VP Nuclear Island Development

Blykalla is a global leader in advanced nuclear technology, commercialising the next generation of clean, reliable energy through

its lead-cooled reactor, the SEALER. By combining decades of specialised research with world-class partners, Blykalla is building

the backbone of the global AI and industrial economy. For more information, visit https://www.blykalla.com.

We are developing a first-of-a-kind lead-cooled nuclear reactor, and we want it built as a product—not a one-off project. You will

lead the development of the Nuclear Island, transforming an emerging reactor technology into a licensable, manufacturable, modular

and repeatable product ready for fleet deployment.

This is a product development role, not a project execution role. You will lead the departments responsible for Core Design,

Reactor Systems, Mechanical Design, Fluids and Thermal Hydraulics, Safety Analysis, Licensing Engineering and Reactor Technology

Development.

You are accountable for the integrated development of the Nuclear Island, ensuring that product architecture, analysis, testing,

qualification, manufacturing and regulatory substantiation form one coherent development process.

Reporting to the SVP Engineering, you work closely with the Director of Power Plant Development to ensure efficient plant

integration and continuous improvement across reactor generations.

Develop a modular product architecture with clear system boundaries, standardised interfaces and reusable modules, enabling

parallel development, independent testing, factory assembly and predictable integration.

Ensure technical excellence across reactor physics, safety analysis, thermal hydraulics, shielding, criticality, computational

methods and nuclear data.

Maintain the technical expertise and quality needed to support sound product decisions, safety cases, licensing and regulatory

review.

Define development stages, maturity gates, qualification strategies, integrated test programmes, design freezes and product

evolution.

Apply structured TRL and MRL approaches while knowing when further analysis is needed and when it is time to build, test and

learn. Identify technical uncertainty early, retire risk systematically and stop development that does not create sufficient

value.

Build testing and qualification into the development process from the beginning. Use prototypes, test articles, rigs and

full-scale demonstrators to validate design assumptions, qualify technology and reduce manufacturing and commissioning risk.

Ensure that the Nuclear Island provides the technical substantiation required for the safety case and licensing. Treat regulatory

requirements as product requirements and design inputs—not as a separate documentation exercise.

Lead the Nuclear Island through prototype testing, manufacturing, first-article qualification, installation, commissioning and

first criticality.

Engage strategic suppliers and manufacturing partners early to ensure production capabilities shape development decisions. Lead

the transition from engineering to manufacturing, preparing the product for efficient, repeatable fleet deployment.

Build and lead the Nuclear Island Development organisation. Recruit ahead of need, develop strong technical leaders and create an

engineering culture focused on learning, accountability, technical excellence and delivery.

Establish clear ownership of modules, systems and interfaces while maintaining accountability for the integrated Nuclear Island.

Own its configuration baseline and balance safety, performance, modularity, manufacturability, schedule and cost together with

Power Plant Development.

You have taken at least one complex, safety-critical hardware product from early development through industrialisation—such as a

reactor, aircraft, launch vehicle, turbomachinery product or similar.

• 15+ years developing hardware in heavily regulated industries, including 10+ years leading engineering organisations or major

development programmes.

• Experience working under a demanding regulator, certification authority or customer with rigorous technical and safety

requirements—such as the NRC, FAA, EASA, DOE, NASA, ESA or equivalent—and delivering the technical substantiation required for

approval.

• Experience leading stage-gated development using TRL and MRL discipline, combined with the judgement to adapt or accelerate the

process when appropriate.

• An engineering degree and sufficient technical depth to challenge your technical leaders in their respective fields, including

reactor physics, safety analysis and thermal hydraulics once you are up to speed.

• Experience from aerospace, space, turbomachinery, oil and gas, advanced process industries or other highly regulated

manufacturing environments.

Few engineering leaders get the opportunity to transform a new reactor technology into a modular, industrialised and repeatable

commercial product.

You will build the organisation, shape the product architecture and define the development system that future reactor generations

will build upon.