Director Engineering Jobs in Athens, TN (NOW HIRING)

At BWX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), we are People Strong, Innovation Driven. A U.S.-based company, BWXT is a Fortune 1000 and Defense News Top 100 manufacturing and engineering innovator that provides safe and effective nuclear solutions for global security, clean energy, environmental restoration, nuclear medicine and space exploration. With more than 7,800 employees, BWXT has 14 major operating sites in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. We are the sole manufacturer of naval nuclear reactors for U.S. submarines and aircraft carriers. Our company supplies precision manufactured components, services and fuel for the commercial nuclear power industry across four continents. Our joint ventures provide environmental restoration and operations management at a dozen U.S. Department of Energy and NASA facilities. BWXT's technology is driving advances in medical radioisotope production in North America and microreactors for various defense and space applications. For more information, visit www.bwxt.com. Follow us on LinkedIn, X, Facebook and Instagram.
Welcome to BWXT
We believe in empowering our employees and cultivating a dynamic workplace that fosters growth and collaboration. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, you'll find opportunities to challenge yourself, learn from seasoned experts, and contribute to nuclear innovation. We require a diverse range of skills to support our work in the markets that drive our business and welcome candidates from all backgrounds and life stages who are passionate about making a difference.
Position Overview: Director of Engineering - Enrichment Operations
As the Director of Engineering for BWXT Enrichment Operations, you will lead the full engineering function responsible for delivering a production-ready centrifuge product and a high-precision, highly automated factory capability. You will oversee engineering strategy from early concept through prototype/pilot phases to full-rate production, establishing core systems engineering and systems integration practices to ensure disciplined requirements management, interface control, verification/validation, and seamless subsystem integration. This role is pivotal in standing up a modern digital factory, enabling high-volume production with aerospace-grade quality and nuclear regulatory rigor.
Location
On-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Your Day-to-Day as the Director of Engineering
Engineering Leadership & Organization
• Build, scale, and lead a multidisciplinary engineering organization spanning manufacturing, process, facilities, automation, industrialization, and precision systems.
• Serve as the technical authority for manufacturability, scalability, risk management, and readiness.
Systems Engineering (SE)
• Establish a modern systems engineering capability that includes requirements management, architecture development, interface control (ICDs), configuration management, verification and validation, and model-based systems engineering/digital thread practices.
• Define "Definition of Done" at each development gate and ensure complete, build-ready Product Readiness Packs (e.g., BOMs, routers, test plans).
Systems Integration (SI)
• Lead end-to-end integration of subsystems into the centrifuge product and supporting systems.
• Develop integration plans, lab capabilities, fixtures, and test regimes to validate subsystem and system-level performance.
• Collaborate with the CTO and ORNL Design Authority to align qualification evidence and change packages; support seamless integration with CMDF pilot builds and transfer to CMF industrialization.
Factory Design, Construction & Startup
• Lead design, build, and commissioning of a high-precision manufacturing facility.
• Integrate automation, robotics, and digital factory systems to enable high throughput, traceability, and tightly controlled processes.
Manufacturing Excellence & DFx
• Deliver engineering solutions capable of automotive-pace production with aerospace-grade quality.
• Drive design for manufacturability, assembly, quality, cost, and industrialization (DFM/DFA/DFQ/DFC).
Quality, Safety & Compliance
• Ensure all engineering designs and processes meet nuclear regulatory, DOE, safety, and BWXT quality requirements.
• Embed compliance gates, audit readiness, and pre-release checks throughout development.
Program Controls & Schedule
• Partner with Business Operations and Program Controls to maintain a resource-loaded critical path schedule.
• Support earned value management (EVM) discipline and weekly KPI reviews (SPI/CPI, cost variance, schedule adherence).
Supply Chain & Technical Readiness
• Define technical acceptance criteria for supplier parts, processes, tooling, and special manufacturing steps.
