Director of Nuclear Engineering

Xcimer Energy leverages decades of research on Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) combined with groundbreaking new laser architecture. Our mission is to deploy fusion power plants to meet global decarbonization goals as fast as possible. Xcimer has assembled a team of leaders in tough tech, fusion science, and manufacturing with a track record of rapid execution. Supported by leading investors, Xcimer is uniquely positioned to deliver limitless, clean, fusion power to combat climate change. Join us in powering a better world with inertial fusion!

This is a full-time, onsite role based at our headquarters in Denver, CO.

As the Director of Nuclear Engineering, you will lead and grow Xcimer’s Nuclear Engineering discipline, ensuring the company applies rigorous nuclear engineering practices across all programs, facilities, and lifecycle phases. You will serve as a technical authority within Xcimer’s matrix engineering organization, partnering closely with Program leadership and peer Department Heads to establish standards, mentor engineers, and ensure high-quality technical execution. We are looking for a technical leader to apply their expertise in nuclear engineering, systems thinking, and organizational leadership to positively impact the future of energy!

Responsibilities

• Build, lead, and grow the Nuclear Engineering Department, including hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and performance development of engineering staff.
• Develop career paths and technical leadership pipelines for nuclear engineers while fostering a culture of technical rigor, collaboration, safety, and continuous improvement.
• Establish, document, and maintain nuclear engineering standards, methods, and best practices across concept development, design, testing, and operations.
• Define and maintain the nuclear design basis for Xcimer facilities and programs, ensuring assumptions, analyses, and requirements support performance, safety, and regulatory objectives.
• Partner with Program Directors and Managers to ensure nuclear engineering activities are appropriately scoped, resourced, prioritized, and scheduled.
• Identify nuclear engineering risks early and collaborate cross-functionally to develop and implement mitigation strategies.
• Ensure disciplined execution of core nuclear engineering activities, including radiation transport and shielding analysis, activation analysis, source term definition, uncertainty analysis, and support for radiological safety and hazards analysis.
• Collaborate closely with Systems Engineering, Facilities, Test, Operations, ES&H, and peer engineering departments to integrate nuclear engineering considerations into system architectures, facility designs, and operational procedures.
• Define and execute a long-term roadmap for nuclear engineering capability growth, including external partnerships with national laboratories, academic institutions, and industry collaborators.
• Represent Xcimer in technical forums and within the broader nuclear engineering community to build technical credibility and attract top-tier talent.

Qualifications

• Education: Advanced degree in Nuclear Engineering or closely related technical field; PhD strongly preferred.
• Experience: 15+ years of experience in nuclear engineering, including senior technical leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrated experience building, mentoring, and leading high-performing technical teams.
• Strong foundation in radiation physics, nuclear engineering fundamentals, and analytical methods.
• Experience with deterministic and Monte Carlo neutron/photon transport methods.
• Experience using nuclear engineering analysis tools such as MCNP, OpenMC, or equivalent software.
• Experience planning and managing technical work, including schedules, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Experience operating effectively within matrix organizations and multidisciplinary technical environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired

• Experience within fusion energy, high-radiation facilities, or other advanced energy systems.
• Experience collaborating with national laboratories, universities, or large multi-institution technical programs.
• Experience establishing engineering standards and improving technical rigor across organizations.
• Publication record or recognized technical leadership within the nuclear engineering community.