Development and Prototyping Director

Job description

Do you want to contribute to the development of a new energy technology that can safely turn nuclear waste into emission-free energy? Are you excited about working in a hands-on deep tech start-up team that aims to make a huge impact? Do you like complex challenges? Then, we might be just the company you are looking for!

We are looking for a driven Development and Prototyping Director to join our innovative and international team.

About Thorizon

At Thorizon, we’re a passionate team of ~ 40 spread across Amsterdam and Lyon, all working together to develop nuclear power solutions. We design and create frontier technology for Molten Salt Reactors (MSR).

Our purpose is to accelerate the availability of clean energy and help solve the climate crisis.

We are in the development phase and aim to solidify our design through analyses, experiments, simulations, and partnerships. At Thorizon, we believe a strongly coupled multidisciplinary technology development requires a culture of full openness and transparency. That’s why we foster values like unity, communication, and support to ensure we grow together as a team while achieving our purpose.

Your mission

Are you passionate about validation of an R&D concept and making this concrete?

You will be in charge of Thorizon’s Development and Prototyping roadmap. As such, you will validate the Thorizon concept by implementing the roadmap, consisting of material characterisation, nuclear testing, component prototyping and establish and operate test facilities for validation, testing and qualification, including the realisation of a non-nuclear cartridge prototype. You get the unique opportunity to develop your ideas, explore many sides of the business, and have a crucial role in the company’s growth. This role is based in Lyon.

In this role you will

• Build the Development and Prototyping roadmap (DAP) in strong relation with Systems and Functions leads and the Safety team. You are a solution provider enabling them to validate their design ideas by experimental concrete data. You take into account comments from the regulators and participate to meeting with them. You are part of the Design Board chaired by COO and CTO and participate in Design decisions.


• Identify the external parties to perform the tests from the DAP and coordinate relationship with them. You own the associated budget and the contractual relationship. You maximize the (co-)financing opportunities by external support in strong relation with the CFO and the Chief of Staff.


• With the support of the Testing and Prototyping team you manage, you identify, design, build the internal equipment of the DAP. You own the associated budget. You run eventually the lab, prototyping and test facilities team (30 to 50 people before 2027). You are also in charge to identify optimal locations for the company to accommodate the program.


• With the Program team, you establish, manage and execute the Project Planning and achieve the results and goals expected.


• Reports to the CTO


• Are part of the extended MT

About you

• Master's degree in a technical, engineering or applied science discipline. 10 years experience in engineering with a strong focus on concrete experimentation. Having worked in nuclear environment is a strong plus.


• Strong organizational and multitasking abilities, with attention to people, planning, detail and quality.


• Delivery-oriented mindset. Having already managed a budget is a strong plus.


• You are an excellent communicator (clear is kind) in English and either French or Dutch, both spoken and written.


• You like working in an agile manner and are comfortable at the fast-moving pace of a technological scale-up.


• You have an intrinsic motivation to make a difference in the (nuclear) energy field.

What can you expect from us?

• Dynamic and ambitious team of nuclear technology professionals that are committed to solving today’s energy challenges.


• Unique experience in a fast-growing VC-backed deep tech start-up


• Opportunity to work on a game-changing technology that reduces our carbon footprint and nuclear waste streams.


• Competitive salary and an employee profit-sharing plan


• International work experience


• Office in the heart of Amsterdam or Lyon next to the Central station, including start-up vibes, office amenities, Thursday drinks and quarterly team events.

Does this sound like a match?

Thorizon takes responsibility to make our company more inclusive. We need all ideas to realize our mission and want everyone to feel welcome in our team.

We are looking forward to your application!