Nuclear Export Compliance Engineer

ABOUT SUBCRITICAL SYSTEMS

Subcritical Systems, Inc. is a venture-backed startup in Austin, Texas building the accelerator driven systems and the only US commercial manufacturer of accelerator cavities. What Space X did for rockets, we plan to do for accelerator cavities and commercialize across applications of power production, medical isotopes, semiconductors and waste transmutation.

We are in the process of building the Energy Amplifier — a novel nuclear fission system in which a particle accelerator drives a subcritical core, making meltdown physically impossible for clean power production. Due to its inherent safety, our system has a more streamlined licensing process. Our founding team includes successful entrepreneurs with a track record of building several multibillion dollar companies in deep-tech, and scientists who were leading U.S. national labs with deep experience in accelerator & nuclear technologies.

We are actively hiring to expand our team as we work toward licensing, regulatory submissions, and construction of our first energy amplifier. More information is available at subcritical.com.

ROLE SUMMARY

We are looking for a Nuclear Export Compliance Engineer to own the day-to-day administration and improvement of our 10 CFR Part 810 nuclear export compliance program as we develop our Energy Amplifier and scale accelerator technology. You will translate U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requirements into practical controls for technical exchanges, foreign-national access, and technology transfers, working closely with Engineering, IT, HR, business teams, and legal counsel. Part 810 is the primary focus, with limited support for 10 CFR Part 70 licensing. Success means timely reviews, complete records, required reports filed on time, and controls that work in daily practice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain the Part 810 compliance program, including procedures, review workflows, authorization and activity registers, and records. Monitor regulatory changes and DOE guidance, and keep company practices current.
• Evaluate proposed activities, technology, recipients, destinations, and end uses; document whether activities are outside Part 810 scope, generally authorized, or require specific authorization. Escalate complex questions to counsel and ensure required approvals are in place before work or access begins.
• Prepare and coordinate DOE specific authorization applications, changes, required reports, and responses to information requests. Track authorization conditions and reporting deadlines, and serve as the day-to-day DOE/NNSA contact in coordination with leadership and counsel.
• Maintain Technology Control Plans and work with Engineering, IT, HR, and Security to implement document markings, physical and electronic access controls, and foreign-national employee, contractor, and visitor reviews. Periodically reconcile access with applicable authorizations.
• Review technical exchanges with customers, suppliers, and collaborators, including meetings, facility visits, presentations, publications, and shared data. Coordinate confidentiality and retransfer controls and interfaces with other applicable export-control requirements.
• Develop and deliver practical Part 810 training for employees and managers, maintain training records, and provide timely guidance that helps teams plan compliant technical and business activities.
• Assess program effectiveness, maintain auditable records, and track corrective actions. Investigate potential noncompliance with counsel, support incident response and any required reporting or disclosures, and brief leadership on compliance status and open issues.
• Provide limited Part 70 support under the direction of the licensing lead: compile technical inputs for NRC applications, amendments, and responses to requests for additional information, and help maintain licensing-basis documents and regulatory commitments.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Nuclear, Mechanical, Chemical, or Materials Engineering, or relevant degree
• 5+ years of relevant experience in nuclear regulatory compliance, export controls, licensing, or a related technical compliance function
• Hands-on Part 810 experience, including applicability and authorization determinations, foreign-national access reviews, and required DOE reporting
• Experience maintaining compliance procedures, controls, and records, with the ability to understand engineering information and document sound regulatory judgments
• Strong technical writing and communication skills; able to explain requirements clearly and work effectively with engineering, legal, and business teams
• Self-directed and detail-oriented, with sound judgment, reliable deadline management, and comfort building processes in a fast-moving startup

Preferred

• Experience preparing DOE Part 810 specific authorization applications and working directly with DOE/NNSA
• Familiarity with 10 CFR Part 70 and experience supporting NRC licensing submittals, licensing-basis documentation, or regulatory commitments
• Experience with advanced nuclear technologies, accelerator systems, nuclear fuel-cycle facilities, or national laboratories
• Familiarity with the Export Administration Regulations and NRC Part 110, including their interfaces with Part 810
• Experience implementing Technology Control Plans, delivering training, conducting compliance reviews, or building a compliance program at a growing company

BENEFITS

We offer health, dental, and vision insurance.

LOCATION & WORK POLICY

This role is fully in person in Austin, Texas. Our facility is located next to Austin Airport.