Junior Nuclear Safety Engineer

To support the development, coordination, and maintenance of all nuclear licensing and compliance activities for Quantum Leap Energy facilities. This position will assist in preparing regulatory documentation, tracking licensing actions, managing technical records, and ensuring compliance with nuclear regulations, legislation, international safeguards, and applicable IAEA standards. This role provides hands-on exposure to the nuclear licensing process and offers a structured pathway to develop into a fully qualified senior licensing specialist.

Responsibilities

1. Licensing Documentation and Support

• Assist in developing and maintaining the Licensing Basis, Safety Case documentation, and associated plans (Safety Analysis Report, Quality Management Plan, Radiation Protection Plan, etc.).
• Support preparation and formatting of submissions to the NNR and other authorities under the guidance of the Senior Specialist.
• Compile, track, and update the Licensing Document Register and ensure version control and traceability.
• Assist in drafting responses to regulatory queries and requests for information.

2. Regulatory Compliance and Monitoring

• Help monitor compliance with licence conditions, regulatory requirements, and safety standards.
• Support internal audits, inspections, and readiness reviews to verify compliance.
• Maintain a licensing compliance dashboard and assist in reporting to project management and oversight committees.
• 3. Coordination and Interface Support
  Coordinate inputs and assist engineering, safety, environmental, and operations teams for licensing deliverables.
• Support meeting preparation, minute-taking, and action tracking for interactions with the NNR, DEE, and IAEA.
• Assist in developing technical presentations and reports for internal and external stakeholders.

4. Information Management

• Establish and maintain a licensing document repository aligned with QLE’s document management system.
• Ensure secure handling of sensitive and classified nuclear information in accordance with QLE and national security policies.

5. Research and Benchmarking

• Conduct research on licensing approaches, international standards, and IAEA guidance relevant to the facilities.
• Assist in benchmarking licensing processes against best practices in other jurisdictions.

6. Learning and Development

• Participate in mentorship, training, and technical workshops on nuclear licensing, safety assessment, and safeguards.
• Develop a working understanding of South African and international nuclear regulatory frameworks.

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications:
  BSc or BEng in Nuclear Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, or arelated technical field.
• Postgraduate qualification (MSc/MEng) in a nuclear-related discipline is advantageous.
  

Experience:

• 1–3 years of relevant experience in nuclear, energy, or highly regulated industries.
• Exposure to nuclear licensing, safety analysis, or quality management is advantageous.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as the NNR Act (Act 47 of 1999) and Nuclear Energy Act (Act 46 of 1999) will be beneficial.

Technical Competencies:

• Basic understanding of nuclear safety, radiation protection, and licensing principles.
• Knowledge of IAEA Safety Standards and Non-Proliferation obligations is desirable.
• Proficiency in MS Office and document control systems.
• Strong technical writing and data organization skills.