TITLE: Natrium Methods Qualification Lead

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.

Natrium Methods Qualification Lead

The Methods Qualification Lead is responsible for creating and overseeing the execution of plans to qualify methods for use in safety-related thermal hydraulic transient analysis. These plans will cover the elements described in NRC Regulatory Guide 1.203, with an emphasis on Element 2 (“Develop Assessment Base”) and Element 4 (“Assess Evaluation Model Adequacy”). The Methods Qualification Lead serves as the technical liaison between organizations at Natrium performing thermal hydraulic methodology development and test suppliers. They will ensure that sufficient test data is provided to close gaps in the validation and applicability bases, in a manner that balances Natrium project schedule, cost, and risk. This position reports to Natrium’s Director of Safety and Engineering Analysis.

Responsibilities

• Ensure procedural framework for use of software in design and analyses and test control are in accordance with TerraPower’s QA Program and associated procedures.
• Provide stakeholder review of engineering methodology documents pertaining to the validation and applicability basis of software used in safety analysis, to assist in identifying applicability basis gaps and support incorporation into test planning.
• Ensure the project maintains an up-to-date planning document to identify gaps in the validation bases of safety-related thermal hydraulic analyses, and how they will be addressed by separate effects, integral effects, component qualification or production, environmental qualification, hot functional, or initial criticality testing.
• Ensure that testing needs and requirements are approved to support development of experimental testing to provide data to complete the applicability basis and validation needs.
• Plan and support the development of engineering work pertaining to scaling, pre-test predictions, post-test analyses related to all verification of testing requirements.
• Review and owner accept any deliverable that affects implementation of test requirements related to facility design, commissioning, or test execution.
• Help to define and provide technical oversight for testing activities such as inspections or hold points related to verification of test design requirements. Provide technical oversight throughout the testing campaign to ensure data collected will meet validation needs.
• Support selection, procurement and qualification of applicable legacy test data.
• Lead planning and oversight of methodology adequacy assessment and uncertainty quantification activities.
• Support licensing engagements and review of licensing documents related to validation and applicability bases for safety-related thermal hydraulic analyses.

Key Qualifications and Skills

• M.S. or Ph.D. in nuclear engineering, or other relevant engineering degree, with at least 8 years of experience in the nuclear field.
• Knowledgeable in nuclear systems thermal-hydraulic, reactor dynamics, and transient phenomena.
• Significant experience with safety analysis codes such as SAS4A/SASSYS-1, GOTHIC, RELAP5, TRACE, MELCOR, MACCS, RADTRAD or similar.
• Experience applying the EMDAP process from RG 1.203 to methods development is required.
• Experience with SFR specific methods, analyses, and phenomena is desirable.
• Experience with CFD analyses is desirable.
• Experience planning, sponsoring, and overseeing methods validation experiments.
• Experience integrating multiple methodologies, such as a core subchannel methodology with a system transient methodology.
• Familiarity with nuclear design, regulatory requirements, and risk-informed performance-based technology guidance for Non-Light Water Reactors under Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.233 is desirable.
• Experience with NRC interactions and reviews is desirable.
• Demonstrated strong planning, coordination, and communication skills.
• Understanding of Appendix B to 10 CFR 50 and ASME NQA-1 requirements associated with analysis and software management as well as experience working under nuclear quality assurance programs.
• The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.

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/or 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 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 hrs./day
• Travel required: 0-5%

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: $163,702 - $226,844

Salary Range Level 13: $187,088 - $268,939

*Typically, our employee salaries are within .90 – 1.0 of the mid-point of the posted salary band. Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected individual’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
• 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

• Flexible Work Schedule

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

Please visit www.terrapower.com to apply