Technical Operations Manager Jobs in Oak Ridge, TN

Location: Oak Ridge, TN  

Schedule: Full-Time 
 

Standard Nuclear is fueling America's nuclear renaissance at industrial scale. Our mission is to deliver the essential building blocks of nuclear power-enabling cost-effective, safe, and secure energy for the world. 

The I&C Manager is responsible for leading Standard Nuclear's instrumentation and controls function across manufacturing, laboratory, and pilot production environments. This role oversees the installation, maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, and improvement of instrumentation, control systems, and related equipment that support safe and reliable operations. 

This is a hands-on leadership role in a regulated manufacturing environment. The I&C Manager will work closely with operations, engineering, maintenance, quality, and EH&S teams to ensure that process instrumentation and control systems are properly maintained, documented, and aligned with operational requirements. The role is critical to equipment reliability, process consistency, safety, and production scale-up. 

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Instrumentation & Controls Leadership 

• Lead day-to-day I&C activities across manufacturing, laboratory, and technical operations  

• Supervise and support I&C technicians, contractors, and related maintenance personnel  

• Establish priorities for instrumentation maintenance, calibration, troubleshooting, and system improvements  

• Ensure I&C work is executed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with approved procedures  

• Serve as the primary technical resource for instrumentation and controls issues across the site  

Calibration & Measurement Systems 

• Own calibration program execution for process instruments, sensors, transmitters, gauges, meters, and related equipment  

• Ensure calibration activities are completed on schedule and properly documented  

• Maintain calibration records in accordance with company procedures, quality requirements, and applicable regulatory expectations  

• Support development and improvement of calibration procedures, standards, and intervals  

• Coordinate with quality and engineering teams to ensure measurement systems are accurate, traceable, and fit for purpose  

Control Systems & Equipment Support 

• Support troubleshooting, repair, and improvement of control systems, instrumentation loops, panels, sensors, and automated equipment  

• Work with engineering teams on startup, commissioning, and modification of new systems and equipment  

• Support PLC, HMI, SCADA, and industrial control system activities as applicable  

• Diagnose recurring instrumentation or control system issues and drive corrective actions  

• Ensure changes to control systems and instrumentation are properly reviewed, documented, and controlled  

Preventive Maintenance & Reliability 

• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance plans for instrumentation and control systems  

• Partner with maintenance and operations teams to improve uptime, reliability, and equipment performance  

• Identify obsolete, unreliable, or high-risk instrumentation and develop replacement or upgrade plans  

• Support spare parts planning for critical instrumentation and controls components  

• Use failure history and field observations to improve maintenance practices and reduce repeat issues  

Project & Engineering Support 

• Support engineering projects involving instrumentation, controls, automation, and process equipment  

• Review drawings, specifications, P&IDs, wiring diagrams, control logic, and vendor documentation  

• Provide input on instrument selection, control strategies, maintainability, and operational needs  

• Support factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning, and turnover activities  

• Ensure new systems are maintainable, documented, and supportable by site personnel  

Documentation & Compliance 

• Maintain accurate records for calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting, system changes, and equipment status  

• Ensure I&C activities comply with company procedures, safety requirements, quality standards, and applicable regulatory expectations  

• Support audits, inspections, corrective actions, and quality reviews related to instrumentation and controls  

• Develop and improve procedures, work instructions, and technical documentation for I&C activities  

Safety & Field Execution 

• Ensure all I&C work is performed in accordance with safety procedures, including LOTO, electrical safety, PPE, and radiological controls where applicable  

• Support pre-job planning, hazard identification, and work package development for I&C activities  

• Maintain field presence to support technicians, troubleshoot equipment issues, and verify safe work execution  

• Promote disciplined work practices and strong communication between I&C, operations, engineering, and EH&S 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Controls Engineering, Instrumentation, Mechatronics, or a related technical field; equivalent technical, military, or industrial experience will be considered  

• 7+ years of experience in instrumentation, controls, automation, maintenance, or electrical systems in an industrial or manufacturing environment  

• Experience leading technicians, contractors, or technical teams in a field-based environment  

• Strong understanding of process instrumentation, control loops, sensors, transmitters, gauges, meters, and industrial control systems  

• Experience with calibration programs, calibration records, and traceable measurement systems  

• Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, electrical schematics, loop diagrams, wiring diagrams, and technical drawings  

• Experience troubleshooting PLCs, HMIs, SCADA systems, VFDs, control panels, and automated equipment preferred  

• Familiarity with preventive maintenance, equipment reliability, spare parts planning, and maintenance management systems  

• Strong documentation skills and experience working in regulated or quality-controlled environments  

• Ability to work cross-functionally with operations, engineering, maintenance, quality, and EH&S teams  

• Experience in nuclear, chemical processing, energy, aerospace, defense, or other regulated industrial environments is a plus 

BENEFITS 

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance 

• Health Savings Account 

• Disability and Life Insurance 

• 401(k) Plan 

• Paid Time Off and Holidays 

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions. 

This role is based on-site in Oak Ridge, TN and involves regular work in manufacturing, laboratory, pilot production, and industrial environments. 

The position requires hands-on support of instrumentation, electrical, and control systems, including field troubleshooting, equipment inspections, and coordination of maintenance and calibration activities. Work may involve standing for extended periods, use of PPE, lockout/tagout, electrical safety controls, and occasional work in controlled or radiological areas. Reasonable accommodation will be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, protected individuals as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.