Principal Anti-Drone Engineer

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing startup in the nuclear and energy space creating a never before seen fleet-scale approach to building nuclear reactors. Through its design-once, build-many approach and coalition building across communities, regulators, and financial stakeholders, The Nuclear Company is committed to delivering safe and reliable electricity at the lowest cost, while catalyzing the nuclear industry toward rapid development in America and globally.

Position Overview

As a Principal Anti-Drone Engineer at The Nuclear Company, you will lead the design, development, and deployment of advanced counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) to protect mission-critical nuclear infrastructure from drone threats. This senior technical leadership role combines expertise in RF detection, electronic warfare, sensor fusion, and physical security systems to build comprehensive anti-drone defense capabilities for Nuclear OS and fleet-scale nuclear power plant operations. You'll work at the intersection of emerging security technologies and nuclear facility protection, helping to establish industry-leading standards for counter-drone systems in the nuclear sector.

Key Responsibilities

Technical Leadership & System Architecture

- Design and implement comprehensive counter-drone detection, tracking, and mitigation systems for nuclear construction sites and operational facilities

- Develop multi-layered defense strategies employing diverse and mutually-supporting tools, technologies, and processes for timely detection, protection, and response to drone threats

- Lead the integration of passive 3D detection, RF spectrum analysis, radar systems, and optical tracking technologies for 360° coverage

- Architect sensor fusion systems that combine multiple detection modalities to identify and classify drone threats with high confidence

- Provide expert technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers and cross-functional security teams

Detection & Countermeasure Development

- Design and deploy RF detection systems capable of identifying drone control signals across multiple frequency bands (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, ISM bands)

- Develop electronic countermeasure (ECM) capabilities including GPS jamming, RF signal disruption, and protocol-specific interference systems

- Implement real-time detection and alerting systems to provide early warning of drone incursions

- Evaluate and mitigate radio jamming threats and develop alternate communication methods for security operations

- Design tamper detection mechanisms and surveillance systems for perimeter security enhancement

Regulatory Compliance & Security Integration

- Ensure compliance with NRC physical security requirements and nuclear facility protection standards

- Integrate anti-drone systems with existing physical security plans and intrusion detection systems

- Coordinate with NRC and regulatory bodies on emerging drone threat assessments and security measures

- Document countermeasure strategies and maintain compliance with 10 CFR 73.55 physical protection requirements

- Protect safety, security, and emergency preparedness (SSEP) functions from drone-based threats

Electromagnetic Compatibility & Safety

- Evaluate proprietary protocol-controlled drones and anti-drone transmissions to ensure safe operation near sensitive nuclear equipment

- Conduct electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing to verify that counter-drone systems do not disrupt critical station equipment

- Evaluate wireless transmissions to avoid interference with station components and safety systems

- Assess radio frequency interference (RFI) impacts on nuclear facility wireless networks and IoT systems

Threat Assessment & Response

- Conduct threat assessments for commercial and military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including NATO Class 1-3 drones and drone swarms

- Evaluate adversary capabilities including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and potential attack scenarios against nuclear facilities

- Develop incident response protocols for drone detection events and coordinate with security response forces

- Assess AI-enabled flight technologies and autonomous drone capabilities that may evade traditional countermeasures

Project Leadership & Innovation

- Lead complex engineering projects involving multi-site anti-drone system deployments

- Drive innovation in counter-UAS technologies and stay current with emerging drone threats and mitigation techniques

- Collaborate with physical security, cybersecurity, and operations teams to ensure integrated defense-in-depth strategies

- Manage vendor relationships for counter-drone technology procurement and integration

- Develop testing and validation protocols for anti-drone system performance and reliability

Required Qualifications

Education

- Bachelor's or Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical field

Experience

- 10+ years of professional engineering experience in counter-drone systems, electronic warfare, RF engineering, or related security technologies - 5+ years in a senior or lead engineering role with demonstrated technical leadership

- Project management experience delivering large-scale security system deployments

Technical Skills

- Deep expertise in RF detection and analysis including spectrum analyzers, software-defined radios (SDR), and signal processing

- Proficiency in electronic countermeasures including jamming techniques, GPS spoofing, and protocol disruption

- Experience with radar systems, optical tracking, acoustic detection, and multi-sensor fusion

- Strong understanding of drone technologies including flight controllers, communication protocols, and autonomous navigation systems

- Knowledge of electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and radio frequency interference mitigation

- Programming skills in Python, C++, or similar languages for system integration and data analysis

- Understanding of wireless communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular, proprietary RF)

Security & Compliance

- Understanding of NRC regulations and nuclear facility security standards

- Knowledge of physical security systems and defense-in-depth principles for critical infrastructure

- Security clearance eligibility for nuclear facility access Leadership Competencies

- Strong leadership and mentoring capabilities with ability to guide technical teams

- Ability to work independently and lead technical initiatives across multiple projects

- Excellent communication skills for interfacing with security teams, regulatory bodies, and executive leadership

Preferred Qualifications

- Advanced degree (Ph.D. or M.S.) in RF Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field

- Professional Engineer (PE) license

- Advanced certifications in security systems, electronic warfare, or RF engineering

- Military or defense industry experience with counter-UAS systems

- Experience in nuclear industry or other highly regulated critical infrastructure sectors

- Background in AI/ML for autonomous threat detection and classification

- Familiarity with NIST cybersecurity frameworks and critical infrastructure protection standards

- Experience with layered security architectures and defense-in-depth strategies

Benefits

- Competitive compensation packages

- 401k with company match

- Medical, dental, vision plans

- Generous vacation policy, plus holidays

Estimated Starting Salary Range

The estimated starting salary range for this role is $198,000- $228,000 annually less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid on a bi-weekly basis. The actual salary offered may vary based on relevant factors as determined in the Company’s discretion, which may include experience, qualifications, tenure, skill set, availability of qualified candidates, geographic location, certifications held, and other criteria deemed pertinent to the particular role.

EEO Statement

The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control

Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.