Nuclear Fuels Performance Engineer

TerraPower is a nuclear technology company based in Bellevue, Washington. At its core, the company is working to raise living standards globally through a more affordable, secure, and environmentally friendly form of nuclear energy along with innovations in medical isotopes to improve human health. In 2006, TerraPower originated with Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries who evaluated the fundamental challenges to raising living standards around the world. They recognized energy access was crucial to the health and economic well-being of communities and decided that the private sector needed to take action and create energy sources that would advance global energy deployment. TerraPower’s mission is to be a world leader in new nuclear technologies, while developing innovators and future leaders in the nuclear field. As a result, the company’s activities in the fields of nuclear energy and related sciences are yielding significant innovations in the safety and economics of nuclear power, hybrid energy and medical applications – all for significant human health benefits.”

TerraPower is seeking to hire highly motivated and forward-thinking professionals who are interested in focusing on advanced nuclear reactor research and development and influencing change within the nuclear power landscape and bringing forward the critical production of medical isotopes. TerraPower is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Nuclear Fuels Performance Engineer

TerraPower, LLC is seeking a highly motivated Nuclear Fuels Performance Engineer. In this role, you will support the nuclear fuel performance team.

Responsibilities

Perform thermo-mechanical analysis of fuel rods and other sodium fast reactor core components for: Core Design, Code Benchmarking and Validation, and Irradiation Testing (Design of Experiments and Post-Irradiation Examination analysis)

Interface with cross-functional groups to inform and resolve component and system design decisions

Document results of thermo-mechanical analyses in the form of engineering reports, engineering calculations, test plans, etc.

Design and execute sensitivity studies to understand the effects and validity of various modeling assumptions, including meshing, physics coupling, material models, and design tolerances

Support software and document reviews in areas of fuel performance modeling, fuel performance, or other areas of subject expertise

Build and apply methods to assess the propagation of uncertainty and their effect on safety margins, especially relative to irradiation test design

Enhance engineering team's ability to build models and make meaningful conclusions from simulation output through input tools, visualization, reports, etc.

Prepare test plans and documentation to support irradiation and performance testing of nuclear fuels.

Create formal documentation of nuclear fuels methods software requirements, design, implementation, and testing in support of licensing TerraPower reactors.

Update, improve, and/or create software to satisfy all licensing requirements during the Verification and Validation (V&V) process

Key Qualifications and Skills

Advanced degree in Nuclear, Mechanical, or Materials Engineering or equivalent and 4+ years of relevant experience preferred

Fast reactor physics and design intuition highly desired

Experience in understanding and executing nuclear design and analysis methodologies; ideally with a focus on fast-neutron reactors

Excellent knowledge of the methods of reactor physics analysis, finite element models, constitutive material models

Experience in performing design activities to applicable requirements such as NQA-1, ASME B&PV, AWS, 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, or equivalent

Experience using ABAQUS, ANSYS, COMSOL, MOOSE, or an equivalent FEA code

Proven ability to integrate and automate simulation tools

Strong programming skills in any language required. Preferred programming language experience with Python and Fortran

Demonstrable capabilities with fundamental software development tools (e.g. IDEs, version control, profilers, debuggers, documentation builders, packaging tools)

Experience interacting on nuclear methodology with the NRC under an ASME NQA-1 compliant QA environment preferred

Good working knowledge of general numerical methods and applied mathematics (e.g., PDEs, numerical stability, statistics, numerical analysis, dynamics)

Strong formal technical documentation skills required

Ability to consistently deliver to an aggressive schedule

Self-motivated: able to seek out tasks and produce value aligned with team goals without waiting for next assignment

Passion for and dedication to software best practices

Willingness to openly give and accept professional criticism through code reviews and other venues

Strong verbal communication skills desired

The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect, and a desire to foster teamwork

This position is subject to qualification requirements in accordance with ANSI/ANS 3.1. Candidates must meet the minimum education and experience criteria applicable to the role, including relevant nuclear industry experience where required. Verification of data will be part of the hiring process.

Job Functions:

Job Functions are physical actions and/or working conditions associated with the position. These functions may also constitute essential functions for the job which the employee must be able to fulfill, with or without accommodation. Information provided below is to help describe the job so that the applicant has a reasonable understanding of the job duties/expectations. An applicant's ability to perform and/or tolerate these actions and conditions will be discussed and workplace accommodations may be made on a case-by-case basis following an individualized assessment of the applicant and other considerations, including but not limited to any governing safety standards.

Motor Abilities: Sitting for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands)

Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 25 pounds.

Repetitive work: Prolonged

Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work

Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hours/day

Travel required 0-10%

TerraPower’s technology is controlled for export by various agencies of the U.S. Government. TerraPower must evaluate applicants who are foreign nationals (other than asylees, refugees, or lawful permanent residents) in accordance with U.S. Government export control requirements. To facilitate TerraPower’s export control reviews, you will be asked as part of the application process to identify whether you are a U.S. Citizen or national, asylee, refugee, or lawful permanent resident of the United States. Government export authorization approval times vary. Based on the business needs for a particular position, TerraPower may not consider a foreign national from a country if it is impracticable to obtain timely Government export approval.

Job details

Salary Range: $153,861 - $205,149

Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. This range is specific to Washington State.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

Competitive Compensation

Salary, eligible to participate in discretionary short-term incentive payments

Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits

Medical

Vision

Dental

Life and Disability

Gender Affirmation Benefits