Principal Quality Assurance Engineer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Principal Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer supports the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of Lightbridge’s Quality Assurance Program in accordance with applicable nuclear industry standards, regulatory requirements, and customer expectations. This role ensures that all engineering, manufacturing, testing, procurement, and supply chain activities supporting nuclear fuel development meet the highest standards of safety, reliability, traceability, and compliance. The position reports to the QA Manager and works closely with all departments, providing guidance on quality requirements, leading audits, developing procedures, and supporting regulatory and external assessments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop, implement, and maintain QA program descriptions, procedures, and processes in accordance with ASME NQA-1 and applicable Department of Energy (DOE), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and contractual requirements.
• Lead internal and supplier audits and support external audits, regulatory inspections, and support facility readiness reviews, process qualification, and development of operational.
• Provide guidance and training to employees and other departments on QA requirements, procedures, an identify opportunities for process improvement and work collaboratively across departments to strengthen the organization’s quality culture.
• Provide QA oversight and support for nuclear fuel design, engineering analysis, fabrication, testing, and qualification activities.
• Ensure engineering and other processes follow approved procedures, design control requirements, and configuration management standards.
• Oversee or support nonconformance reporting, root cause analysis, corrective actions, and effectiveness.
• Support supplier qualification, procurement quality requirements, material traceability, inspection, testing, and quality records management.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Quality, or a related technical field.
• Minimum 14 years of quality assurance experience, including at least 7 years in the nuclear industry, preferably in an operations support, engineering, or facility environment.
• Certified Nuclear Lead Auditor (Current or willing to recertify)
• Demonstrated working knowledge and experience implementing ASME NQA-1.
• Experience conducting and leading audits of various activities, including engineering, procurement, manufacturing, or facility operations.
• Experience developing, implementing, and maintaining QA programs and associated procedures.
• Strong technical writing and documentation skills, including preparation of procedures, reports, audit records, and quality documentation.
• Experience as an instructor developing and delivering training on QA requirements.
• Experience with supplier quality, procurement oversight, and corrective action.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in quality engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with safety, security, nuclear material handling, testing, inspection, and/or metrology.
• Experience supporting nuclear facility construction, startup, readiness reviews, commissioning, or process hazard analyses.
• Thorough understanding of configuration control, item identification and traceability, inspection and testing processes, including the use of calibrated tooling.
• Practical understanding of nuclear safety principles, nuclear safety systems, and nuclear facility.
• Experience with DOE and NRC regulatory requirements and nuclear licensing activities, and NQA-1.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Remote work environment, with travel to Company facilities, supplier sites, and other locations to perform audits, inspections, and QA oversight.
• Requires adherence to radiological, industrial safety, and security protocols when on site.