Manager, Commissioning

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet-scale approach to building nuclear reactors. Through its design-once, build-many approach and coalition building across communities, regulators, and financial stakeholders, The Nuclear Company is committed to delivering safe and reliable electricity at the lowest cost, while catalyzing the nuclear industry toward rapid development in America and globally.

About the role: The Commissioning Manager will lead all aspects of the commissioning phase for a new commercial nuclear power plant, ensuring systems and components are tested, validated, and transitioned safely and efficiently from construction to operational readiness. This role is responsible for developing and executing the commissioning strategy, coordinating multi-disciplinary teams, and maintaining rigorous adherence to regulatory, safety, and quality standards. The Commissioning Manager plays a critical leadership role in aligning construction, engineering, operations, and regulatory functions to support a successful plant startup and handover to operations. This position requires technical expertise, project management capability, and a strong understanding of nuclear safety and licensing requirements. 

Responsibilities:

• Commissioning Program Development and Execution:
  • Lead the creation and execution of the Commissioning Program, including procedures, test plans, schedules, resource requirements, project milestones, and operational goals. 
• Team Leadership and Coordination:
  • Manage and coordinate multi-disciplinary teams across construction, engineering, operations, and testing organizations to ensure efficient execution of commissioning activities.
  • Provide leadership to startup and testing teams, ensuring alignment with safety and quality expectations. 
• System Turnover and Acceptance:
  • Oversee the turnover of systems from construction to commissioning, ensuring that construction verification activities such as megger tests of cables, hydrostatic tests or flushing of mechanical systems are completed. Any deficiencies are identified and corrected, and systems meet design and licensing requirements. 
• Regulatory and Licensing Interface:
  • Act as a key interface with regulatory authorities (e.g., NRC) during inspections, audits, and assessments related to commissioning.
  • Ensure documentation and testing are compliant with all licensing commitments and applicable regulations. 
• Schedule, Risk, and Quality Management:
  • Monitor and manage commissioning schedules, track progress, and proactively address risks or delays.
  • Ensure testing activities are completed with high quality and safety standards and support integration into the project’s Quality Assurance framework.

Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (mechanical, electrical, nuclear, systems) or a closely related technical discipline. 
• Nuclear Commissioning or Nuclear Startup experience. 
• Experience managing or leading commissioning activities at commercial nuclear power plants. 
• Proven leadership in cross-functional environments. 
• Demonstrated success managing multi-disciplinary teams in high-stakes, highly regulated environments.
• Experience overseeing technical staff and interfacing with construction, QA/QC, engineering, and operations. 
• Deep knowledge of NRC Regulatory Framework and ITAAC Process.
• In-depth understanding of NRC regulations (e.g., 10 CFR 50 and 52), licensing conditions, and the Inspections, Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria (ITAAC) required for nuclear commissioning and startup. 
• Valued but not required experience:
  • Digital I&C System Commissioning.
  • Practical experience commissioning digital Instrumentation & Controls (I&C) systems, including cyber-security requirements and integrated system testing.
  • Large-Scale Project Experience.
  • Participation in large nuclear infrastructure projects, particularly in multi-national or EPC-led environments, where complexity and coordination demands are high. 
  • Hands-On Startup Test Procedure Development.
  • Experience in drafting, reviewing, and executing initial test program (ITP) or pre-operational test procedures. 

Benefits:

• Competitive compensation packages
• 401k with company match
• Medical, dental, vision plans
• Generous vacation policy, plus holidays
• Annual company retreats

Estimated Starting Salary Range: 

The estimated starting salary range for this role is $150,000 - $173,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a semi-monthly basis.  The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role. 

EEO Statement:

The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.