Project Manager (Procurement Focus)

JOB SUMMARY/PURPOSE

Deep Fission is seeking a Project Manager to support the planning, execution, and control of complex nuclear energy programs. This role is designed for a practitioner who can own delivery milestones while contributing to procurement and risk management efforts across the program.

The ideal candidate brings structured project management fundamentals combined with working knowledge of risk management practices such as risk register development and mitigation planning and ideally experience managing the procurement aspects of a project. This is a highly collaborative, execution-focused role reporting to the Senior Project Director, with direct involvement in tracking program health, schedule performance, procurement status, and risk posture across active workstreams.

This role requires comfort operating in first-of-a-kind environments where precedent is limited, requirements evolve, and creative problem-solving is essential.

ACCOUNTABILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Project Management:

• Lead the planning and execution of multi-phase nuclear energy programs in partnership with the Senior Project Director, from conceptual development through licensing, procurement, and construction.
• Set scheduling methods and standards for new assignments, and develop, maintain, and analyze integrated project schedules using Oracle Primavera Cloud or equivalent tools, tracking critical path, float, and milestone performance.
• Own scope, schedule, and cost performance monitoring and reporting, preparing project health updates and progress reports for leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional coordination across engineering, licensing, procurement, drilling & completion and operations teams to drive alignment, and resolve interface issues and other complex project issues with minimal guidance.
• Lead phase gate reviews, design reviews, and decision checkpoints to maintain alignment on technical scope and regulatory milestones.
• Manage vendor and subcontractor deliverables, ensuring compliance with schedule, quality, and safety requirements.
• Lead coordination with the procurement team to track long-lead items, purchase orders, and supplier deliverables against the project schedule and budget.
• Establish and lead change management processes, including scope change identification, impact assessment, and documentation.
• Promote a proactive nuclear safety culture across both remote and field-based activities.

Risk Management:

• Own the program risk register and set the methods for risk identification, categorization, qualitative analysis, and mitigation tracking.
• Lead development and maintenance of risk mitigation plans, owner assignments, and response strategies for high-priority programmatic and technical risks.
• Monitor emerging risks across licensing, engineering, procurement, supply chain, and construction workstreams, escalate appropriately, and advise others on complex program controls and risk matters.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Minimum education required of the position:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related technical field.
• Preferred:
  • Advanced degree (MS or MBA) in Engineering, Project Management, or Business.

Minimum experience required of the position:

• 5 plus years of experience in project management, with demonstrated responsibility for schedule, scope, and stakeholder coordination on complex technical programs.
• Working experience in project risk management, including risk register development and mitigation planning.
• Experience in regulated technical environments such as nuclear, aerospace, defense, oil & gas, or large-scale industrial capital projects.
• Preferred:
  • Experience with nuclear programs, SMRs, or first-of-a-kind technology development in a regulated setting.
  • Experience managing the procurement facet of complex capital or first-of-a-kind projects, including supplier coordination, purchase order tracking, long-lead items, and vendor performance.
  • Experience in startup or innovation-driven organizations where scope and process are actively evolving.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the position:

• Proficiency with project scheduling tools such as Primavera P6 or MS Project.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize schedule and risk data for program leadership.
• Proven ability to work effectively in virtual and hybrid team environments and coordinate across organizational boundaries.
• Preferred:
  • Background in NRC or DOE regulatory environments; familiarity with nuclear QA programs (e.g., NQA-1) and compliance documentation, including quality requirements for procured items and services.
  • Familiarity with procurement and spend-management platforms (e.g., Ramp) and systems used to track purchase orders, commitments, and invoices.

Key Competencies:

• Risk Management Foundation — Solid understanding of risk identification, qualitative analysis, and mitigation practices in complex project environments.
• Project Controls Discipline — Ability to manage schedule, scope, and cost baselines while proactively identifying deviations and supporting corrective action.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration — Skilled at coordinating across engineering, licensing, procurement, commercial, and operations teams to maintain alignment and momentum.
• Communication & Reporting — Clear, organized communicator who can translate project and risk status into concise updates for leadership.
• Adaptability & Problem-Solving — Comfortable operating in ambiguous, fast-moving environments where processes are still being defined and priorities shift.

Requirements for all positions:

• Must be a U.S. person eligible to meet Department of Energy (DOE) Export Control requirements under 10 CFR 810.
• Ability to work independently in a remote-first, cross-functional environment and partner effectively with senior stakeholders across the organization.
• Willingness to travel domestically for team offsites, training sessions, and site visits as required, with quarterly travel anticipated for company offsites.

ANY CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, ETC. REQUIRED FOR THE POSITION

• None
• Preferred:
  • PMP or equivalent project management certification.
  • PMI-RMP (Risk Management Professional) certification or equivalent formal risk management training.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Able to operate a personal computer, either desktop or laptop.
• Able to sit for extended periods of time.
• Able to exert up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or a minimal amount of force frequently, to lift, carry, push, or otherwise move objects.

WORKING CONDITIONS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the accountabilities and essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned, within your scope of responsibilities.
• Travel up to 25% expected.
• The role requires the ability to comprehend, document, calculate, visualize, and analyze information.
• The role may require regular hours, with occasional overtime.