Senior Engineer - Risk Informed Design and Safeguards

Bellevue, Washington, USA

21 days ago

TerraPower

TITLE: Senior Engineer – Risk-Informed Design and Safeguards

LOCATION: Bellevue, WA

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. In addition, as a federal contractor, TerraPower has instituted an Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) in an effort to proactively recruit, hire, and promote women, minorities, disabled persons and veterans.

Senior Engineer – Risk-Informed Design and Safeguards

TerraPower’s Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR) project is seeking a motivated and experienced Senior Engineer for Safeguards. MCFR is commercializing the technology to operate a fast-spectrum, chloride salt cooled molten salt reactor. TerraPower and its partners are building on the foundation of the MCFR technology development program, including chloride salt separate effects tests, the MCFR Integrated Effects Test (IET), and the progress on the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) project.

The material fuel form and operational modes of a fast-spectrum, molten salt reactor, such as the MCFR, are outside the basis of established safeguards approaches. The material in a MCFR plant is continuously flowing and continuously changing composition due to breeding, depletion, and fuel salt polishing. Traditional item accounting is not possible for MCFR reactors because the fuel salt is not quantized in discrete form. In this role, you will address these inherent challenges and leverage new opportunities in support of the development of domestic and international safeguards and non-proliferation approaches for the MCFR technology.

Natrium is seeking a highly motivated Senior Engineer for the Risk-Informed Design (RID) team. In this role, you will be part of our dynamic team focused on implementing the NEI 18-04 methodology for non-light water reactor (non-LWR) design and licensing basis development. Supporting the Manager of Risk-Informed Design, the Senior Engineer will play a crucial role in technical oversight, analysis, and coordination activities to ensure the safe and efficient deployment of advanced nuclear technologies.

Responsibilities:

1. Risk-Informed Design

• Implement NEI 18-04 methodology for non-light water reactor (non-LWR) design activities.

• Develop, review, and approve design basis documents in alignment with NEI 18-04 guidelines and regulatory requirements.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate risk-informed analyses and findings into project design activities.

• Monitor regulatory developments and industry trends, identifying opportunities for process improvements.

• Prepare technical presentations and reports on NEI 18-04 methodologies, analysis results, and compliance status.

2. Safeguards and Non-Proliferation

• Identify potential safeguards and non-proliferation challenges for MCFR plants.

• Develop strategies to prevent the diversion or misuse of nuclear material within MCFR plants, leveraging emerging scientific and technical capabilities.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop a material control and accountability (MC&A) approach for MCFR plants.

• Integrate safeguards-by-design (SBD) and security-by-design (SeBD) principles into the early-stage design and operation of MCFR demonstration reactors.

• Advocate for safeguards and non-proliferation requirements within MCFR design activities and educate team members on these considerations.

• Support the

• Support the creation of next-generation safeguards concepts, instrumentation, and technologies for advanced reactors.

3. Team Collaboration and Development

• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary engineering teams to address technical challenges.

• Participate in training programs and workshops to enhance understanding of risk-informed design and safeguards methodologies.

• Assist in growing a multi-disciplinary team to support safeguards and licensing activities for MCFR technology.

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Science, or a related technical field is required. A Master’s or Ph.D. is preferred.

• Minimum of 6 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree, or 3 years with a Master’s degree, with a strong background in risk analysis, licensing activities, domestic and/or international safeguards, and regulatory compliance.

• Demonstrated proficiency in risk assessments, probabilistic risk assessments (PRA), safety analyses, and safeguards methodologies.

• Familiarity with domestic and international safeguards, including material balance areas (MBA) and Materials Control and Accounting (MC&A) programs.

• Strong understanding of regulatory requirements and standards relevant to nuclear safety and licensing (e.g., NRC regulations, ASME codes, NQA-1).

• Experience with safeguards for bulk-handling facilities and approaches to enhance the proliferation resistance of the nuclear fuel cycle.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical information effectively to diverse audiences.

• Proven ability to work collaboratively in cross-functional teams, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.

• Commitment to safety, quality, and continuous improvement.

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

• Experience in working in multi-disciplinary engineering teams to address engineering challenges

• Actual position starting level and title will be determined based on assessment of qualifications

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 and standing for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands).

• Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 50 pounds.

• Repetitive work: Prolonged.

• Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work and ability to perform role in personal protective equipment.

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

• Travel required: 10-20%

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 Level 12: $169,922 - $235,464

Salary Range Level 13: $194,197 - $279,158

*Typically, our employee salaries are within .90 – 1.0 of the mid-point of the posted salary bands. 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.

Benefits:

• Competitive Compensation

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

• Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits Medical

o Vision

o Dental

o Life

o Life and Disability

o Gender Affirmation Benefits

o Parental Leave

• 401k Plan

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)