Nuclear Development Project Manager- Technical Director

This Opportunity

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Nuclear Development Project Manager to join our Power & Energy team. The candidate will be involved in projects with our Power Generation Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our client’s objectives and solves their challenges.

The experienced Project Manager will lead concept design and feasibility study engagements for nuclear power asset development. This role sits at the intersection of advanced nuclear technology, project delivery, and strategic business development. The successful candidate will serve as the primary project lead for early-phase nuclear development programs—managing owner’s engineer scoping, technology selection advisory, site feasibility assessments, and front-end engineering deliverables.

A distinguishing feature of this role is the expectation that the Lead will cultivate and maintain direct relationships with nuclear technology licensors (including SMR, advanced reactor, and conventional LWR vendors), positioning the firm as a preferred engineering services partner across multiple technology platforms.

WSP brings global expertise in power delivery, power generation, and program management—anchored by the acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. TRC Companies have now joined WSP, deepening our power practice and expanding our energy advisory and intelligent grid services. We're partnering with clients to shape how energy systems evolve around the world—and we need your help.

Your Impact

• Concept Design & Feasibility Leadership
• Lead multidisciplinary teams through concept design, pre-FEED, and feasibility study phases for nuclear generation assets, including greenfield development and brownfield repowering or life-extension programs.
• Direct the preparation of technology screening reports, site suitability analyses, fatal flaw assessments, interconnection studies, permitting roadmaps, and preliminary capital cost estimates.
• Manage project scope, schedule, budget, and quality for early-phase engagements typically ranging from $500K to $10M+ in engineering services value.
• Coordinate with civil/structural, mechanical, electrical, I&C, and nuclear safety disciplines to produce integrated feasibility deliverables.
• Develop and present findings to developer clients, project sponsors, investors, and lender technical advisors.
• Licensor Relationship Development
• Build and sustain working relationships with nuclear technology licensors and OEMs, including but not limited to vendors in the SMR, microreactor, molten salt, high-temperature gas, and conventional PWR/BWR segments.
• Serve as a primary point of contact between the firm and licensor engineering teams to understand technology-specific design requirements, interface specifications, and balance-of-plant scoping expectations.
• Negotiate teaming agreements and memoranda of understanding with licensors to establish the firm as a qualified engineering services provider and owner’s engineer for specific technology platforms.
• Track licensor development milestones, NRC licensing status, design certification progress, and deployment pipeline to inform business development strategy.
• Represent the firm at industry conferences, NRC public meetings, and licensor-hosted workshops to maintain visibility and market intelligence.
• Business Development & Client Advisory
• Support capture strategy and proposal development for nuclear feasibility and concept design pursuits, including technical approach narratives, staffing plans, and fee estimates.
• Advise developer clients on technology selection, site-technology matching, regulatory pathway considerations, and EPC delivery model options.
• Identify and qualify new client opportunities among IPPs, utilities, data center developers, industrial energy users, and infrastructure funds entering the nuclear space.
• Project Delivery & Quality
• Ensure deliverables meet applicable industry standards (ASME, IEEE, ANS, NRC regulatory guides) and firm quality management system requirements.
• Manage subconsultant and specialist contractor scopes where required (e.g., seismic, hydrology, environmental, geotechnical).
• Oversee project risk registers, change management, and client communication cadences throughout the engagement lifecycle.

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in nuclear, mechanical, electrical, or civil engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in nuclear power project engineering, of which at least 5 years in a project management or project lead capacity.
• Demonstrated experience with concept design, feasibility studies, or pre-FEED work for nuclear or large-scale thermal generation facilities.
• Working knowledge of NRC regulatory framework (10 CFR 50/52), nuclear quality assurance (NQA-1), and the nuclear project lifecycle from site selection through COD.
• Proven ability to develop and manage relationships with external technology partners, licensors, or OEMs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to present complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders, investors, and regulators.
• Exercise responsible and ethical decision-making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP’s Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures.
• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP’s health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies.
• Occasional travel may be required depending on project-specific requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in engineering, project management, or a related discipline.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management credential.
• Direct experience with one or more advanced reactor or SMR technology platforms (e.g., NuScale, GE-Hitachi BWRX-300, TerraPower, X-energy, Kairos, Holtec).
• Prior owner’s engineer or EPC experience on nuclear new-build or major modification programs.
• Familiarity with the intersection of nuclear deployment and data center or industrial campus power demand.
• Existing professional network among nuclear technology developers, regulators, and/or national laboratory contacts.

WSP Benefits

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on a providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation

Expected Salary: $167,800 - $249,150

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

Equal Opportunity Employment Statement

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.