Chemical Engineer at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL)

Can you see yourself designing and refining processes that produce life-saving medical isotopes? Would you like to take on challenges no one has solved before — and know that your work directly impacts cancer patients around the world? At Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) in Chalk River, we’re looking for a Chemical Engineer, Isotopes to join our Licensed Nuclear Facilities Department and help advance the future of nuclear medicine.

What will you be doing! 

• Participating in defining, developing, and optimizing isotope production and separation processes.
• Translating technical requirements into process designs using engineering principles, best practices, and regulatory frameworks.
• Developing process flow diagrams (PFDs), piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and operating procedures.
• Preparing design documentation, including process descriptions, calculations, and technical reports.
• Participating in multi-disciplinary design reviews and risk assessments.
• Documenting and programming automated/semi-automated chemistry equipment systems.
• Preparing testing plans, validation protocols, and reports to demonstrate compliance with design and regulatory requirements.
• Providing on-floor support in hot cell facilities (~25% of time) during process demonstrations, troubleshooting, and implementation.
• Collaborating with technicians and operators to ensure safe and effective execution of chemical processes.
• Looking for areas of continuous improvement.
• Writing and maintaining process documentation to support GMP and regulatory submissions.
• Ensuring processes meet CNSC, Health Canada, and internal quality standards.
• Contributing to hazard analyses and safety documentation for radiological environments.
• Identifying, developing, and documenting critical quality attributes, critical process parameters, and chemistry, manufacturing, and controls.
• Acting as an individual contributor within the process engineering domain, while drawing on mentoring from senior engineers in other disciplines.
• Contributing technical presentations and reports to internal and external stakeholders.
• Other duties as assigned by your manager. 

What we are looking for: 

• Education 
  • At minimum, a Bachelor's (Honour) in Engineering or Science from a university of recognized standing; or membership in an engineering or scientific professional organization authorized by statute to establish qualification for membership in that organization. 
  • An undergraduate degree in Chemical or Process Engineering is considered an asset. 
  • Licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) in Ontario or eligible for licensure/EIT status. 
• Experience 
  • At minimum, 1-3 years of relevant chemical/process engineering experience or other relevant experience.
  • Experience in radioisotope production, radiochemistry, or pharmaceutical/biotech process industries is an asset.
  • Experience with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), Health Canada, or other regulatory frameworks is an asset.
  •  Experience with formatting, manipulating, and interpreting experimental and analytical data sets.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities 
  • A desire to innovate and improve chemical and separation processes.
  • Ability to learn, adapt, and pivot as new process information emerges.
  • Proficiency in process design fundamentals (heat and mass transfer, fluid flow, separation techniques, chemical reactions).
  • Ability to evaluate processes for safety, efficiency, and compliance using engineering judgment and regulatory guidance.
  • Demonstrated strong documentation skills, including writing procedures, process descriptions, and regulatory submissions.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong computer literacy, including word processing, spreadsheets, and chemical process modelling tools.
  • Understanding of radiation effects on materials, processes, and equipment is an asset.
  • Knowledge of radiochemistry, isotope separation, and hot cell operations is an asset.
  • Knowledge of radiation and harsh chemistry effects on materials, processes, and equipment. 
  • Knowledge of radiochemistry fundamentals, isotopic separation, and hot cell operations. 
  • Knowledge of the process development cycle from concept to production implementation. 
  • Knowledge of the principles of chemical separation and purification (liquid-liquid extraction, ion exchange, crystallization, etc.). 
  • Knowledge on the process design for radiation environments, including material selection and safety considerations. 
  • Knowledge of the application of GMP and other regulatory requirements in process development. 
  • Knowledge of managing, identifying and systematically eliminating technical risk through the use of engineering best practices. 
• Security Clearance Eligibility Required 
  • Level 2 Secret with 5 year SASC requires a minimum of 7 years of verifiable history in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United States, and/or the United Kingdom. CNL implements security screening in accordance with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat's “Standard on Security Screening” and the “Policy on Government Security.”

Working Conditions:  

• Work is primarily conducted in office and laboratory/hot cell facilities.
• On occasion, work may be required in radiologically controlled areas with strict safety protocols.
• Travel to partner or regulatory facilities may be required.
• Work in moderate radiation hazard environments where the use of personal protective equipment is required.
   

Why CNL?  
Does working with a team across Canada to advance nuclear science and technology for a clean and secure world speak to you?  We're reinventing ourselves to be the pacesetters so we can lead the charge in solving the problems that matter, like building the next generation of clean nuclear and hydrogen energy solutions, developing new and better-targeted cancer treatments, and continuing to lead the world in environmental remediation.    

We offer a complete total rewards package:    
•    Paid time off (vacation, sick, floater & personal);
•    Benefits effective day one, that’s right, no waiting period;
•    Tuition support
•    and a pension!  

Do Our Priorities Resonate with You?   
•    Clean energy for today and tomorrow.
•    Restore and protect the Environment.
•    Contribute to the health of Canadians.  

Location:  

This role is a fully onsite role that requires the employee to primarily work at CNL’s Chalk River Laboratory site, with only occasional opportunities to work remotely, if desired by the employee. CNL’s Chalk River laboratory is nestled in the Ottawa Valley and affords our employees an area that is environmentally pristine with extensive forests, hills and numerous small lakes, all of which support a variety of wildlife typical to the southern edge of the Canadian Shield.   Many surrounding towns, such as Pembroke, Petawawa and Deep River, provide you with unparalleled outdoor adventures at your doorstep! 

CNL is committed to providing an atmosphere free from barriers that promotes equity, diversity and inclusion in achieving our mission. CNL welcomes and celebrates employees, stakeholders and partners of all racial, cultural, and ethnic identities.  Read here further on our DE&I Commitment.

CNL also supports a workplace environment and a corporate culture that is built on our Core Values: Respect, Teamwork, Accountability, Safety, Integrity and Excellence which encourage equitable employment practices and career prospects inclusive of accommodations for all employees.  

CNL is committed to being an equal-opportunity employer. If you require accommodation measures during any phase of the hiring process, please indicate via our ATS when applying. All information received in relation to accommodation requests will be kept confidential.  

The Chalk River Laboratories site is located on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people. As an organization, CNL recognizes and appreciates their historic connection to this place. CNL also recognizes the contributions that First Nations, Métis, Inuit and other Indigenous Peoples have made, both in shaping and strengthening this community in particular, and this province and country as a whole.