The same hyperscalers building data centers are now building nuclear plants to power them. Data Center TALNT places owner's representatives, construction managers, NQA-1 certified inspectors, and nuclear-specific specialists on the most critical builds in the energy sector.
Our talent is trusted on the biggest data center builds in the country — projects commissioned by the world’s leading hyperscalers and AI companies.
The nuclear construction industry is entering a historic expansion. With 40% of the U.S. nuclear workforce expected to retire within the next decade and federal goals calling for a tripling of nuclear capacity by 2050, the demand for qualified nuclear construction professionals has never been greater. The SMR market alone is projected to grow from $0.27 billion in 2024 to $2.71 billion by 2029 — a 152% compound annual growth rate — and the Department of Energy has committed over $900 million in funding specifically for Gen III+ SMR deployment. Companies like TerraPower, X-energy, NuScale Power, Holtec International, Oklo, Kairos Power, and GE Vernova are moving from design to construction, creating thousands of specialized jobs across the country.
Data Center TALNT is uniquely positioned for this moment. The companies driving nuclear construction are our existing data center clients. Amazon Web Services is investing $500 million+ in X-energy and targeting 5 GW of nuclear by 2039. Google signed the first corporate SMR power purchase agreement with Kairos Power for 500 MW. Meta committed to 2.8 GW of Natrium reactors with TerraPower. Microsoft is restarting Three Mile Island through Constellation Energy. These hyperscalers already trust us to staff their data center builds — nuclear construction is the natural next step. Same clients, same project management rigor, higher stakes.
Our nuclear construction staffing practice covers five core service lines: owner's representative staffing for developers and hyperscaler buyers, general construction management placing project managers and field leadership, nuclear-specific specialized roles including NQA-1 QA/QC inspectors and health physics professionals, recurring long-term contract placements for multi-year builds, and subcontractor sourcing connecting projects with NQA-1 qualified specialty firms. Whether you are an EPC contractor staffing up for a Natrium build in Wyoming, an SMR developer assembling an owner's rep team, or a utility preparing for a BWRX-300 deployment, Data Center TALNT delivers the nuclear-qualified workforce your project demands.
Data Center TALNT recruits across every function within the nuclear construction sector. Below are some of the most in-demand positions we fill.
Professionals who represent the nuclear developer or hyperscaler buyer on-site during construction, managing the EPC relationship, ensuring quality and schedule adherence, and protecting the owner's investment across multi-billion-dollar SMR and advanced reactor projects.
Construction managers with nuclear new-build or major refurbishment experience, overseeing general contractors, coordinating NQA-1 quality programs, and managing the unique regulatory requirements of nuclear construction sites for projects by Bechtel, Fluor, Aecon, and others.
Quality assurance and quality control managers certified under ASME NQA-1, responsible for implementing 10CFR50 Appendix B quality programs, managing nuclear audit programs, and ensuring all construction activities meet nuclear-grade standards.
Radiation protection professionals managing dosimetry programs, ALARA implementation, contamination control, and NRC Part 20 compliance at active nuclear construction and decommissioning sites.
Engineers performing safety analyses, probabilistic risk assessments, and licensing support for SMR and advanced reactor projects, ensuring designs meet NRC regulatory requirements and defense-in-depth principles.
Instrumentation and controls engineers designing and commissioning the safety-critical control systems, reactor protection systems, and digital I&C platforms for advanced reactor and SMR facilities.
Regulatory affairs professionals navigating NRC licensing processes, preparing construction permit and combined license applications, and managing regulatory compliance for first-of-a-kind reactor deployments.
Welding inspectors certified to ASME Section III and Section IX standards, performing visual, radiographic, and ultrasonic examination of nuclear-grade piping, pressure vessels, and containment components.
The nuclear construction sector continues to grow, driving sustained demand for skilled professionals. Here are some key statistics shaping the market today.
40%
Of U.S. nuclear workforce expected to retire within the next decade (DOE)
$2.71B
Projected SMR market size by 2029 — up from $0.27B in 2024 (152% CAGR)
$900M+
DOE funding committed specifically for Gen III+ SMR deployment
127+
SMR designs in development worldwide across 30+ countries
Our existing relationships with hyperscaler clients — Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft — give us a direct pipeline into the nuclear projects they are funding. We already staff their data center builds and are expanding to staff the nuclear plants that will power them.
Our recruiters understand the difference between commercial QA/QC and nuclear-grade quality assurance. We screen for NQA-1 certification, 10CFR50 Appendix B experience, ASME Section III qualifications, and the documented quality culture that nuclear construction demands.
Nuclear construction projects run 5-10+ years, creating the need for stable, long-term staffing relationships. We provide recurring contract placements that keep experienced professionals on-site for the duration of the build, reducing turnover and maintaining project continuity.
