Program Director - Power Now Nuclear Next

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Competitive salary
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Opportunity for advancement
• Paid time off
• Relocation bonus
• Stock options plan

Position Summary 
AMPERA is seeking a Program Director to lead the company’s Power Now Nuclear Next initiative, a strategic program intended to accelerate commercialization of AMPERA’s advanced energy technologies while building capabilities, products, and customer relationships that support the company’s long-term nuclear mission.

The Program Director will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering a first-of-a-kind commercial power generation platform based on a supercritical CO₂ (sCO₂) power conversion system integrated with a conventional external heat source and advanced compact heat exchanger technology.

The program includes acquisition and testing of an existing sCO₂ power system, development of a next-generation compact system architecture, design and qualification of a proprietary TPMS-based primary heat exchanger, management of additive manufacturing partners, integration of a commercial gas-fired heat source, certification and product qualification activities, manufacturing readiness, and transition to commercial production.

The Program Director serves as the single point of accountability for program execution, schedule, budget, risk management, supplier coordination, and cross-functional integration.

In addition to Power Now Nuclear Next program responsibilities, the Program Manager will establish AMPERA's program management processes, reporting cadence, risk management framework, and program governance structure.

This position reports through the Program Management Office and works directly with executive leadership, engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, commercial, and external partners.

The Program Director is not the technical authority for the product and does not manage engineering personnel. Technical authority resides within the Engineering organization. The Program Director is responsible for ensuring the organization delivers the program objectives on schedule and within budget.

Key Responsibilities 
Program Leadership

• Lead all aspects of the Power Now Nuclear Next program. 
• Develop and maintain the integrated master schedule, program budget, milestone plan, and risk register. 
• Establish program objectives, key performance indicators, and success metrics. 
• Coordinate activities across engineering, supply chain, manufacturing, quality, testing, finance, and commercial organizations. 
• Lead executive program reviews and status reporting. 
• Drive accountability for commitments and deliverables across all participating functions. 

Product Development and Integration

• Coordinate development of the next-generation compact sCO₂ power system architecture. 
• Ensure alignment among system design, testing, manufacturing, certification, and commercial objectives. 
• Manage cross-functional interfaces and integration activities. 
• Coordinate major design reviews, readiness reviews, and program decision points. 

Testing and Demonstration

• Lead planning and execution of testing activities for the acquired sCO₂ power conversion system. 
• Coordinate performance characterization, reliability testing, and validation campaigns. 
• Ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated into future product designs. 
• Manage progression from demonstration to qualified product. 

Heat Source and Supplier Programs

• Lead commercial and programmatic activities associated with acquisition and integration of the program heat source. 
• Coordinate supplier selection, contract execution, and performance management. 
• Establish and maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and manufacturing partners. 
• Manage long-lead procurement activities and supplier risk mitigation plans. 

TPMS Heat Exchanger Development

• Coordinate development and qualification of AMPERA’s proprietary TPMS-based primary heat exchanger technology. 
• Drive execution of design, analysis, testing, qualification, and manufacturing readiness activities. 
• Manage external additive manufacturing partners utilizing powder-bed laser fusion processes. 
• Support development of long-term strategies for internal manufacturing capability. 

Certification and Qualification

• Develop and execute product certification and qualification plans. 
• Coordinate generation of technical evidence required to support certification activities. 
• Ensure program activities are aligned with applicable codes, standards, and customer requirements. 

Manufacturing Readiness and Commercialization

• Lead transition from development to production. 
• Coordinate manufacturing readiness assessments and production planning activities. 
• Partner with supply chain and manufacturing organizations to establish scalable production capabilities. 
• Support commercial deployment planning and customer engagement activities. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related technical discipline. 
• 10+ years of experience leading complex multidisciplinary hardware development programs. 
• Demonstrated success delivering products from concept, prototype, or demonstration through production readiness. 
• Experience coordinating engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, testing, quality, and commercial organizations. 
• Experience managing external suppliers and strategic partners. 
• Strong understanding of systems engineering and product development processes. 
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills. 
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced startup environment. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field. 
• Experience in energy systems, turbomachinery, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, industrial equipment, defense systems, or nuclear technology. 
• Experience with supercritical CO₂ systems, thermal systems, heat exchangers, turbomachinery, or power generation equipment. 
• Experience transitioning products from prototype to production. 
• Experience managing qualification, certification, or regulatory approval programs. 
• Experience with additive manufacturing technologies and supplier qualification programs. 
• Familiarity with project controls, earned value management, and integrated master scheduling. 

Characteristics of the Successful Candidate 
The successful candidate is a builder, integrator, and executor.

They are comfortable operating in environments where technology, suppliers, manufacturing processes, and business requirements are evolving simultaneously. They can drive progress across organizational boundaries without relying on direct authority over technical teams.

They possess sufficient technical depth to engage effectively with engineering leaders while maintaining focus on program execution, schedule performance, risk reduction, supplier management, and commercialization objectives.

They are equally comfortable in design reviews, supplier negotiations, manufacturing readiness assessments, customer meetings, and executive reviews.

Success Metrics

• Successful commissioning and operation of the acquired sCO₂ power system. 
• Completion of system characterization and performance validation testing. 
• Delivery of a compact next-generation product design baseline. 
• Successful qualification of the TPMS primary heat exchanger. 
• Successful integration of the heat source and power conversion system. 
• Qualification of external manufacturing partners. 
• Completion of product certification and readiness milestones. 
• Achievement of manufacturing readiness objectives. 
• Transition to low-rate initial production and commercial deployment. 

**Compensation for this position will be commensurate with experience and qualifications. In addition to a competitive salary, Ampera offers a comprehensive benefits package, participation in the Company's equity program through Incentive Stock Options (ISOs), and relocation assistance for qualified candidates, where applicable.