Senior Vice President - Fission Technology

About Zap Energy

Zap is advancing the next generation of nuclear power technology across fusion, fission and hybrid applications. Built on an integrated platform of high-energy-density physics and pulsed power, liquid metals and advanced materials, and compact, modular systems, Zap is building the foundational technologies needed to deploy the energy sources of the future.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking an exceptional nuclear technology executive to serve as Senior Vice President of Fission Technology. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a world-class fission engineering organization, driving the development of next-generation reactor technology from licensing through commercialization and deployment. Reporting directly to the CEO, the SVP of Fission Technology will be a member of the executive leadership team and will have end-to-end responsibility for the technical vision, engineering execution, licensing strategy, and commercialization of Zap Energy’s fission program.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise in advanced nuclear reactor design with a demonstrated track record of leading complex reactor development programs from concept through licensing, construction, commissioning, and commercial operation. This individual is an exceptional organizational leader with the vision and experience to recruit, develop, and inspire a world-class, multidisciplinary engineering organization. You possess the technical credibility and executive presence to represent Zap Energy with customers, government agencies, regulators, strategic partners, investors, and the broader nuclear community, serving as one of the company's foremost technical ambassadors.

What You'll Do

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Define and own the fission technology roadmap, aligned with Zap Energy's commercial strategy and long-term fusion mission.
• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team; contribute to company-wide strategy, resource allocation, and organizational decisions.
• Represent Zap Energy in high-stakes external engagements - including with the NRC, DOE, potential utility customers, defense partners, and investors.
• Build and manage the fission technology P&L, including budget ownership, headcount planning, and milestone-based execution.

Design-to-Production Execution

• Lead all phases of advanced reactor development: design, prototype development, NRC licensing, manufacturing readiness, and initial deployment.
• Establish and enforce rigorous systems engineering and nuclear quality assurance (NQA-1) practices across the fission program.
• Drive design-for-manufacturability principles early in the development cycle to ensure cost-competitive, licensable, and buildable reactor designs.
• Lead all technical interactions with the NRC, including pre-application engagement, licensing strategy development, and execution of the selected regulatory pathway, whether under Part 50, Part 52, Part 53, Part 57, or other applicable frameworks.
• Identify and manage supply chain and manufacturing partnerships; establish the industrial base required for scalable advanced reactor production.
• Ensure that all development activities meet applicable nuclear codes and standards (ASME, IEEE, ANS) and regulatory requirements.

Team Leadership & Organization Building

• Recruit, develop, and retain a large multidisciplinary engineering organization spanning reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, reactor systems, fuel engineering, instrumentation & controls, structural mechanics, radiation protection, and licensing.
• Build a high-performance engineering culture characterized by technical rigor, psychological safety, accountability, and a bias toward bold execution.
• Establish clear career paths and technical leadership ladders within the fission organization; mentor and develop the next generation of nuclear leaders.
• Partner effectively with Zap Energy's fusion, software, operations, and business development teams to maximize cross-functional leverage.
• Define and manage key performance indicators for the fission program and communicate progress transparently to the board and executive team.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressively senior experience in nuclear engineering, with a strong technical foundation in reactor design, nuclear safety analysis, or related disciplines.
• Demonstrated experience taking a nuclear system or major subsystem from design concept through licensed operation or commercial production - not just development.
• Deep familiarity with the U.S. NRC regulatory framework, including 10 CFR Parts 50 and 52, the licensing process for advanced and small modular reactors, and safety basis development.
• Proven track record building and leading large (50+) multidisciplinary engineering teams in a nuclear or highly regulated environment.
• Experience with nuclear quality assurance programs (NQA-1) and nuclear codes and standards (ASME Section III, IEEE, ANS).
• Advanced degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field.
• U.S. citizenship or ability to obtain required security clearances and access authorizations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with non-light-water reactor technologies - including liquid metal-cooled, gas-cooled, or molten salt designs - and the associated licensing challenges.
• Prior P&L or business unit leadership responsibility, including budget ownership at the $50M+ level.
• Experience engaging with the NRC at senior levels on novel or first-of-a-kind reactor concepts.
• Familiarity with advanced manufacturing approaches for nuclear components, including digital twins, additive manufacturing, or advanced quality inspection techniques.
• Experience in a venture-backed, high-growth technology company or startup environment alongside traditional nuclear industry experience.
• Active relationships with DOE national laboratories, university nuclear programs, or advanced reactor consortia.
• Experience with international nuclear regulatory frameworks (e.g., CNSC, ONR, or IAEA guidelines).

What Makes This Role Unique

• Executive scope from day one: You will have full ownership of a major technology program at a company that is defining the future of nuclear energy - not optimizing a legacy program.
• Fusion adjacency: Your fission work directly informs and accelerates Zap Energy's fusion mission, giving you a once-in-a-generation vantage point on the convergence of both technologies.
• Mission that matters: Zap Energy exists because the world urgently needs clean, reliable, abundant energy. This is among the highest-leverage roles in the energy transition.

Zap Energy is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws and regulations.