Plant Manager

General Matter, Inc. is an American nuclear energy company based in California that is focused on developing domestic nuclear energy solutions. The company aims to harness nuclear technology to increase national energy prosperity, reduce dependence on foreign energy sources, and support the expansion of American capabilities in the energy sector. Their work centers on making nuclear energy more accessible and practical by advancing technologies that can be developed and deployed within the United States. General Matter's mission is rooted in the belief that nuclear power represents a critical pathway toward a cleaner, more energy-independent future. By turning domestic nuclear potential into operational reality, the company positions itself at the intersection of national security, economic growth, and climate-conscious energy production. Their approach emphasizes building nuclear energy infrastructure that is homegrown rather than reliant on foreign supply chains or expertise. The company brings together leaders from nuclear engineering, technology, government, and finance, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to solving the complex challenges of modern nuclear energy development. As a startup operating in the green and climate technology sector, General Matter represents a new wave of private investment in nuclear energy as a viable and scalable low-carbon power source for the United States.

About the Company

General Matter is enriching uranium in America.

Our goal is to design, build, and operate the world’s lowest-cost enrichment services in the United States. 

Our mission is to restore America’s ability to produce nuclear fuel—fuel that will power AI, advanced manufacturing, critical industries, and the next generation of nuclear reactors.

Ultimately, our work will help power national ambitions and enable a high-energy society.

We were incubated by Founders Fund, like Anduril and Palantir before us, and are backed by top-tier investors. Our lean, world-class team of engineers and operators is applying a first-principles approach to solving the problem of nuclear fuel production. 

We are a mission-driven company with a culture of urgency, accountability, and transparency.

Help us build a high-energy society by making the cleanest, safest form of baseload energy the most affordable.

About This Role 

As Plant Manager, you'll build and lead General Matter's Paducah site from the ground up — standing up the plant, staffing and training the organization, and then running full site operations once the facility is live. You'll oversee commissioning and acceptance, operations, maintenance, engineering, regulatory, and business functions at the site, report directly to the Head of Nuclear Operations, and serve as the primary interface between Paducah and corporate leadership. 

Responsibilities 

• Lead site readiness efforts to bring the Paducah plant online, including staffing, training, and organizational build-out 

• Build, develop, and manage the site leadership team and broader plant workforce, including effective on-going talent management and development strategies. 

• Set the site's operational culture, establishing sustainable standards of excellence for safety, accountability, and performance through effective team leadership, team alignment, workforce engagement and on-going performance monitoring activities 

• Ensure effective transition from construction through execution of commissioning and acceptance activities and Operational Readiness Reviews to support authorization for operations from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

• Oversee day-to-day operations, maintenance, engineering, regulatory, and business functions once the plant is running 

• Ensure the plant operates safely and in compliance with all applicable NRC, DOE, OSHA and other required regulatory requirements 

• Establish business strategies and plans that achieve site performance targets for production, safety, quality and financial performance. 

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and proactive communication strategies with external stakeholders, including regulators, customers, community stakeholders, and site visitors as needed 

• Serve as the primary point of contact between the Paducah site and corporate leadership, ensuring alignment on priorities, resourcing, and performance 

Basic Qualifications 

• BS/BA in science, engineering, or a technical field 

• 15+ years of overall experience, including significant experience in senior plant leadership (e.g., Plant Manager, Site Vice President or Director, Operations Director, or equivalent) 

• 5 years of management experience in the nuclear industry and/or a nuclear-related field or 10 years in other highly regulated industrial environments (e.g., semiconductor, chemical/refining, defense manufacturing) also considered 

• Demonstrated ability to build and lead teams and set organizational culture at scale 

• Strong track record of interfacing effectively with workers, regulators, customers, local community stakeholders and corporate/executive leadership 

• Ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance and access authorization 

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to operate across technical, regulatory, and business audiences 

Preferred Skills and Experience 

• Prior nuclear industry experience, particularly at an enrichment, fuel fabrication, or other NRC/DOE-licensed facility 

• Experience standing up a new facility or bringing a plant from construction/startup into operations 

• Experience operating in a fast-paced, resource-constrained, or startup environment 

• Advanced degree in engineering, business, or a related field 

Additional Requirements 

Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary. 

Equal Opportunity Employer 

General Matter is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with General Matter is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status. 

Compensation and Benefits 

The base salary range for this role is $220,000–$280,000 annually.

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. Please note that the stated salary range is an estimate and may be adjusted based on market conditions, business needs, or other factors. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of stock options, and access to medical, vision & dental coverage as well as access to a 401(k) retirement plan.