Chief Engineer
piper maddoxOak Ridge (TN)
About the role
Position Overview:
Our client is an established engineering consultancy dedicated to supporting the specialized nuclear and defense sectors. They are seeking a Chief Engineer to serve as the ultimate technical authority across the organization. In this role, you will own technical quality across all multi-discipline engineering teams and hold final sign-off authority on all deliverables before they are issued to clients.
Key Responsibilities:
Technical Governance: Lead a multi-disciplinary team of engineers (mechanical, electrical, structural, civil, process) and provide final approval on engineering calculations, specifications, and design packages.
Lifecycle Oversight: Own the technical execution of projects from initial design through final commissioning, conducting rigorous design reviews and independent assessments.
Compliance & Quality: Maintain, update, and enforce strict engineering standards, procedural controls, and regulatory code compliance across all workflows.
Client & Stakeholder Interface: Act as the primary technical voice with commercial clients, federal regulators, and vendors, while providing technical guidance for proposals and project estimates.
Leadership & Strategy: Mentor engineering staff, actively participate in recruitment and talent retention strategies, and hold a key seat in corporate strategic planning.
Experience & Requirements
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in an Engineering discipline.
Experience:
10+ years of progressive engineering experience, including several years in dedicated technical leadership or supervisory roles. Industry Background: Proven experience working within highly regulated environments, such as commercial nuclear power, defense, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), or the Department of Energy (DOE).
Core Competencies:
Strong mastery of design control processes, Quality Assurance (QA) frameworks, and the ability to oversee multiple complex projects simultaneously.
Clearance:
US Citizenship is required. Candidates must be capable of obtaining and maintaining a federal security clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Security Clearance:
Active DOE Q or L clearance (or Department of Defense equivalent).Regulatory Knowledge: Hands-on experience with NQA-1 quality programs, nuclear safety basis development, or DOE Orders.
Advanced Education: Master’s degree in Engineering, Engineering Management, or an MBA.Past Roles: Prior experience operating under the title of Chief Engineer, Technical Director, or an equivalent senior authority role.
Project History: Background overseeing major capital projects or nuclear facility modernization efforts.
Total Rewards & Benefits:
Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.401(k) retirement plan with company match.
Paid Time Off (PTO) and holiday schedule.
Life and disability insurance coverage.
Tuition reimbursement for continuing professional education.
Before you apply
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Your notice period
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