology.
• Lead radiological operations planning and support for Zeno’s nuclear batteries in maritime and space environments, working in close partnership with our internal regulatory organization, customers, and regulators - including operational readiness at ports and launch sites.

Qualifications and Skills

• B.S. in Nuclear Engineering, Health Physics, Radiation Protection, or a related technical discipline; advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) strongly preferred
• 15+ years of progressive experience in radiological or nuclear facility operations, including 5+ years in a leadership role
• Demonstrated success bringing new radiological systems or capabilities online — from planning through commissioning and sustained operations
• Hands-on operational leadership experience in one or more of the following environments: commercial nuclear operations, radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, isotope production and handling, hot cell operations, advanced manufacturing in NRC- or DOE-regulated environments
• Deep familiarity with all key elements of radiological work planning, including work authorizations, ALARA program implementation, nuclear safety culture, quality assurance (NQA-1 or ISO 9001), personnel dosimetry, and regulator engagement on oversight and inspections
• Strong budget management, organizational leadership, and cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, ambiguous startup environment
• Ability to relocate to and work onsite in the Bay Area, CA

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience transitioning organizations from development-stage into production-scale radiological operations, including building new operational organizations or standing up new facilities from scratch.
• Certification or qualification as a Radiation Safety Officer (RSO) under NRC or Agreement State frameworks, or experience overseeing RSO program functions.
• Experience supporting field deployment operations in remote, maritime, or aerospace environments, including radiological transportation operations.

Pay

The anticipated salary band for this position is $225,000-$275,000. The final job level and compensation will be determined by various factors such as a candidate's relevant work experience, years of relevant experience, skills, qualifications, certifications, and other business considerations.

Schedule

This role requires daily in-office presence at a radiological facility in the Bay Area. Travel is required, 25-35%.