Nuclear Security Engineer (Physical Protection)
Blykalla is scaling quickly in order to industrialize our small modular reactor (SMR) concept. If you are passionate about nuclear technology and want to make a significant impact, join us!
What we do at Blykalla
Blykalla is a Swedish developer of advanced nuclear power, commercializing its lead-cooled small modular reactor, SEALER, for the US and European markets. The 55 MWe SEALER delivers high-density, dispatchable baseload power for hyperscalers and energy-intensive industries, built on more than 25 years of research and a proprietary corrosion-resistant steel that makes lead cooling commercially viable. Backed by partners including Oklo, Uniper, and ABB, we are advancing toward reactor deployment in the United States, including work under the U.S. Department of Energy's reactor authorization pathway.
What you’ll get to do
We're seeking an experienced Nuclear Security Engineer to lead physical protection design for our lead-cooled SMR as we bring it to the US market. You'll embed security-by-design from the earliest stages and build the security case that supports DOE authorization. Specifically, you will:
Develop and maintain the physical protection design and Design Basis Threat (DBT) assessment for our lead-cooled fast reactor
Identify and classify vital areas, target sets, and security-related structures, systems, and components in line with defense-in-depth principles
Design physical protection systems — detection, delay, and response — and perform vulnerability and path analysis against the applicable DBT
Support graded-safeguards categorization of HALEU fuel (typically Category II or III) and coordinate with material control & accountability and protective-force planning
Prepare physical protection plans, security analyses, and technical submittals for DOE authorization, and support interactions with DOE (and NRC where applicable)
Handle Safeguards Information (SGI) and Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (UCNI) appropriately
Stay current with security methodologies, the evolving threat landscape, and international standards (IAEA Nuclear Security Series)
Who you’ll get to work with
This position sits in our Nuclear Engineering & Safety function and reports to its manager, working closely with licensing, reactor design, and our US deployment team. We're a diverse team that cares about precision and about each other.
Who you are
We value personal chemistry and substance in equal measure. To succeed, we think you'll bring:
U.S. citizenship — required for eligibility for a DOE access authorization (see note below)
Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE L access authorization (Q preferred), and to be granted access to Safeguards Information and UCNI
Master's degree in engineering, physics, security systems engineering, or a related field
5–10 years in nuclear security, physical protection, or security engineering for nuclear or comparable critical facilities
Experience with security assessment methodologies: DBT analysis, vulnerability assessment, target set identification, and physical protection system design
Working knowledge of the US framework: DOE O 470.3 (Graded Security Protection), DOE O 474.2 and DOE-STD-1194 (material control & accountability / graded safeguards), and 10 CFR Part 73; plus the IAEA Nuclear Security Series (e.g. INFCIRC/225)
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and technical-writing skills
Fluency in English, written and spoken
Meritorious skills:
An active DOE L or Q access authorization
ASIS Physical Security Professional (PSP) or comparable credential; involvement in bodies such as INMM
Experience with HALEU categorization or advanced/non-light-water reactors
Experience integrating cyber and operational-technology (OT) security with physical protection
Working knowledge of Swedish and the Swedish framework (SSM, säkerhetsskyddslagen), given our Stockholm headquarters
Location
United States. The site location will be announced as the program develops. Occasional travel to Stockholm, Sweden and to the site.
So, what do you think?
Joining Blykalla means precise, consequential work with people who take both the engineering and the responsibility seriously. You'll help bring a new kind of baseload power to the US market — and shape how it's protected from day one. If that's the challenge you're looking for, we'd like to hear from you.
We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds and are an equal-opportunity employer.
Note on citizenship and clearance: this role requires eligibility for a DOE access authorization, which is available only to U.S. citizens; the citizenship requirement is tied to that clearance requirement.
Reference & Background Checks
As part of our recruitment process, we conduct background checks on all candidates. We may also conduct reference checks to gain a well-rounded understanding of your professional experience, performance, and ways of working. This includes both references provided by you and, where relevant, conversations with other professional contacts who have worked closely with you. We strive to be transparent about our reference-checking process and handle all personal data in accordance with applicable data protection regulations. Any additional references will be sought with professional judgment and only when considered relevant to the role.
We do not accept applications via email.
We are not open to external help from recruitment agencies.
Note on AI Use: Blykalla may use AI technology to assist with certain administrative aspects of the hiring process, such as note-taking, interview documentation, and reporting. However, every resume and application is reviewed directly by our recruiting team. AI tools are used solely for operational support and do not influence candidate evaluation or hiring decisions.
- Team
- Nuclear Engineering
- Locations
- USA
About Blykalla
Blykalla is Sweden's only SMR vendor, commercializing lead-cooled fast reactors for industrial use. Based on 20+ years of research, their SEALER technology is a compact 55 MWe unit designed to offer a safe, efficient, and scalable power solution. With a strong foundation within Sweden, Blykalla is well positioned to deliver Europe's first advanced SMR, providing reliable and sustainable baseload energy to power AI and clean industries.
Backed by partners such as Uniper, ABB, KSB, Höganäs, and the Royal Institute of Technology, Blykalla has secured close to EUR 50 million in funding, including a SEK 99 million grant from the Swedish Energy Agency and a EUR 17 million investment from the EU. The company plans to complete its first SEALER reactor by 2030 and begin serial production in the 2030s. By 2050, their technology could generate up to 500 TWh of clean electricity annually, cutting global CO₂ emissions by 0.5 gigatons each year.