Nuclear Fuel Systems Engineer - Fuel Lifecycle
Confirmed on the employer's own hiring board on Oct 21, 2026. First seen by Alion on Aug 13, 2026.
About the Role
The Fuel Lifecycle Lead will build and manage the nuclear fuel program for Nautilus, BlueCore’s flagship floating nuclear power plant, from procurement through final disposition. Sitting within the Certification Department, this role is equal parts project manager, licensing contributor, and operations planner. You will manage the contracts and logistics that bring fuel to the reactor, the procedures and equipment that handle it on site, the regulatory submittals that authorize every step, and the long-term planning for storage and ultimate disposal. For a barge-mounted PWR operating at a working port, you will solve challenges unprecedented in commercial nuclear energy: fuel receipt at a marine facility, refueling operations on a floating platform, and spent fuel storage and transport under overlapping NRC, DOE, USCG, DOT, and port authority requirements.
Beyond Nautilus, you will lay the groundwork for fleet-wide fuel receiving, handling, storage, and disposal across commercial ports globally. This means building relationships with port authorities, developing floating fuel-handling infrastructure standards, and working with regulators to establish new regulatory precedents. In any given month, your work will cross procurement, reactor engineering, operations, licensing, transport logistics, and maritime safety.
Responsibilities
Own the fuel handling program from receipt through disposition, including new fuel inspection, core loading, refueling outage planning and execution, spent fuel pool operations, and dry cask storage.
Develop fuel handling procedures and coordinate with the reactor engineering team on core design, fuel management strategy, and reload analysis for each operating cycle.
Author and support fuel-related sections of the DOE safety basis (DSA, TSRs) and NRC license application (FSAR Chapters 4, 9, and applicable portions of Chapters 11 and 15), including fuel handling accident analysis, spent fuel pool cooling, criticality safety, and radioactive waste management.
Lead the licensing effort for fuel transportation, including 10 CFR Part 71 shipping cask certification, route approvals, and coordination with DOT, USCG, and NRC for marine transport of fresh and spent fuel.
Plan and execute refueling outages, coordinating cross-functionally across operations, maintenance, engineering, and contractors to ensure safe, on-schedule execution.
Develop the spent fuel management strategy for a barge-based facility, including interim storage, ISFSI licensing under 10 CFR Part 72 (if applicable), and long-term planning for DOE spent fuel acceptance.
Navigate the regulatory intersections between NRC, DOE, USCG, ABS, DOT, and the Port of Long Beach for fuel receipt, handling, storage, and transport.
Build strategic relationships with port authorities and fuel service providers to establish the logistics, infrastructure, and regulatory agreements needed for commercial port fueling operations.
Coordinate cross-functionally with engineering, operations, licensing, training, and executive leadership to ensure fuel handling requirements are embedded into plant design, operating procedures, and safety submittals from day one.
Travel to fuel fabrication facilities, NRC headquarters, Idaho National Laboratory (INL), and other vendor sites for technical coordination and regulatory engagement.
Required Qualifications & Skills
Deep experience in nuclear fuel management, fuel handling operations, or fuel cycle project management at a commercial nuclear power plant or fuel vendor.
Working knowledge of PWR fuel design, core loading, and refueling outage planning/execution.
Familiarity with the governing regulatory framework for nuclear fuel: 10 CFR Part 50/52/53, 10 CFR Part 70, 10 CFR Part 71, 10 CFR Part 72, and applicable FSAR chapters/Technical Specifications.
Strong project management capability, with a track record of simultaneously managing vendor contracts, outage schedules, shipping logistics, and regulatory submittals.
Excellent technical writing ability with experience authoring regulatory-grade safety analysis documents for federal review.
Ability to travel to vendor facilities, NRC headquarters, Idaho National Laboratory, and port locations as required.
Desired Qualifications & Skills
Direct commercial nuclear fuel experience.
Active SRO license.