Program Manager – Reactor (f/m/d)

About This Opportunity

We are representing a confidential fusion energy organization in their search for a Program Manager to lead reactor department initiatives. This is a unique chance to contribute to breakthrough clean energy technology through rigorous project coordination in a safety-critical R&D environment.

Location: Darmstadt, Germany

Responsibilities

In this role, you will:

• Plan and track multi-year reactor projects, translating strategic objectives into actionable tasks, schedules, and milestones for high-consequence programs including fusion infrastructure design, procurement, and commissioning
• Monitor budget allocation and personnel capacity across complex technical programs
• Maintain project documentation, schedules, and workflows using Jira, Jira Big Picture, and Confluence
• Coordinate progress tracking with engineering teams across reactor, targets, laser systems, and scientific departments
• Organize and facilitate appointments, meetings, safety reviews, conferences, and internal progress sessions, ensuring follow-through on decisions and action items
• Own risk and change management processes; maintain risk registers, drive mitigation strategies, and enforce rigorous change control in safety-critical contexts
• Serve as primary liaison between program management, finance, suppliers, research partners, and regulatory bodies
• Ensure compliance with radiation safety protocols, high-voltage system requirements, and applicable nuclear regulatory frameworks
• Support public funding coordination efforts with finance and programs teams

What We're Looking For

Required qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in nuclear engineering, physics, or related field (PhD preferred)
• Extensive experience in R&D and engineering project management, ideally within experimental physics or nuclear energy research
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both English and German
• Cross-functional systems integration mindset rather than narrow subject-matter focus
• Ability to present complex scientific content clearly to diverse audiences including non-technical stakeholders and regulatory bodies
• Strong organizational, administrative, and time-management capabilities
• Demonstrated experience managing high-stakes, safety-critical programs with rigorous risk and change management
• Proficiency with project management tools (Jira, Confluence, or similar platforms)
• Experience with cost, schedule, and scope performance tracking (Earned Value Management)
• Knowledge of Work Breakdown Structure creation and control
• Familiarity with plant lifecycle phases from concept through commissioning

Preferred qualifications:

• Fusion-relevant technical specialization
• Experience managing programs in radiation-controlled environments
• Familiarity with nuclear regulatory frameworks or licensing processes
• IPMA or PMI certification
• Experience with agile and hybrid project management methodologies
• Background interfacing with government funding bodies or public research programs
• Understanding of nuclear safety case development processes

How We Work With You

Interested candidates should submit their application through Get A Job.ai. Our recruiting team will conduct an initial screening to understand your background and qualifications. Qualified candidates will then be presented to our client for consideration. Please do not attempt to contact the client organization directly, as all communications should flow through our talent team to ensure a smooth process for everyone involved.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process and will be competitive based on your experience level and qualifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive hiring practices and equal opportunity employment. We evaluate all candidates based on qualifications and merit.