Chief Engineer

Job Description

Brightsmith is partnered with an exciting VC-backed nuclear energy start-up. They are innovating traditional power plant technology to deploy nuclear power quicker and cheaper.

The company is dual UK/US headquartered and they are now looking for a Chief Engineer to join the technical team in Edinburgh, Scotland.

As Chief Engineer, you will lead engineering efforts and the full remit of plant design & installation, from concept to manufacturing to deployment. You will work closely with the regulatory and commercial teams while solving complex engineering challenges in manufacturing, logistics, and power plant systems.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Leadership: You will be the main technical lead, developing, owning and executing the full cycle technical roadmap.
2. Hands-on Engineering: Lead modeling, seismic analysis, plant layout, supplier coordination, and testing with the internal team and consultants.
3. Project Management: Oversee budgets, timelines, and regulatory compliance.
4. Team Building: Establish an engineering culture of curiosity, pragmatism, and excellence.

Key Experience:

1. Proven Execution: You have taken an idea through FEED, testing all the way to implementation. Ideally a new plant (natural, natural gas etc.), first flight, power or any hardware intensive tech!
2. Regulatory Knowledge: You have worked in an industry with strict regulatory & legislative standards, ideally sat on committees, worked closely with licensing & system engineers.
3. Multidisciplinary Engineering: Knowledge across power plant design, nuclear engineering, geology, thermodynamics, analysis and can pick up new disciplines quickly.
4. Leadership & Communication: Strong track record providing technical leadership to multidisciplinary teams and leading complex engineering projects.
5. Entrepreneurial Mindset: Problem-solver with a drive to innovate and simplify.
6. Education: Bachelor’s in Nuclear Engineering or related engineering field.
7. Experience: 10+ years technical leadership experience in Nuclear/Mechanical/Civil/Related & proficiency in tools like MCNP, ANSYS, and AutoCAD is a plus.