Chemist - Decommissioning & Waste Management

Job Description Overview

We are seeking an experienced Chemist - Decommissioning & Waste Management to support nuclear waste management, decommissioning, remediation, and environmental monitoring activities within highly regulated nuclear environments. The successful candidate will bring experience in radioactive waste characterization, environmental and process chemistry, waste treatment support, radiological assessments, analytical testing, and technical evaluations associated with nuclear operations and decommissioning projects. The ideal candidate is a technically capable chemist with practical experience supporting nuclear operations, radioactive waste management, environmental monitoring, or decommissioning programs. They possess strong analytical skills, a commitment to procedural compliance and safety, and the ability to generate reliable technical data and recommendations that support safe, compliant, and efficient project execution. The successful candidate works effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team and is comfortable supporting activities in office, laboratory, and field environments as required. The role will involve supporting waste management and decommissioning programs through technical analysis, data interpretation, preparation of technical documentation, and collaboration with engineering, operations, radiation protection, environmental, and waste management personnel. The successful candidate will contribute to the safe, compliant, and efficient execution of nuclear projects while maintaining a strong commitment to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship.

Your role

• Support radioactive waste management, decommissioning, remediation, and environmental monitoring programs through the application of chemistry principles and established procedures.
• Evaluate chemical and radiological data to support waste characterization, classification, treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal activities.
• Perform data validation, trending, interpretation, and technical assessments for waste management and decommissioning projects.
• Prepare technical calculations, reports, waste profiles, characterization summaries, and supporting documentation.
• Support development and revision of technical procedures, work instructions, specifications, and quality-related documentation.
• Provide chemistry-related technical support to engineering, operations, radiation protection, environmental, and waste management personnel.
• Support waste processing, decontamination, and treatment activities through technical evaluations and process chemistry assessments.
• Investigate abnormal results, process issues, and chemistry-related operational challenges and recommend corrective actions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable nuclear safety, radiation protection, environmental, and quality assurance requirements.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to waste management, environmental stewardship, and decommissioning activities.

May Also Include:

• Collection of environmental, process, and waste samples in accordance with approved sampling plans and procedures.
• Performance of laboratory analyses using chemical, radiological, and environmental testing methods.
• Operation, calibration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of laboratory and field analytical instrumentation.
• Support for contamination surveys, environmental monitoring programs, and field characterization campaigns.
• Working in active industrial, radiological, and decommissioning environments, including the use of personal protective equipment and radiological protection controls.
• Support for outage, field execution, and waste retrieval activities as required by project needs.

About you

• Diploma or Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Technology, Environmental Science, Nuclear Science, or a related discipline.
• Professional Chemist (P.Chem.) designation considered an asset.
• Advanced degrees may be beneficial but are not required.
• Eligibility to work within a CNSC-regulated nuclear environment.
• Radiation Worker training and nuclear industry qualifications considered an asset.

Required Experience:

• Minimum 5 to 10 years of experience in a nuclear, radiological, environmental, industrial, or analytical laboratory environment.
• Experience performing chemical and/or radiological analyses using standard laboratory techniques and instrumentation.
• Experience preparing technical reports, laboratory records, specifications, and supporting project documentation.
• Demonstrated experience supporting radioactive waste management, environmental monitoring, contamination control, analytical chemistry, or decommissioning activities.
• Knowledge of sample collection practices, chain-of-custody requirements, and analytical quality control programs.
• Knowledge of waste characterization, waste routes, and lifecycle waste management principles.
• Strong understanding of nuclear safety principles, radiological controls, and regulatory requirements.
• Familiarity with nuclear quality assurance requirements and procedural compliance.
• Ability to interpret analytical data and communicate technical findings effectively.
• Proven ability to work safely and effectively within industrial, laboratory, or radiological environments.

Desired Experience:

• Radioactive waste characterization and classification.
• Tritium analysis and liquid scintillation counting.
• Gamma spectroscopy and radiochemical analysis.
• Environmental monitoring and remediation programs.
• Waste treatment, decontamination, and process chemistry.
• Reactor operations, refurbishment, or decommissioning programs.
• Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Analytical method development, validation, and quality control programs.
• Waste disposability assessments and waste acceptance criteria.

Professional Skills:

• Strong technical and analytical problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to communicate complex technical information clearly and effectively.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to procedural compliance.
• Commitment to safety, quality, and environmental stewardship.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement and professional development.
• Sound organizational and time-management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Rewards & benefits

• Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at AtkinsRéalis in Canada.
• Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a brilliant range of flexible benefits you can tailor to your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs.
• Make the most of diverse opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise.
• Take advantage of our hybrid working culture and generous time-off policies to balance a fulfilling career with your personal life.
• Be rewarded.

About AtkinsRéalis We're AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We're committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Additional information AtkinsRéalis cares about your privacy. AtkinsRéalis and other subsidiary or affiliated companies of AtkinsRéalis (referred to throughout as “AtkinsRéalis”) are committed to protecting your privacy. Please consult our Privacy Notice on our Careers site to know more about how we collect, use, and transfer your Personal Data. By submitting your personal information to AtkinsRéalis, you confirm that you have read and accept our Privacy Notice. Appropriate accommodation will be provided upon request throughout the recruitment and hiring process as required by Company policy and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Successful applicants will be notified about AtkinsRéalis’ accommodation policies at the time the employment offer is extended, and the information will be shared with new personnel during the onboarding process.

Worker Type Employee Job Type Regular At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives.

We strongly believe that world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.

Created by the integration of long-standing organizations dating back to 1911, AtkinsRéalis is a world-class engineering services and nuclear company dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and people. We create sustainable solutions that connect people, data and technology to transform the world's infrastructure and energy systems. We deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital. The breadth and depth of our capabilities are delivered to clients in strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear and Capital.

News and information are available at Atkinsrealis or follow us on LinkedIn.