Radiological Protection Engineer

Do you want to contribute to the development of a new energy technology that can safely turn nuclear waste into emission-free energy? Are you excited about working in a hands-on deep-tech start-up team that aims to make a huge impact? Do you like complex challenges? Then, we might be just the company you are looking for!

We are looking for a driven Radiological Protection Engineer to join our innovative and international team.

About Thorizon

At Thorizon, we’re a passionate team of ~ 40 spread across Amsterdam and Lyon, all working together to develop nuclear power solutions. We design and create frontier technology for Molten Salt Reactors (MSR).

Our purpose is to accelerate the availability of clean energy and help solve the climate crisis.

We are in the development phase and aim to solidify our design through analyses, experiments, simulations, and partnerships. At Thorizon, we believe a strongly coupled multidisciplinary technology development requires a culture of full openness and transparency. That’s why we foster values like unity, communication, and support to ensure we grow together as a team while achieving our purpose.

Your mission

Are you motivated to provide your expertise and know-how to the ongoing design studies for the Thorizon One reactor to ensure a high level of safety and security, and to play your part in obtaining the authorisations required for the construction, commissioning and operating phases of the reactor?

 You will be involved in the missions of the Licensing & Safety team. You will participate in the nuclear safety engineering activity, in close liaison with the design studies, by developing part of the nuclear safety demonstration of the reactor through the radiological protection analysis. You will contribute to the development of basics and approaches in the associated areas (approach for radiation protection in design, ALARA principle implementation, measures definition for the protection of workers, for the protection of the public and the environment). You will work at the interface with all the other disciplines in the company, in particular with the systems design teams, the functional teams and the development and prototyping team. You will play a key role in ensuring that the design takes account of the radiological protection requirements imposed by regulations or meets high-level standards. You will also contribute to the various application files to be sent to the regulators and will defend the radiological protection analyses at review meetings.

 In this environment, which combines both compliance with regulatory requirements and the development of an innovative reactor, you get the unique opportunity to put your knowledge to the best use, develop your ideas, explore many aspects and play a crucial role in the company's growth. 

In this role you will:

• Contribute to the development of an ambitious and robust licensing strategy for the first of a kind reactor and its commercial version that mitigates regulatory risks.

• Provide the fundamental elements of the radiological protection analysis (approaches, measures for the protection of workers, measures for the protection of the public and the environment).

• Define the high-level radiological protection requirements to be taken into account in the design studies.

• Work closely with the design teams to ensure that radiological protection requirements are properly translated into appropriate provisions.

• Work closely with the functional teams to ensure that the radiological protection needs are correctly reflected in the corresponding supporting studies.

• Write parts of the safety reports (ISAR/DOS, PSAR and subsequent reports) to be submitted in support of applications for authorisation.

• Participate in meetings with regulators with the aim of defending in-house positions and contribute to maintaining an active dialogue with regulators (in particular ASNR, ANVS and FANC).

• Participate in specifying, selecting, and managing external contractors and suppliers that support the radiological protection analyses.

• Participate in promoting the in-house safety-security culture.

• Participate in promoting internationally the development of a shared framework for Molten Salt Reactors, in the nuclear safety field.

• Report to the Nuclear Safety Analysis Lead.

About you:

• Master's degree in radiological protection, science, engineering or any relevant topic.

• You have proven experience in radiological protection analysis.

• You have in-depth knowledge of regulatory approaches and processes, acquired internationally or in one of the countries in which Thorizon is developing its activities, and experience in preparing the documentation required to obtain the authorisations.

• You are eager to learn and like challenges.

• You are creative and innovative: You rethink issues to find practical solutions to difficult problems and you demonstrate agility by minimizing complexity. You have a pragmatic and constructive mindset.

• You have a good sense of judgement: you think strategically (in your field and taking into account all the dimensions of the project), and you know how to prioritize your actions according to the key issues at stake.

• You have excellent communication skills: you listen before you react, you are concise, you treat people with respect, you keep calm in stressful situations, you have excellent writing skills. You are an excellent communicator in English, and preferably also French or Dutch, both spoken and written.

• You create impact: your productions are models for your colleagues.

What can you expect from us?

• Dynamic and ambitious team of nuclear technology professionals that are committed to solving today’s energy challenges.

• Unique experience in a fast-growing VC-backed deep tech start-up.

• Opportunity to work on a game-changing technology that reduces our carbon footprint and nuclear waste streams.

• Competitive salary and an employee profit-sharing plan.

• International work experience.

• Office in the heart of Amsterdam or Lyon next to the Central station.

Does this sound like a match? We are looking forward to your application!

Thorizon takes responsibility to make our company more inclusive. We need all ideas to realize our mission and want everyone to feel welcome in our team.