Nuclear Design Basis Engineer

About This Role

As a Nuclear Design Basis Engineer at General Matter, you'll define the engineering ground rules that every part of the facility is built to. You'll own the design criteria and design basis for the facility's systems, structures, and components translating safety functions, regulatory requirements, and codes and standards into clear, defensible engineering criteria that the rest of the design organization builds against.

This is a systems-level role that connects the safety analysis to the steel: your criteria capture how safety-significant systems, structures, and components must perform, how the facility withstands natural phenomena and external events, and how design decisions trace back to the Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA).

DOE facilities develop design basis documents and natural phenomena hazard criteria under DOE-STD-1020 and DOE-STD-1189 using the same underlying logic as the NRC framework here, DOE design basis experience carries over directly to this role.

Responsibilities

• Develop, document, and maintain design criteria and the design basis for systems, structures, and components (SSCs) across the facility.
• Translate safety functions and regulatory and code requirements into clear engineering design criteria.
• Establish design criteria for natural phenomena hazards (e.g., seismic, wind, flood) and external events as applicable.
• Define load combinations, environmental conditions, and applicable codes and standards for design.
• Review designs, calculations, and specifications for conformance to established design criteria.
• Coordinate with the ISA, criticality safety, consequence, fire protection, and structural/mechanical teams to ensure design criteria reflect the facility safety basis.
• Maintain configuration control of design criteria and design basis documents.
• Maintain accurate documentation and records to support audits and regulatory reviews.

Basic Qualifications

• Strong understanding of engineering fundamentals.
• Ability to perform trade studies and make clear recommendations using first principles and engineering fundamentals even with partial information.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Civil/Structural, Nuclear, or a related engineering field.
• Strong knowledge of design basis and design criteria development for regulated or safety-critical facilities.
• Familiarity with applicable codes and standards (e.g., ASCE, ACI, AISC, ASME) and natural phenomena hazard criteria.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey technical information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Evidence of exceptional ability (prior projects, portfolio of work, completed products, etc).
• Experience in a fast-paced engineering environment or a highly technical role requiring a resourceful, entrepreneurial approach to complete tasks within tight timeframes or budget constraints.
• Experience at a nuclear, DOE, national lab, or NRC-licensed facility - DOE design basis and DOE-STD-1020/1189 natural phenomena hazard experience is directly transferable to NRC Part 70 design criteria work
• Experience with Integrated Safety Analysis (ISA) and safety classification of systems, structures, and components.
• Experience with natural phenomena hazard analysis or external event assessment.
• Advanced degrees.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license is preferred or the ability to obtain one.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.

Compensation and Benefits

The base salary range for this role is $150,000-$210,000 annually.

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors.

In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.