Systems Engineer – Nuclear Power / BWR Systems

Join the elite team at QDSS, where our engineers are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge Aerospace, Defense, Space, and Medical Device products. Your work will make a real impact, contributing to the core of engineering solutions that drive technological advancements. 

Quest Defense Systems & Solutions (QDSS) is seeking an experienced Systems Engineer to support the design, modernization, and modification of complex nuclear power plant systems. This role will work across multidisciplinary engineering teams to evaluate plant-level requirements, support system and subsystem design, and ensure proposed changes meet applicable safety, regulatory, licensing, and operational requirements.

The ideal candidate will bring strong nuclear power design engineering experience with specific knowledge of GE-designed Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) plants. This position requires a systems-level understanding of how mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls (I&C), software, hardware, and FPGA-based systems interact within a nuclear power environment. Experience with reactor protection, nuclear I&C, plant modernization, and legacy GE BWR architectures is highly valued.

This role can be performed remotely from anywhere in the United States. Candidates must be US Citizens or US Permanent Residents.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Translate plant-level, operational, and nuclear safety requirements into allocated system and subsystem requirements.
• Decompose and allocate requirements across mechanical, electrical, hardware, software, FPGA, instrumentation, and control implementations.
• Develop, maintain, and review system descriptions, design specifications, interface requirements, Interface Control Documents (ICDs), cabinet drawings, elementary drawings, and connection/route drawings.
• Evaluate proposed changes to mechanical, electrical, process, instrumentation, control, protection, and safety systems.
• Support the development and review of engineering change packages and plant design modifications.
• Perform requirements quality, completeness, consistency, and traceability reviews.
• Participate in technical and design reviews, Technical Specification markups, and licensing-related reviews.
• Evaluate potential nuclear safety, design-basis, and licensing impacts associated with design changes.
• Support resolution of technical issues, test anomalies, nonconformances, and design discrepancies.
• Perform or support functional analysis, requirements analysis, Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA), single-failure analysis, and design-basis evaluations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams to ensure system interfaces and requirements are properly understood and implemented.

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related engineering discipline.
• 5+ years of nuclear power design engineering or directly related nuclear engineering experience.
• Experience supporting GE-designed Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) systems, instrumentation and controls, plant operations, or design engineering.
• Strong understanding of BWR plant architecture, system interactions, and plant-level requirements.
• Experience translating nuclear safety and plant-level requirements into system and subsystem engineering requirements.
• Experience with requirements decomposition, allocation, verification, and engineering documentation.
• Understanding of nuclear design-basis and licensing-basis requirements.
• Knowledge of safety classifications, including safety-related and important-to-safety equipment.
• Experience evaluating engineering changes and their impact on nuclear plant systems.
• Strong technical writing, documentation, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Relevant Technical Experience

Candidates should have experience with one or more of the following areas:

Reactor Protection & Instrumentation and Controls

• Reactor Protection Systems (RPS)
• Neutron Monitoring Systems
• Safety-related instrumentation
• Isolation and trip logic
• Digital and analog I&C systems
• Plant process computer and monitoring systems

BWR Design Basis & Safety Engineering

• Design-basis and licensing-basis requirements
• Safety classifications
• Equipment and environmental qualification
• Seismic requirements
• Failure modes and effects
• Technical Specifications and surveillance requirements
• Safety-related and important-to-safety systems

Engineering Analysis

• Functional and requirements analysis
• Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA/FMECA)
• Single-failure analysis
• Design-basis evaluations
• System safety and failure analysis

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Direct design engineering experience with GE-designed BWR plants.
• Experience with Reactor Protection Systems (RPS) and Emergency Core Cooling Systems (ECCS).
• Experience with nuclear digital I&C systems.
• Experience supporting BWR plant modification, modernization, or life-extension programs.
• Experience with nuclear system safety, reliability, and failure analysis.
• Experience working within an NQA-1 and/or 10 CFR 50 Appendix B quality assurance environment.
• Experience evaluating legacy nuclear designs and translating existing design information into modern system requirements.
• Systems-level experience spanning mechanical, electrical, I&C, software, hardware, and FPGA disciplines.

The QDSS Advantage:  

At QDSS, our advantage is purpose-driven work, collaborative teams, and complex challenges that push boundaries and build lasting impact. You’ll grow your career while contributing to mission-critical programs that demand excellence and shape the future. 

What You’ll Find Here 

• Work That Matters – Next-generation, safety- and mission-critical projects where your contributions have real-world impact. 
• Growth That’s Supported – Competitive compensation, employer-matched 401(k), certification assistance, and clear opportunities for advancement. 
• A Culture That Works – A flexible, collaborative, and people-first environment where teamwork, innovation, and balance are valued. 

Benefits Include 

• Competitive pay, comprehensive medical/dental/life and disability coverage, 401(k) with employer match, professional development support, and a flexible, friendly workplace.