TITLE: Fuel Fabrication Engineer – Equipment Qualification and Testing

LOCATION: Everette, WA

TerraPower® is a nuclear energy technology company based in Bellevue, Washington. At our core, we are working to raise living standards globally. The essential factor? Energy. 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. 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. TerraPower is committed to bringing sustainable, affordable and safe energy to address global issues. 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.

TerraPower is seeking to contract with, via agency vendor 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. 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.

Fuel Fabrication Engineer – Equipment Qualification and Testing

TerraPower, LLC is seeking a highly motivated Fuel Fabrication Engineer to support the engineering efforts of the Injection Casting Development team. This role will work as part of a high functioning team of engineers focused on process development for nuclear fuel fabrication for sodium cooled fast reactors. You will be responsible for a wide range of process development and chemical analysis activities in a laboratory environment. A primary function of this role will be to act as custodian of laboratory equipment and samples, and to perform a wide range of analytical chemistry and characterization in support of the Natrium reactor design.

Responsibilities

• Perform a wide range laboratory-based research and development activities to support TerraPower initiatives, including the Natrium reactor
• Generate test reports documenting analytical chemistry and resulting data to document new knowledge related to fuel design and qualification
• Act as the custodian and expert operator of laboratory equipment (e.g., C/N/O analyzer, ICP-MS), developing procedures and training users to the procedures
• Perform characterization for a wide range of sample specimens
• Assist with the design, fabrication, and operation of custom laboratory experiments
• Safely handle radiological material samples in accordance with company processes and WA state law

Key Qualifications and Skills

• A B.S. degree; or an advanced degree with related experience, or equivalent experience. A degree in Materials Science/Engineering, chemistry, or a related technical discipline is desired.
• Demonstrated hands-on laboratory experience is required
• Lab management experience (e.g., maintaining spaces and/or equipment and training users) is preferred but not required
• Ability to work with minimum direction to solve challenging problems
• The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.
• 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/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 20 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%
• Job location: Onsite at the TerraPower Everett Laboratory
• Start date: Available to start work as early as December 2nd, 2024