From SMR developers and EPC contractors to owner's engineers and NQA-1 qualified subcontractors, we recruit across the entire nuclear construction ecosystem. Whether you need a single NRC licensing specialist or a complete owner's rep team, we deliver nuclear-qualified talent.
Data Center TALNT places professionals across the full spectrum of nuclear construction roles. This includes owner's representatives for SMR developers and hyperscaler buyers, construction managers, project managers, project controls specialists, schedulers, cost engineers, and field engineers for general construction management. We also recruit nuclear-specific specialized roles including NQA-1 certified QA/QC managers and inspectors, health physics and radiation protection professionals, nuclear safety engineers, reactor engineers, nuclear I&C engineers, criticality safety engineers, NRC licensing specialists, nuclear welding inspectors (ASME Section III), HALEU fuel handling specialists, and nuclear startup engineers. Our placements span EPC contractors like Bechtel, Fluor, and Aecon, SMR developers like TerraPower, X-energy, NuScale, Holtec, and Oklo, and utilities like TVA, OPG, Constellation Energy, and Duke Energy.
The companies driving nuclear construction are our existing data center clients. Amazon Web Services is investing in X-energy and targeting 5 GW of nuclear capacity by 2039. Google signed the first corporate SMR power purchase agreement with Kairos Power. Meta committed to 2.8 GW with TerraPower. Microsoft is restarting Three Mile Island through Constellation Energy. These hyperscalers are building nuclear plants specifically to power their data centers. We already place construction managers, project controls specialists, and QA/QC inspectors for these clients' data center builds. Nuclear construction staffing is a natural extension — same clients, same project management rigor, but with additional nuclear-specific qualifications like NQA-1 certification, ASME Section III expertise, and NRC regulatory knowledge.
Nuclear construction requires specialized certifications beyond standard construction qualifications. Key certifications include ASME NQA-1 (quality assurance for nuclear facilities), 10CFR50 Appendix B (quality assurance criteria for nuclear power plants), ASME Section III (rules for construction of nuclear facility components), ASME N-Stamp (certification for nuclear component manufacturers), SNT-TC-1A (NDE personnel qualification), and NRC Part 20 (radiation protection standards). Health physics professionals need radiation protection training and dosimetry qualifications. Nuclear welding inspectors require ASME Section III and Section IX certifications. NRC licensing specialists need experience with construction permits, combined license applications, and regulatory compliance. Data Center TALNT verifies all required certifications as part of our screening process.
We are positioned to support staffing needs across the most significant nuclear construction projects in North America. These include TerraPower's Natrium demonstration plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming (Bechtel EPC, construction started 2024), TVA's Clinch River SMR in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, Holtec's SMR-300 at Palisades, Michigan (Hyundai E&C construction partner), OPG's BWRX-300 fleet at Darlington, Ontario (Aecon EPC, construction started 2025), X-energy's Xe-100 projects for Amazon in Washington State and Dow Chemical in Seadrift, Texas, Constellation's Three Mile Island Unit 1 restart for Microsoft, Kairos Power's Hermes demonstration reactor in Tennessee, and multiple DOD microreactor installations under the Janus Program. Each of these projects requires hundreds to thousands of construction professionals.
Nuclear construction operates under a fundamentally different regulatory and quality framework than conventional construction. All work must comply with NRC regulations and NQA-1 quality assurance standards, which require documented procedures, qualified personnel, and auditable quality records for every construction activity. Nuclear sites require radiation protection programs, security plans, and emergency preparedness capabilities that don't exist on conventional jobsites. Construction timelines are typically 5-10+ years rather than 18-24 months. Workers may need security clearances and must complete nuclear-specific safety training. Quality control is vastly more rigorous — a weld on nuclear piping must meet ASME Section III standards with full radiographic examination, compared to standard AWS D1.1 requirements on commercial builds. Data Center TALNT understands these distinctions and screens specifically for nuclear-grade qualifications.
An owner's representative in nuclear construction is a professional who acts on behalf of the nuclear developer, utility, or hyperscaler buyer during the construction process. They serve as the bridge between the owner's vision and the EPC contractor's execution, overseeing schedule adherence, cost control, quality assurance, safety compliance, and regulatory requirements. In nuclear construction, this role is especially critical because projects involve multi-billion-dollar investments, first-of-a-kind reactor technologies, NRC regulatory oversight, and construction timelines spanning 5-10+ years. Companies like Amazon, Google, and Meta — who are investing billions in nuclear power for their data centers — need experienced owner's representatives to protect their investment and ensure these complex projects deliver on time and on specification.
Tell us about your staffing requirements and a Data Center TALNT recruiter specializing in nuclear construction will reach out within one business day.
