Reactor Facilities Laboratory Manager

Reactor Facilities Laboratory Manager

The Reactor Facilities Laboratory Manager manages the technical operations, physical infrastructure, and laboratory support functions of the Nuclear Engineering and Science Center reactor facilities. The position owns and continually improves the preventive maintenance program; leads facility maintenance and upgrade projects involving internal system units and external contractors; designs and fabricates experimental fixtures and support equipment; maintains housecleaning and laboratory safety standards and serves as the interface with Texas A&M University System laboratory safety organizations; ensures work complies with applicable federal nuclear regulations including change evaluations; maintains and updates facility and system records to meet lifetime documentation requirements; and supervises technical staff supporting research and instructional programs. This is a hands-on management role that requires both leadership and direct participation in shop, facility, and material-handling work.

Responsibilities

Facility Infrastructure, Preventive Maintenance, and Project Management

• Own, maintain, and continually improve the preventive maintenance program for reactor facilities, support systems, shop equipment, and laboratory apparatus.
• Identify physical plant deficiencies, deferred maintenance needs, and infrastructure risks across the reactor facilities and associated support systems.
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee facility repair, upgrade, and infrastructure projects performed by internal Texas A&M University System units and external contractors.
• Develop project scopes, schedules, cost estimates, and resource plans while maintaining continuous operational readiness of the reactors and laboratories.
• Monitor contractor performance, review work products for technical adequacy and regulatory compliance, and coordinate access and work control within the facility.
• Assist with oversight of physical infrastructure projects from conceptual design through completion and turnover.

Laboratory Operations, Housekeeping, and Staff Supervision

• Supervise technical staff and student workers in the performance of assigned laboratory, shop, and facility duties.
• Champion and own facility housekeeping and cleanliness, including planning and leading cleanup efforts and coordinating janitorial and service support.
• Coordinate laboratory personnel, facilities, and services with facility leadership, faculty, researchers, and teaching assistants to ensure resources are available for research projects, experiments, and testing.
• Schedule laboratory workload in coordination with leadership and program staff.
• Develop departmental goals, standards, and objectives that support the strategic plan and vision of the organization.
• Assess safety factors and monitor the performance and functionality of testing apparatuses, machinery, and associated equipment.

Laboratory Safety and System Coordination

• Serve as the primary interface with Texas A&M University System laboratory safety organizations and related system units on laboratory safety matters.
• Manage laboratory safety practices for shop, facility, and material-handling work, including crane operations, rigging, and lifting activities.
• Ensure work involving radioactive materials and radiation environments is performed in accordance with federal regulations and facility procedures after appropriate training.

Experimental Design, Fabrication, and Technical Support

• Collaborate with engineering staff to design fixtures, experimental devices, and support equipment required for research reactor experiments.
• Oversee or perform fabrication, modification, maintenance, and repair of metal and other material components using lathes, milling machines, drill presses, welding equipment, and related precision tools.
• Perform or direct disassembly, repair, and reassembly of pumps, motors, valves, compressors, hydraulic systems, heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment, and other mechanical equipment supporting reactor and laboratory operations.
• Perform or direct work on facility electrical systems as needed, including 480-volt three-phase equipment and control contactors.
• Contribute to laboratory design, layout, and equipment selection for research and instructional activities.
• Operate and maintain small heavy equipment, including forklifts, cranes, and related material-handling equipment, as required to support facility operations. This position requires hands-on participation and is not limited to delegation of shop or facility work.

Regulatory Compliance and Records Management

• Conduct and support evaluations of facility and procedure changes under Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, section 50.59, to determine whether prior Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval is required.
• Maintain facility, system, equipment, and maintenance records in accordance with applicable Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and license conditions.
• Identify and update incomplete or neglected records to ensure documentation meets lifetime-of-facility and lifetime-of-system requirements.
• Support the leadership team in advancing the research and service capabilities of the Nuclear Engineering and Science Center while maintaining regulatory compliance.

Resource Management and Coordination

• Determine and justify needs for equipment purchases and facility investments.
• Work with internal contracting and procurement organizations and external agencies to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders.
• Manage resources to balance safety requirements with the operational functions of the Nuclear Engineering and Science Center.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What We Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science, Technology, or other applicable field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Seven years of related experience in an engineering, technical, or facility management environment, including at least two years of supervisory experience.

What is Helpful:

• Knowledge of: Word processing and spreadsheet applications; basic principles of project management; mechanical systems and fabrication methods.
• Ability to: Multitask and work cooperatively with others; communicate effectively in verbal and written form; apply strong interpersonal, organizational, and customer service skills; maintain attention to detail and exercise sound judgment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing, owning, and continually improving a preventive maintenance program for laboratory or industrial facilities.
• Experience managing facility maintenance, infrastructure upgrade, or construction projects in a regulated environment.
• Working knowledge of Title 10 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50, including section 50.59 change evaluation processes.
• Experience designing or fabricating fixtures and experimental apparatus for research or testing applications.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain and restore technical records to meet regulatory documentation standards.
• Ability to use computer-aided design applications and to read, update, and maintain facility and system drawings to as-built status.
• Experience with heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems; 480-volt three-phase electrical equipment; and control contactors.
• Experience with crane operations, rigging, and lifting of loads in a laboratory or industrial setting.
• Hands-on experience with machining or precision mechanical fabrication.
• Tungsten inert gas welding of aluminum (most facility welding is aluminum and is often required on short lead time).
• Project Management Professional certification or equivalent formal project management training.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Senior Reactor Operator's License (strongly preferred; provides deep facility knowledge).

Supervision of Others

This position generally supervises technical staff and student workers.

Other Requirements

• Ability to lift and move objects weighing up to fifty (50) pounds.
• United States citizenship required.
• Must successfully complete multiple background investigations in accordance with United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission regulations and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station policies.
• Must complete required radiation worker and facility-specific training prior to independent work in radiation areas or with radioactive materials.

Work Location:

• Main Campus College Station, TX.

About Nuclear Engineering and Science Center:

The Nuclear Engineering and Science Center seeks to improve the health, wellbeing and environment of mankind through the application of nuclear technology. The center provides services to researchers and/or faculty from Texas A&M University, other colleges and universities, government agencies and private industry. The center is recognized primarily for providing radioisotopes and other nuclear irradiation services for research, academic, medical and industrial applications and as a teaching and nuclear training facility.

Texas A&M Engineering provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive medical insurance benefits through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Prescription coverage by Express Scripts.
• Options for Vision, Dental, Life, and Long-Term Disability insurance.
• A defined benefit retirement