Criticality Safety Officer

Standard Nuclear is fueling America’s nuclear renaissance at industrial scale. Our mission is to deliver the essential building blocks of nuclear power—enabling cost-effective, safe, and secure energy for the world. 

The Criticality Safety Officer (CSO) is responsible for establishing, implementing, and maintaining the nuclear criticality safety program across Standard Nuclear’s fuel manufacturing and handling operations. This role ensures that all fissile material activities are conducted safely and in full compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and industry standards. 

The CSO provides technical authority on criticality safety, including evaluation of processes, development of safety controls, and review of operations involving nuclear materials. This role works closely with engineering, operations, and EH&S teams to ensure that criticality safety is fully integrated into facility design, procedures, and day-to-day operations. 

 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Criticality Safety Program Ownership 

• Develop, implement, and maintain the nuclear criticality safety program  

• Establish criticality safety policies, procedures, and controls aligned with regulatory and industry standards  

• Ensure integration of criticality safety requirements into operations, engineering, and facility design  

• Maintain documentation, evaluations, and program records in an audit-ready state  

 

Technical Authority & Analysis 

• Perform and review criticality safety evaluations (CSEs) for processes involving fissile materials  

• Define safe operating limits, controls, and administrative requirements  

• Evaluate changes to processes, equipment, or materials for criticality safety impact  

• Provide technical guidance on geometry control, moderation control, mass limits, and spacing requirements  

 

Operational Oversight 

• Support and monitor operations involving fissile material handling, processing, and storage  

• Ensure criticality safety controls are properly implemented and maintained in the field  

• Provide oversight for new process startup, modifications, and abnormal conditions  

• Participate in work planning and hazard analysis for activities involving nuclear materials  

 

Compliance & Regulatory Interface 

• Ensure compliance with applicable DOE, NRC, and ANSI/ANS criticality safety standards  

• Support internal and external audits, assessments, and regulatory inspections  

• Interface with regulatory bodies and provide technical support during reviews and inquiries  

• Maintain readiness for inspections and demonstrate program effectiveness  

 

Training & Culture 

• Develop and support criticality safety training programs for operations and technical personnel  

• Ensure personnel understand and adhere to criticality safety requirements  

• Promote a strong nuclear safety culture with emphasis on conservative decision-making  

 

Incident Prevention & Response 

• Support investigation of criticality safety events, near misses, or deviations  

• Perform root cause analysis and implement corrective actions  

• Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into procedures and training 

 

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS  

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering or a related field (Master’s or PhD preferred)  

• 7+ years of experience in nuclear criticality safety or related nuclear