Consulting Engineer - Nuclear Safety Capability Assessment/Safe Shutdown (Electrical)

Job Overview

Jensen Hughes is seeking a mid-level to senior-level Engineer with expertise in Safe Shutdown Analysis (SSA), Nuclear Safety Capability Assessments (NSCA), Appendix R compliance, Fire Protection Engineering interfaces, and Electrical Engineering within the commercial nuclear power industry.

In this role, you will support operating nuclear power plants and advanced nuclear clients by evaluating safe shutdown capabilities, electrical system functionality, fire-induced circuit impacts, and nuclear safety compliance. You will work with industry-leading experts on projects that directly influence plant safety, regulatory compliance, risk reduction, and long-term asset reliability.

The ideal candidate will have a strong electrical engineering background combined with experience performing safe shutdown evaluations, circuit analysis, equipment vulnerability assessments, and regulatory compliance activities related to nuclear plant operations.

If you're looking to apply your technical expertise to meaningful safety-focused work while continuing to grow your career in the nuclear industry, we'd like to hear from you.

What You'll Work On

You'll have opportunities to contribute across a variety of areas, including:

Safe Shutdown Analysis & Nuclear Safety Capability Assessment

• Performing Safe Shutdown Analyses (SSA) and Nuclear Safety Capability Assessments (NSCA)
• Evaluating plant capability to achieve and maintain safe shutdown following postulated fire events
• Identifying vulnerabilities, equipment dependencies, and compensatory measures

Electrical Engineering & Circuit Analysis

• Conducting fire-induced circuit failure analyses
• Evaluating electrical systems, control circuits, instrumentation, and power distribution systems
• Assessing spurious operations and circuit fault impacts on plant safety functions

Fire Protection & Regulatory Compliance

• Supporting Appendix R and NFPA 805 compliance programs
• Preparing technical evaluations, regulatory submittals, and engineering recommendations
• Assisting plants in addressing NRC inspection findings and licensing commitments

Plant Modifications & Engineering Support

• Supporting engineering change packages and plant modifications related to safe shutdown capability
• Reviewing design changes for impacts on nuclear safety functions and defense-in-depth
• Providing technical guidance during plant assessments and field walkdowns

Client & Technical Consulting

• Delivering practical engineering solutions that improve plant safety and regulatory compliance
• Supporting utility clients, engineering organizations, and advanced reactor developers
• Presenting technical conclusions to plant personnel, regulators, and project stakeholders

Responsibilities

• Perform Safe Shutdown Analyses and Nuclear Safety Capability Assessments for operating nuclear facilities
• Evaluate electrical systems and circuits to support fire protection and safe shutdown requirements
• Conduct plant walkdowns and field assessments to verify design and operational assumptions
• Develop technical reports, engineering calculations, and regulatory support documentation
• Interpret and apply NRC regulations, industry guidance, and licensing basis requirements
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including electrical, systems, licensing, operations, and fire protection engineers
• Communicate technical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Mentor junior engineers and contribute to technical excellence across projects
• Support business development activities and maintain strong client relationships

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or related engineering discipline
• 8–12+ years of relevant engineering experience
• Minimum of 5 years supporting a commercial nuclear power plant directly or through nuclear engineering consulting services
• Experience with Safe Shutdown Analysis, Nuclear Safety Capability Assessments, Appendix R, NFPA 805, or related nuclear fire protection programs
• Strong understanding of nuclear plant electrical systems and safety-related equipment
• Demonstrated analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to travel periodically to client nuclear power plant sites

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional Engineer (PE) license
• Experience performing circuit analysis and spurious operation evaluations
• Familiarity with NRC regulations, Regulatory Guides, and industry standards
• Experience supporting fire protection engineering programs
• Prior consulting or client-facing experience
• Project management, technical leadership, or supervisory experience
• Experience with engineering change packages and design modifications
• Knowledge of advanced reactor or next-generation nuclear technologies
• Experience with electrical system studies, including protective device coordination, load flow, short circuit analyses, and familiarity with software tools such as ETAP or EasyPower.