Nuclear Design Safety Engineer

About the role

WHO WE ARE

At Proxima Fusion, we're driven by a bold mission – to redefine the future of sustainable energy. Our unique concept, built upon the ground breaking W7-X stellarator and the latest advances in technology, paves the way for commercially viable fusion power plants.

What’s more, our work in stellarator optimization, powered by cutting-edge computation and machine learning, is propelling us into uncharted territories of fusion technology. New higher performance design points are unlocked by high temperature superconducting magnets.

To fully grasp this huge opportunity, we’re building a team of extremely dedicated and passionate people who come together driving something extraordinary, radically transforming technology in the world.

WHY JOIN PROXIMA FUSION

- You will get to work on some of the most complex tech challenges to bring abundant, safe, clean energy to the world

- You'll get to join and learn from an exceptional selection of accomplished and driven individuals

- Do your life’s best work and enjoy the journey

- Get to show that big things are possible in Europe when you assemble the best talent

YOUR IMPACT

This design-focused role aims to steer the stellarator design and facilitate choices that ensure radiological safety is prioritized.

Work across teams to ensure that component designers are informed of relevant nuclear safety implications.

Review the existing design and propose changes that improve safety, mitigate accident scenarios, and strengthen compliance with regulatory standards.

See the impact of your nuclear analysis directly influencing the design of stellarator demonstrator machines and first-of-a-kind power plants.

In this role, you will have a significant impact on design safety and help set the path toward regulatory approval.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

- Review designs with nuclear safety in mind.

- Engage with engineering and physics teams, early in the design process to ensure components and systems are developed with nuclear safety considerations.

- Collaborate with the neutronics experts, material scientists, and manufacturers to define limits for impurities in materials exposed to intense neutron irradiation.

- Analyze accident scenarios and propose mitigations.

- Support licensing activities, safety case development, and regulatory submissions.

- Develop and maintain procedures for tritium handling, activated material management, and waste minimization.

- Train and inform staff on radiation safety practices (e.g., nuclear-qualified welding).

- Provide clear justification for design changes to fulfil risk analysis requirements.

- Translate complex analysis outputs (e.g., neutronics dose maps) into actionable design guidance.

- Conduct supporting analyses (e.g., neutronics activation simulations with OpenMC) to evidence the benefits of safety-driven design decisions.

- Lead the development of operational procedures that are compatible with regulatory and inspection requirements.

- Perform detailed Failure Modes and Effects Analyses (FMEA) to identify potential component and system failures, evaluate their safety implications, assess risk significance, and recommend design or procedural mitigations to ensure compliance with nuclear safety standards.

WHO YOU ARE

- Experienced nuclear safety engineer or a similar role, designing nuclear reactors or reactor components.

- Experienced in engaging with German regulators.

- Operating in radioactive environments with both gamma and neutron dose.

- Relevant education, such as a nuclear engineering degree (desirable).

- German speaker (desirable)

- Able to quantify the risk of material activation due to neutron irradiation with OpenMC.

- Able to program in Python to interface with the design and simulation capabilities.

- Understanding of tritium-related risks and associated design mitigation strategies.

INTERVIEW PROCESS

- Recruiter Interview (30-60 min)

- Technical Screening (30 min)

- Technical Panel (3x60 min)

- CEO call (30 min)

*This role sits at L3 of our framework, please inquire during the recruitment process for further information*

At Proxima Fusion, our mission is bold: making limitless clean energy a reality. To get there, we need a high-performing, diverse team that brings different perspectives, challenges assumptions, and builds together with purpose. We know that diversity of thought and experience leads to better ideas, stronger execution, and a more resilient team. We don’t look at how you identify, what you look like, who you choose to worship or what ethnicity you are. We care about what you can bring to the table.