Molten Salt Research Reactor Director

ACU is affiliated with the fellowship of the Church of Christ. This position requires the employee to be a professing Christian and to be willing to support the Christian mission of ACU.

The Nuclear Energy eXperimental Testing (NEXT) Lab at ACU is a world leader in
molten salt reactor technology, whose mission is to provide global solutions to the world’s need for energy, water and medical isotopes by advancing the technology of molten salt reactors while educating future leaders in nuclear science and engineering. We are seeking to add a talented reactor director who is eager to lead, learn and explore molten salt reactor technologies with our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers.

The lab is in the process of building a reactor on site, and the reactor director will oversee and coordinate technical operations related to the reactor.

Additionally, the ideal candidate would qualify as a faculty member in the Onstead College of Science and Engineering to contribute to the educational mission of NEXT Lab.

NEXT Lab Core Values
The key principle of this job is to support ACU’s mission to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world. Along with this, and the NEXT mission, our core values are the fundamental beliefs and guiding principles that shape our culture, behavior, and decisions.

An ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong desire to integrate into a team that shares our core values and possess the skills listed below. Candidates who align well with our values but may not yet have all of the desired skills may still be considered.

Basic Responsibilities
The MSRR Director is responsible for the safe, secure, and efficient operation of the Molten Salt Research Reactor (MSRR). This leadership role oversees reactor operations, regulatory compliance, personnel management, research coordination, and strategic planning to support academic, research, and training missions.

• Lead the MSRR Operations & Control
• Compliance with NRC/DOE Licensing & Operating Procedures
• Operator Training & Mentoring
• Reactor Experiment Support
• Safety & Emergency Preparedness
• Documentation & Records Management
• Continuous Improvement & Maintenance Support

Essential Duties

Include the following. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable
individuals to perform the essential functions.

Reactor Operations & Control

• Operate the MSRR in accordance with NRC/DOE licenses and approved procedures.
• Monitor reactor systems, instrumentation, and controls during operation.
• Perform startup, shutdown, and normal operating evolutions safely and efficiently.

Compliance with NRC/DOE Licensing & Operating Procedures

• Maintain an active NRC Senior Reactor Operator license.
• Ensure operations comply with technical specifications and regulatory requirements.
• Report deviations, non-conformances, or abnormal conditions immediately.

Operator Training & Mentoring

• Train and supervise Reactor Operators and student operators.
• Mentor new operators to achieve and maintain NRC operator licensing.
• Evaluate operator performance and provide constructive feedback.

Reactor Experiment Support

• Support setup and execution of approved experimental activities.
• Ensure experiments comply with reactor safety and licensing limits.
• Collaborate with researchers to integrate experiments into reactor operations.

Safety & Emergency Preparedness

• Participate in safety drills and emergency preparedness exercises.
• Enforce strict adherence to safety protocols.
• Serve as shift leader during abnormal or emergency situations.

Documentation & Records Management

• Ensure completion of accurate reactor logs, operating records, and NRC/DOE required reports.
• Maintain training and qualification records…