Chief Engineer

Position Overview

Our client is an established engineering consultancy dedicated to supporting the specialized nuclear and defense sectors. They are seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as the ultimate technical authority across the organization. In this role, you will own technical quality across all multi-discipline engineering teams and hold final sign-off authority on all deliverables before they are issued to clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Governance: Lead a multi-disciplinary team of engineers (mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, process) and provide final approval on engineering calculations, specifications, and design packages.
• Lifecycle Oversight: Own the technical execution of projects from initial design through final commissioning, conducting rigorous design reviews and independent assessments.
• Compliance & Quality: Maintain, update, and enforce strict engineering standards, procedural controls, and regulatory code compliance across all workflows.
• Client & Stakeholder Interface: Act as the primary technical voice with commercial clients, federal regulators, and vendors, while providing technical guidance for proposals and project estimates.
• Leadership & Strategy: Mentor engineering staff, actively participate in recruitment and talent retention strategies, and hold a key seat in corporate strategic planning.
• Experience & Requirements
• Education: Bachelor of Science degree in an Engineering discipline.
• Experience: 10+ years of progressive engineering experience, including several years in dedicated technical leadership or supervisory roles.
• Industry Background: Proven experience working within highly regulated environments, such as commercial nuclear power, defense, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), or the Department of Energy (DOE).
• Core Competencies: Strong mastery of design control processes, Quality Assurance (QA) frameworks, and the ability to oversee multiple complex projects simultaneously.
• Clearance: US Citizenship is required. Candidates must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a federal security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Security Clearance: Active DOE Q or L clearance (or Department of Defense equivalent).
• Regulatory Knowledge: Hands-on experience with NQA-1 quality programs, nuclear safety basis development, or DOE Orders.
• Advanced Education: Master’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or an MBA.
• Past Roles: Prior experience operating under the title of Chief Engineer, Technical Director, or an equivalent senior authority role.
• Project History: Background overseeing major capital projects or nuclear facility modernization efforts.

Total Rewards & Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and holiday schedule.
• Life and disability insurance coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement for continuing professional education.