Principal Engineer, Safety Analysis

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. 

Principal Engineer, Safety Analysis

Reporting to Manager, Transient Safety Analysis, the Principal Safety Analysis Engineer is primarily responsible for performing safety analyses of the Natrium Demonstration reactor, and support design transient analysis, Structures, Systems and Components (SSC) classification, development of analytical models and methods, as well as uncertainty quantification and sensitivity calculation.

Responsibilities

• Develop system models and perform safety analysis of Anticipated Operational Occurrence (AOO), Design Basis Event (DBE), and Design Basis Accident (DBA) for the Natrium Demonstration reactor.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to establish core and reactor SSC functional, performance, safety, and quality requirements as well as support the overall design.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate NEI 18-04 Licensing Basis Event (LBE) analyses and findings into licensing documentation and project design activities.
• Contribute to the safety method development, such as code assessment, scaling analysis, code verification and validation activities, etc.
• Develop and maintain documentation of model development and analysis results.
• Perform engineering reviews of other engineering analysis and design deliverables, such as ASME design transients
• Assess plant transient benchmark tests, identify applicable tests relevant to the Natrium reactor and perform benchmark calculations.
• Contribute to the TerraPower software framework implementation of capabilities required for transient and accident analysis.

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Extensive experience in nuclear transient safety analysis, nuclear reactor system modeling, Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) analysis and/or computer code development.
• Extensive experience with safety analysis software such as RELAP5, TRACE, TRAC, SAS4A/SASSYS-1, GOTHIC, MELCOR, SAM, or other nuclear system analysis software.
• Experience in transient and accident analysis for submittals to NRC, such as Chapter 15 in the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR), is highly desired.
• Knowledgeable of nuclear systems thermal-hydraulic fundamentals as well as reactor dynamics and transient phenomena.
• Knowledgeable of nuclear reactor core physics such as neutron transport theory and reactivity feedback.
• Knowledgeable of nuclear reactor instrumentation and control systems, and related modeling approaches in the safety analysis computer code.
• Familiarity with nuclear design, regulatory requirements, and risk-informed performance-based technology guidance for Non-Light Water Reactors is required.
• Familiarity with EMDAP and Regulatory Guide 1.203 is preferred.
• Experience with SFR safety analysis or methods is highly desirable. Experience with other reactor designs, such as Light Water Reactors (LWRs), can be considered when differentiating candidates.
• Demonstrated strong quantitative, analytical, modeling and reporting skills.
• Understanding NQA-1 requirements associated with analysis and software management as well as experience working under a quality assurance program.
• Experience in working in multi-disciplinary engineering teams to address engineering challenges.
• Strong software engineering skills in any language, such as Python, Fortran, or C++, is a plus.
• B.S., M.S. or Ph.D. in nuclear engineering, or other relevant engineering degree, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the nuclear field.
• 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: $151,994.00 - $197,395.00

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
• 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/contact-us/careers/