Jason P.

About Jason P.

Principal Nuclear Engineer | Jason PottorfAs Principal Nuclear Engineer at Deep Fission, Jason Pottorf brings more than 25 years of leadership in safety-critical nuclear systems, with deep responsibility for instrumentation and controls (I&C) architecture, system safety analysis, and reactor licensing in highly regulated environments. His work has shaped first-of-a-kind nuclear technologies and licensing outcomes that set precedents for the broader industry.Jason’s expertise spans probabilistic risk assessment, system safety analysis, and the design and licensing of advanced safety instrumentation and digital reactor protection systems. He has led or contributed to I&C safety architecture and licensing efforts for multiple advanced reactor and nuclear facility programs, including NuScale Power, SHINE Technologies, X-Energy, and Kairos Power. His experience includes both commercial nuclear plant operations and next-generation reactor development, grounding his work in practical operational realities as well as forward-looking system design.A defining achievement of Jason’s career is his role as a co-inventor of the Highly Integrated Protection System (HIPS), a novel digital reactor protection system. The associated Topical Report received the fastest approval by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission for a new digital reactor protection system—an uncommon distinction that underscores both the technical rigor and regulatory credibility of the work. Jason is a named inventor on the HIPS patent, and his contributions have helped establish new pathways for licensing modern digital safety systems in nuclear applications.Earlier in his career, Jason served as Engineering Director at Paragon Energy Solutions and as a Nuclear Engineer at the Wolf Creek Nuclear Generating Station, giving him direct exposure to both system-level leadership and plant-based operations. He is a licensed Professional Nuclear Engineer in the state of Kansas and holds both B.S. and M.S. degrees in Nuclear Engineering from Kansas State University. His work reflects a system-level perspective focused on safety, licensability, and dependable performance in high-consequence nuclear environments.

Experience

1. Director, Thermal Hydraulics

   Deep Fission

   Apr 2026 — Present · KS, US

Education

• Kansas State University

  M.S., Nuclear Engineering

  1999 — 2001

• Kansas State University

  B.S., Nuclear Engineering

  1993 — 1999