Nuclear Safety Analysis Engineer

Deep Fission is seeking a mid-career Nuclear Safety Analysis Engineer to support the design, development, and safety analysis of our Gravity Nuclear Reactor. Functions within this role include performing accident analyses and safety calculations that support the reactor's safety case across a first-of-a-kind subsurface deployment.

The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience in accident analysis, radiological consequence evaluation, and safety analysis report development within a regulated nuclear environment, and can translate that technical foundation into defensible inputs for licensing submittals and regulatory engagement with the NRC and DOE. This role reports into the Nuclear Safety Analysis organization and works closely with licensing, reactor design, and health physics teams as the company advances toward pilot deployment and commercial licensing.

Key Responsibilities

• Accident & Safety Analysis
  • Perform and document accident analyses, including design basis accident (DBA) and beyond-design-basis event evaluations, to support the reactor's safety case.
  • Develop and apply nuclear safety analysis methods and codes to evaluate reactivity control, core response, and system behavior under off-normal conditions.
  • Evaluate radiological consequences of accident scenarios in coordination with health physics, incorporating dose assessment inputs into safety documentation.
  • Contribute to probabilistic and deterministic safety analyses supporting design decisions and regulatory submittals.
• Safety Basis & Licensing Documentation
  • Support development of safety analysis reports (SAR/PSAR), technical specifications, and licensing basis documentation.
  • Support preparation of licensing submittals and responses to NRC and DOE requests for additional information related to safety analysis.
  • Interpret regulatory requirements (e.g., 10 CFR Part 50/52) and translate them into safety analysis inputs and design recommendations.
  • Maintain traceability between safety analysis assumptions, design inputs, and licensing commitments.
• Technical Collaboration
• • Coordinate with reactor design, health physics, and licensing teams to ensure safety analysis assumptions remain consistent with evolving design.
  • Coordinate with external consultants and national laboratory partners on safety analysis methodology and validation work.
  • Promote a proactive nuclear safety culture across engineering, licensing, and field-based activities.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7–10 years of relevant experience in nuclear safety analysis or accident analysis within a regulated nuclear environment (commercial nuclear, DOE, national laboratory, or naval nuclear); commercial nuclear background preferred.
• Demonstrated, hands-on experience performing accident analysis, including design basis accident evaluation.
• Experience with nuclear safety analysis codes and methods (e.g., MELCOR, RADTRAD, SCALE, ORIGEN, or comparable tools).
• Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related technical field, with a solid understanding of reactor physics and safety analysis principles.
• Working knowledge of radiological consequence assessment as it relates to accident analysis (close coordination with health physics expected; CHP credential not required for this role).
• Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to produce clear, defensible documentation suitable for regulatory review.
• Must be a U.S. person eligible to meet DOE Export Control requirements under 10 CFR 810.
• Ability to work independently in a remote-first, cross-functional environment with senior stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel domestically for team offsites, training sessions, and site visits as required. Approximately 20% travel.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Direct experience at a commercial nuclear power plant, in a Reactor/Nuclear Safety Analysis or Licensing group.
• Advanced degree (MS) in Nuclear Engineering or a related field.
• Direct experience with SMRs, Gen IV technologies, or first-of-a-kind nuclear reactor development.
• Demonstrated experience navigating NRC or DOE licensing processes, including SAR development and RAI responses.
• Familiarity with nuclear QA programs (e.g., NQA-1) and compliance documentation.
• Experience with probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) tools and methods (e.g., SAPHIRE).
• Proficiency with engineering software tools and AI-enabled platforms.
• Experience in startup or innovation-driven organizations where scope and process are actively evolving.

Key Competencies

• Safety Analysis Rigor — Performs sound, well-documented accident and safety analyses that hold up under NRC and DOE review.
• Technical Depth — Applies reactor physics and systems knowledge to identify and evaluate credible accident scenarios.
• Adaptability & Problem-Solving — Comfortable operating in first-of-a-kind environments where precedent is limited and methods are actively being established.
• Stakeholder Influence — Builds trust and alignment across engineering, licensing, health physics, and regulatory stakeholders.
• Decision-Making — Balances technical rigor with practical judgment to support design and licensing decisions on schedule.