TITLE:                   Functional Containment and Radionuclide Transport Engineer

LOCATION:          Bellevue, WA, USA         

 
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.

Functional Containment and Radionuclide Transport Engineer

The Functional Containment and Radionuclide Transport Engineer is responsible for performing radionuclide transport calculations within systems and buildings to support effluent releases and to develop mechanistic source terms for postulated accidents (equivalent to Level-2 PRA). They will work directly with other nuclear safety and licensing staff to ensure technical and regulatory requirements for nuclear safety and worker protection are met. Other engineering activities include, but are not limited to, contributing to the development of computational methodologies and models, contributing to software commercial grade dedication, participating in hazard analysis, participating to Phenomena Identification and Ranking Table (PIRT) exercises, participating to Structures, Systems and Components (SSC) classification, developing analytical methods, as well as performing verification and validation activities. 

Responsibilities

• Develops analytical models for quantification of radiological source terms in the gaseous and liquid effluents during normal operation and anticipated operational occurrences
• Develops analytical models for ex-core radionuclide sources such as radwaste systems, spent fuel, and auxiliary purification systems.
• Supports the development of mechanistic (accident) source term methods for postulated accidents
• Develop analytical models for containment performance including mass and energy release and subsequent leak rates
• Provide inputs to radiological consequence models
• Perform technical work to support regulatory submittals and NRC interactions
• Support establishment of overall functional containment strategy to meet risk-informed performance-based effluent and accidental releases including development of Specified Acceptable Radionuclide Release Design Limits
• Work with an interdisciplinary team of engineers to establish functional, reliability, performance, safety, and quality requirements for SSC that support the radionuclide containment function as well as support the overall design.
• Establish and maintain documentation of model development and analysis results.
• Perform engineering reviews of analyses and other engineering design media.
• Potential to support analysis and recommend design solutions for worker radiological protection including control room habitability
• Potential to perform radiological dose assessments to support the ALARA program

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Experience with performing containment analysis and radionuclide transport assessments using codes such as GOTHIC, MELCOR, RADTRAD, SRT, or similar tools is required.
• Familiarity with functional containment approach is a plus
• Familiarity with nuclear design, regulatory requirements, and risk-informed performance-based technology guidance is required.
• Knowledgeable of PRA principles and familiar with the ASME/ANS Non-Light Water PRA standard a plus
• Experience with SFR safety analysis is highly desirable. Experience with other reactor designs can be considered when differentiating candidates.
• Demonstrated strong quantitative, analytical, modeling and reporting skills.
• Understanding of NQA-1 requirements associated with analysis and software management as well as experience working under a quality assurance programs.
• Experience in working in multi-disciplinary engineering teams to address engineering challenges.
• Strong software engineering skills in any language is a plus.
• The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork. 
• An advanced degree in nuclear engineering, or other relevant engineering degree, with at least 3 years of experience in the nuclear field.

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 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 11:  $120,672  - $201,119

*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