Senior Engineering Technician (TPI)

The TerraPower Isotopes® (TPI™) division has been established to pursue medical isotopes development--advancing nuclear science for significant human health benefits. We seek to support revolutionary radiotherapies for treatments of various cancers through the supply of radioisotopes. TerraPower currently has unique access to a supply of thorium for the long-term production of actinium-225 in the growing alpha therapy market and intends to expand into other nuclear related medical treatments.

The TerraPower Isotopes program is an integral part of the Washington State based TerraPower team, a company working to raise living standards globally. In 2006, the company originated with Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries who evaluated the fundamental challenges to raising living standards around the world. TerraPower’s mission is to be a world leader in new nuclear technologies, while developing innovators and future leaders in the nuclear field.

TPI is seeking to hire highly motivated and forward-thinking professionals who are interested in focusing on advanced radiopharmaceutical applications and influencing change within nuclear medicine. 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. 

Senior Engineering Technician

The Senior Engineering Technician reports to the Manager, Equipment Services Engineering and serves as a senior technical resource and hands-on leader supporting the installation, troubleshooting, maintenance, and reliability of TPI's production equipment, and facility systems. The role supports a growing radiopharmaceutical manufacturing operation involving hot cells, gloveboxes, remote-handling equipment, instrumentation, utilities, and specialized systems operating under rigorous radiological safety and quality controls.

As TPI expands its production capabilities, this individual will play a key role in building and developing the equipment maintenance team, establishing effective maintenance practices, and improving equipment reliability. The successful candidate will combine extensive hands-on technical experience with strong troubleshooting skills, practical engineering judgment, and the ability to recruit, mentor, and lead technicians. This is an opportunity for an experienced technical professional to help shape a growing maintenance organization supporting the production of critical medical radioisotopes.

Responsibilities:

Equipment Maintenance and Technical Troubleshooting

• Lead and perform preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance on production and facility equipment, including hot cells, gloveboxes, manipulators, transfer systems, process equipment, instrumentation, and supporting utilities.
• Diagnose and resolve complex mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and instrumentation failures using systematic troubleshooting methods, technical drawings, and engineering principles.
• Coordinate equipment repairs, post-maintenance testing, and return-to-service activities to restore equipment safely and minimize production interruptions.

Team Leadership and Technical Development

• Support the recruitment, onboarding, qualification, and development of maintenance technicians as TPI expands its production and facility capabilities.
• Provide hands-on technical direction, coaching, and mentoring to technicians, building individual proficiency, sound troubleshooting practices, and a culture of accountability and teamwork.
• Lead daily maintenance activities, establish work priorities, and coordinate personnel and resources in collaboration with engineering, operations, and other supporting organizations.

Maintenance Program Development and Equipment Reliability

• Help establish and improve preventive maintenance programs, maintenance procedures, equipment records, work planning practices, and critical spare-parts strategies.
• Support equipment installation, commissioning, qualification, modifications, and technical improvements associated with facility expansion and production growth.
• Identify recurring equipment problems, participate in investigations and root-cause analyses, and implement improvements that strengthen equipment reliability, maintainability, and operational readiness.

Radiological Safety, Quality, and Operational Discipline

• Lead and perform maintenance activities in accordance with radiological protection requirements, ALARA principles, approved work controls, and applicable cGMP practices.
• Ensure maintenance activities are properly planned, executed, tested, and documented using approved procedures, work instructions, technical records, and quality requirements.
• Coordinate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Radiation Protection, and external service providers to ensure maintenance activities are safely controlled and effectively integrated with production requirements.

Key Qualification and Skills:

• Associate degree or equivalent postsecondary technical training in mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, electronics, or a related technical discipline. Equivalent combinations of relevant education, military training, and industrial experience will be considered.
• Ten or more years of industrial maintenance, equipment service, or test engineering. Nuclear or radiopharmaceutical experience is highly desired.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical leadership, mentoring technicians, coordinating maintenance activities, or leading small technical teams.
• Strong practical knowledge of mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, electromechanical, and instrumentation systems, including industrial controls and associated troubleshooting methods.
• Experience reading and interpreting mechanical drawings, electrical schematics, piping and instrumentation diagrams, equipment specifications, and technical manuals.
• Experience working in nuclear, radiopharmaceutical, radiological, or similarly demanding industrial environments is highly desirable. Experience with hot cells, gloveboxes, remote-handling systems, or radiological containment equipment is particularly valuable.
• Familiarity with preventive maintenance programs, maintenance planning, equipment reliability practices, and technical documentation systems.
• Experience working within regulated environments requiring disciplined conduct of work, controlled procedures, quality documentation, and rigorous safety practices is preferred.
• Ability to work safely in chemical and radiological environments, meet applicable training and qualification requirements, and use required personal protective equipment such as laboratory gloves, eye protection, and on-occasion Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs).
• Strong technical judgment, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively across engineering, operations, and technical teams.
• Willingness to support flexible work schedules, including occasional evenings or weekends, as necessary to meet production and facility needs.

The successful candidate will demonstrate high standards of safety, technical excellence, integrity, and teamwork, with the initiative and leadership ability to help build a capable, disciplined, and high-performing maintenance organization.

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 Isotopes' technology is controlled for export by various agencies of the U.S. Government.  TerraPower Isotopes 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 Isotopes may not consider a foreign national from a country if it is impracticable to obtain timely Government export approval.

Job details

Salary Range: $124,114 - $161,187

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
• Parental Leave
• 401k Plan
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • 21 days of annually accrued PTO
• Generous Holiday Schedule
  • 10 paid holidays
• Relocation Assistance
• Professional and Educational Support Opportunities

TerraPower Career and Benefits information: https://www.terrapower.com/careers/