Founded in 2002, the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with the safe, long-term management of Canada’s intermediate- and high-level radioactive waste, in a manner that protects people and the environment for generations to come.
The NWMO has been guided for more than 20 years by a dedicated team of world-class scientists, engineers and Indigenous Knowledge Holders who are developing innovative and collaborative solutions for nuclear waste management. In 2024, the NWMO selected Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace as the hosts for the site for a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel.
This decision means our office and staff will, in the future, be relocating to Ignace, Ont., and the deep geological repository will be situated in the area of Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation and the Township of Ignace. Infrastructure planning and development are underway to support this transition and ensure that both the community and our employees are well served and supported, now and in the future.
Senior Engineer/Scientist/Technical Officer – Mining and Repository Engineering One (1) One (1) Position Available - Fulltime
Position Location: Toronto Head Office – 22 St. Clair Avenue East
or Ignace, Ontario – 304 Main Street
Job Summary:
In this role, you will provide technical leadership for the design and construction of a deep underground geological repository, shaping projects from concept through to operations. Your expertise will influence regulatory submissions, stakeholder engagement, and the delivery of complex projects, ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and innovation. This role provides opportunities to work with interdisciplinary teams, develop expertise in deep geological repositories, and contribute to pioneering projects in the mining and nuclear sectors.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide technical expertise, advice, and input to the design and construction elements of a deep underground geological repository, including surface and underground infrastructure.
- Lead and be responsible for the planning, scheduling, coordinating, and monitoring of assigned technical projects and contracts from inception and approval through to final acceptance.
- Ensure design management process are followed.
- Participate in the development and issuance of contracting documents (EOIs & RFPs), and evaluation and selection of contractors.
- Oversee and manage the performance of consultants, contractors, and subcontractors:
- Interface and coordinate with contractors to monitor performance against approved work plans and schedules.
- Participate in contract budget submission, schedules, estimates, and changes.
- Ensure design basis and associated requirements remain valid through all deliverables.
- Meet with consultants and contractors as required to interpret requirements, review progress, address deviations from plans and obtain cooperation in project execution.
- Contribute as required to internal committees and tasks to gather requirements for the design and ensure consensus prior to implementation of design changes.
- Communicate regularly with internal stakeholders and other designated contacts within the NWMO to understand competing priorities.
- Prepare reports and other documents on design status, work activities and project progress, and communicate findings to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
- Represent NWMO before government authorities, agencies, regulatory bodies and legislative hearings as a technical expert on repository design activities.
- Ensure all work activities and programs reflect an awareness of and compliance with applicable regulations and with the divisional and customer safety program.
- Participate in NWMO public engagement activities.
- Maintain awareness of industry development, proof testing programs and and international practices related to the design and construction of deep underground geological repositories through technical publications, collaboration with internal and external experts, and conference presentations.
- Perform other duties as required.
Qualifications:
This is a Progression-In Place role. Applicants with less or more experience or qualifications may be considered for a position at a lower or higher level commensurate with their experience.
- A 4-year university degree in mining, geological, environmental, mineral, civil engineering, or a related engineering discipline is required.
- A minimum of 6-8 years of experience in the mining/heavy construction industry, including managing complex technical projects from concept through to operations.
- Experience with mining and/or heavy construction practices and techniques, including design and CAD software (e.g. AutoCAD), and the application of mining regulations in Ontario or other Canadian provinces in engineering design.
- Experience with underground excavation, tunnelling, and blasting methods would be highly regarded.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams and effectively coordinate with external contractors.
- Experience in project and/or technical study management, including plan development, resource planning, schedule tracking, contract management, risk management, and issue resolution.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports, deliver technical presentations, and present information to public officials, contractors, stakeholders, and the public.
- Knowledge of project and contract management principles and practices, including conceptual planning and all phases of engineering design.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- Ability to read, analyze and interpret technical specifications, procedures, government regulations, policies, and technical reports.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently, demonstrating initiative, analytical thinking, and strong problem-solving ability.
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills when working with multidisciplinary teams and external contractors.
- Ability to work effectively under tight deadlines and flexible to travel as required.
Preferred Qualifications/Assets:
- Registered, or eligible to be registered, as Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in the Province of Ontario.
- Experience using mining and underground design software, such as Deswik and Ventsim.
- Experience using scheduling software such as Microsoft Project and/or Primavera P6.
- Experience in underground ventilation system design.
- Experience in mine infrastructure design, including surface construction, foundations, site servicing, excavated rock management, and water management.
- Experience with large-scale infrastructure projects, including mining, tunnelling, or blasting.
- Experience working on large capital infrastructure projects involving multiple stakeholders.
- Experience with greenfield development or construction projects, and/or involvement in regulatory submissions.
- Experience preparing engineering design documentation to support regulatory submissions.
- Strong technical writing skills and the ability to distill complex technical information into clear and concise summaries.
- Knowledge of the Federal Impact Assessment Act and its application to large capital infrastructure projects.
- Familiarity with relevant CSA standards (e.g., CSA N292 series, CSA N285 series, CSA N289 series, CSA B51).
- Knowledge of nuclear quality assurance requirements (e.g., CSA N286 and CSA N299) and other industrial quality standards (e.g., ISO 9001, ISO 17025)
Must be eligible to work in Canada and must be able to meet security clearance requirements.
NWMO currently operates in a hybrid work model of 3 days in the office (Tuesdays being universal) and 2 days working from home.
Candidates residing in the Greater Toronto Area: Office Location – 22 St. Clair Avenue East until their role is required to relocate.
Current employees may continue working from their existing work location/arrangements until their role is required at site.
We offer a competitive base salary, health care benefits and a defined benefit pension plan.
The NWMO is committed to contributing to Reconciliation in all its work by co-creating a shared future built on rights, equity and well-being. As an employment equity employer, NWMO actively seeks Indigenous Peoples, members of visible minorities, women, people with disabilities, and additional diverse identities for our workforce. The NWMO will provide accommodation to applicants with disabilities. If you require accommodation, please contact us.
We review applications on a rolling basis and encourage interested candidates to apply at their earliest convenience to ensure full consideration.
The NWMO is committed to a fair, transparent, and efficient recruitment process. While we sincerely appreciate every expression of interest, only those candidates selected to continue in the recruitment process will be contacted directly.
