The posting
Build the Future of Nuclear Energy in Europe | Cernavoda Phase 2
Be part of history. We are currently recruiting a high-caliber leadership and engineering team for the Cernavoda Unit 1 CANDU Refurbishment in Romania.
This isn't just a project; it’s a career-defining opportunity to join a Global Powerhouse Consortium featuring AtkinsRéalis, Ansaldo Nucleare, and KHNP. They are securing 20% of Romania’s carbon-free energy for the next 30 years—and we need the best in the industry to lead the way.
Current Senior Openings:
- Director of Engineering (Refurbishment): Act as the Project Design Authority. You will oversee the technical integrity, licensing basis, and long-term asset management for the entire life-extension scope
- Refurbishment Engineering Superintendent: Lead the bridge between design and execution. You’ll manage the engineering teams focused on the physical reactor overhaul and core component replacement.
- Senior Project Manager (Budget & Risks): Take ownership of the €1.8B+ Phase 2/3 roadmap. We need a master of complex nuclear CAPEX, contingency planning, and strategic risk mitigation.
- System Engineers (NSP / BOP / Common Systems): Subject matter experts required for Nuclear Steam Plant, Balance of Plant, and shared site infrastructure.
- Nuclear Safety & Licensing Procedure Writer/Analyst: Navigate the regulatory landscape (CNSC/CNCAN) to develop the safety cases and licensing frameworks that allow us to restart.
- Operational Technical Procedures Manager: Bridge the gap to the Finish Line. You will manage the development of the high-level procedures required for post-refurbishment commissioning and operations.
Professional Development & Global Prestige
- High-Stakes Experience: Refurbishing a CANDU reactor is one of the most complex engineering feats in the industry. Gaining experience here positions you as an expert in Life Extension (PLEX), a growing field as more global reactors reach their 30-year mark.
- Multinational Collaboration: You will work within a "Powerhouse Consortium" including AtkinsRéalis (Canada), Ansaldo Nucleare (Italy), and KHNP (South Korea). This provides exposure to different international engineering standards and a massive global network.
- Long-Term Career Runway: This is not a "one-and-done" project. Success on Unit 1 leads directly into the Unit 2 Refurbishment and the massive Units 3 & 4 New Build project (valued at ~€3.2 billion), potentially offering a decade or more of stable work in the same location.
Requirements
- 1. Director of Engineering (Refurbishment)
- Experience: 15+ years in nuclear engineering, with at least 5–8 years specifically in CANDU plants. Previous experience as a Lead Engineer or Director on a major refurbishment (e.g., Darlington, Bruce, or Pt. Lepreau)
- Technical: Deep mastery of Design Authority protocols and configuration management.
- Industry: Proven track record of obtaining regulatory approvals (e.g., from the CNSC in Canada or CNCAN in Romania).
- Credentials: Must be a Registered Professional Engineer (P.Eng or equivalent EurIng).
- 2. Refurbishment Engineering Superintendent
- Experience: 10+ years in nuclear operations or maintenance, specifically managing the "interface" between engineering design and field execution.
- Technical: Strong background in Reactor Maintenance (fuel handling, reactor head disassembly) and Tooling Readiness.
- Industry: Experience with EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) contract oversight and field engineering "dispositions" (solving technical errors that happen during live work).
- 3. Senior Project Manager (Budget & Risks)
- Experience: 15+ years in project management for Mega-Projects (>€100M).
- Technical: Mastery of Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project and advanced Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA). Experience managing "Cost-Plus" or "Target Price" contracts in a nuclear environment.
- Industry: PMP or PRINCE2 certification is standard. Must understand nuclear-specific CAPEX and the financial impact of radiation-dose constraints on schedule.
- 4. System Engineer (NSP / BOP / Common Systems)
- Experience: 7–10 years in System Engineering.
- Technical: Specific knowledge of Nuclear Steam Plant (NSP) components (calandria, fuel channels, feeders) or Balance of Plant (BOP) (turbines, generators, secondary cooling).
- Industry: Familiarity with CSA N285 (Pressure Retaining Systems) and CSA N286 (Quality Assurance) standards.
- 5. Nuclear Safety & Licensing Procedure Writer/Analyst
- Experience: 5+ years in nuclear safety analysis or regulatory affairs.
- Technical: Proficiency in Deterministic Safety Analysis (DSA) or Probabilistic Safety Assessment (PSA).
- Industry: High-level technical writing skills to produce Safety Case documents. Must understand the REGDOC framework (specifically 2.4.1 and 2.4.2) and international IAEA safety standards.
- 6. Operational Technical Procedures Manager
- Experience: 10+ years in NPP operations, ideally with experience in Commissioning or Return-to-Service phases.
- Technical: Deep understanding of Operating Policies & Principles (OP&Ps) and the ability to convert complex engineering designs into step-by-step instructions for Reactor Operators.
- Industry: Previous experience with Startup Commissioning (Phase C) of a CANDU reactor is a major advantage.
1. Core Technical Skills
These are the non-negotiable engineering capabilities required to manage a reactor core overhaul.
- CANDU Reactor Physics: Understanding of the heavy-water ($D_2O$) moderated design, specifically the interaction between the Calandria, Pressure Tubes, and End Shields.
- Feeder & Fuel Channel Geometry: Experience with the "tight-tolerance" environment of the reactor face. You must understand thermal expansion, "creep," and sag in aging pressure tubes.
- Automated Tooling & Robotics: Proficiency in supervising the deployment of Remote Delivery Machines (RDMs) used for cutting, removing, and installing reactor components in high-radiation zones.
- System Integration (NSP/BOP): Ability to manage the interface between the Nuclear Steam Plant and the Balance of Plant (turbines, condensers, and feed-water systems).
2. Industry & Regulatory Experience
In a multinational consortium (AtkinsRéalis, Ansaldo, KHNP), "knowing the rules" is as important as "knowing the math."
- Nuclear Quality Standards:
- CSA N285: The "Bible" for CANDU pressure-retaining components.
- CSA N286 / NQA-1: Management system and quality assurance requirements.
- Licensing & Safety Case: Experience drafting or defending the Safety Analysis Report (SAR) to regulators like CNCAN (Romania) or CNSC (Canada).
- ALARA & Radiation Protection: A deep-seated mastery of As Low As Reasonably Achievable principles. You must be able to plan work that minimizes the "Collective Dose" (measured in Person-Seiverts) to the workforce.
- Configuration Management: Experience using PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software to ensure the "As-Built" state matches the "As-Designed" state after 30 years of operation.
3. Project & Leadership Skills
Because these are "Mega-Projects," the ability to manage complexity is vital.
- Critical Path Management (CPM): Expertise in Primavera P6. In a refurbishment, a 24-hour delay on the "Retube Tooling" can cost the project millions in liquidated damages.
- Risk Mitigation: Ability to perform Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA). You must identify "Single Points of Failure" in the tooling or supply chain before they hit the site.
- Consortium Management: Experience working in a "Joint Venture" (JV) environment. You need the diplomacy to align Canadian engineering standards with European procurement laws and South Korean construction speeds.
- Human Performance (HU) Tools: Implementation of "Pre-Job Briefings," "Three-Way Communication," and "Conservative Decision Making" to prevent industrial or nuclear safety events.
Benefits
Why Join Us?
🌍 Be part of a cutting-edge sector driving Romania’s clean energy future. 🤝 Work with top-tier global and local industry partners. 📈 Excellent Competitive salary and package
