Director of R&D (Nuclear Hardware) at SHINE Technologies LLC – Fitchburg, Wisconsin

SHINE Technologies is seeking a Director of R&D (Nuclear Hardware) who will be responsible for leading advanced hardware research, applied development, and technology maturation for our high-tech capital equipment portfolio in the nuclear space. This role sits at the intersection of long-term innovation, internal product delivery, and technical enablement of operational business units.

The Director ensures that R&D investments translate into de-risked technologies, scalable hardware architectures, and competitive differentiation for operational divisions. Collaborating with the Directors of Engineering and Chemistry R&D, they balance near-term execution needs with longer horizon innovation while maintaining rigorous technical standards suitable for first-of-a-kind and regulated hardware systems.

The base salary range for this position is $170,000 - $200,000 per year plus a comprehensive compensation package. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Specific duties and responsibilities of the Director of R&D (Nuclear Hardware) include, but are not limited to:

• Lead multidisciplinary R&D teams focused on advanced hardware systems, subsystems, and enabling technologies.
• Set technical direction and quality standards for development programs, ensuring rigor, repeatability, and defensibility of results.
• Drive technology readiness advancement (e.g., TRL maturation) from concept through engineering handoff.
• Partners with the CTO, COO, and operational GMs to identify and execute strategic initiatives that grow operational businesses.
• Lead R&D efforts that reduce technical, manufacturing, reliability, and scale-up risk across capital equipment platforms.
• Support design-for-manufacture, testability, and qualification strategies in partnership with engineering and operations.
• Embedded or responsive technical support to operational divisions
• Allocate R&D resources dynamically in response to business priorities while protecting long-term innovation capacity.
• Work closely with Engineering to balance development and execution
• Build and mentor high-performing R&D managers and senior technical staff.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, intellectual honesty, and disciplined experimentation.
• Attract, develop, and retain top hardware research talent in a competitive market.
• Provide data-driven input into strategic decisions without over-optimism or under-estimating complexity.
• Represent R&D in executive, cross-divisional, and corporate technical forums.

• BS/MS/PhD in Nuclear Engineering, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science, or related field.
• 10+ years of experience in high-tech hardware development, including complex or capital equipment.
• Demonstrated leadership of R&D or advanced engineering teams.
• Track record of moving technologies from concept to product or operational deployment.
• Experience operating in environments with significant technical and execution risk.

Preferred

• Experience supporting multiple product lines or operational business units.
• Plasma Physics or advanced nuclear technology experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with regulated, safety-critical, or first-of-a-kind hardware systems.

Eligibility for employment is conditioned on the applicant’s ability to qualify for access to information subject to U.S. Export Controls. Additionally, applicant’s eligibility may be conditioned based upon meeting the Nuclear Regulatory Commission requirements for access to Safeguards Information, which typically requires a pre-employment drug screen, fingerprinting and criminal background check.

SHINE values diversity in all its forms as a critical component of innovation, which is fundamental to our success. Every member of the SHINE community benefits from the talents and experiences of our peers, from the mutual respect we exercise, and from the responsibility we take for our actions.

SHINE Technologies is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

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