• Support supplier onboarding speed, delivery performance, and technical readiness to protect schedule-critical components.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Work closely with CMDF (prototype/pilot operations), CMF (full-rate industrialization), the CTO/Technology organization, and Operations.
• Drive the transition from low-rate initial production (LRIP) to full-rate production (FRP) on cost and schedule.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (advanced degree preferred).
• Fifteen (15+) years of progressive engineering leadership in high-precision, highly regulated manufacturing environments (nuclear, aerospace, defense, automotive, semiconductor, or similar).
• Demonstrated experience designing, building, commissioning, and scaling a high-precision manufacturing facility to high-volume production.
• Strong expertise in advanced manufacturing, automation, precision machining, assembly, metrology, and inspection systems.
• Must be a U.S. citizen capable of obtaining and maintaining a DOE Q clearance; active clearance preferred.
• Proven ability to lead large, multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast-paced, highly technical environment.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with automotive-scale manufacturing and assembly; Lean/Six Sigma leadership.
• Hands-on experience deploying Industry 4.0, digital thread, digital twin, and smart factory systems.
• Experience guiding organizations from prototype/pilot phases to high-rate production in startup-like or greenfield environments.
What We Offer
• Competitive compensation and benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.
• Flexible work schedules and paid time off to promote a healthy work-life balance (as applicable).
• Professional development opportunities, including mentorship programs, leadership training, and support for continuing education.
• An inclusive atmosphere that celebrates diverse perspectives and enables collaboration across all generations.
• The opportunity to shape a mission-driven organization advancing the future of energy and national security.
• Continuous learning and development opportunities to support long-term career growth.
Pay: $200,000 - $217,000
The base salary range for this position in Tennessee (US-TN) at the start of employment is expected to be between $200,000 and $217,000 per year. However, the base salary offered is based on local job market factors, and may vary further depending on factors specific to the selected job candidate, such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and other objective business considerations. Subject to these considerations, the total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, such as an annual cash incentive in addition to a full range of medical, retirement, and/or other benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided at such time the selected job candidate receives an offer of employment. If hired, the selected job candidate will be employed 'at-will,' unless employed at a location and in a position subject to a collective bargaining agreement. The company further reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment, compensation or benefit program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, company or individual department/team performance, and other market factors.
As a federal government contractor, BWX Technologies, Inc. and any subsidiaries, affiliates and related entities ("BWXT" or the "Company") complies with all federal, state, and local laws and customer requirements regarding health and safety protocols. As such, all BWXT new hires will be required to adhere to applicable Company health and safety requirements within the workplace as a condition of employment.
All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Selected applicants are required to successfully complete a pre-employment check and drug screening. In addition, the position may require the ability to obtain and maintain applicable federal eligibility requirements for access to classified/sensitive information or matter which involves an extensive criminal and financial background investigation, drug test, previous employment, and reference verifications.
BWXT is committed to the concept of Equal Employment Opportunity. We have established procedures to ensure that all personnel actions such as recruitment, compensation, career development, benefits, company-sponsored training and social recreational programs are administered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, protected veteran or other protected status.
BWX Technologies, Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (BWXT) is not responsible for and does not accept any liability for fees or other costs associated with resumes or candidates presented by recruiters or employment agencies, unless a binding, written recruitment agreement between BWXT and the recruiter or agency exists prior to the presentation of candidates or resumes to BWXT and includes the specific services, job openings, and fees to be paid ("Agreement"). BWXT may consider any candidate for whom a recruiter or agency has submitted an unsolicited resume and explicitly reserves the right to hire such candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency unless an Agreement is in place prior to presentation and such Agreement explicitly encompasses the job opening for which such fees or costs are sought. An email, verbal or other informal contact with any person within BWXT will not create a binding agreement. Agencies or recruiters without an Agreement are directed not to contact any hiring managers of BWXT with recruiting inquiries or resumes. Recruiters and agencies interested in partnering with BWXT may contact BWXT's Talent Acquisition team at talent_acquisition@bwxt.com. #LI-BT1