Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Fuel

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.

Senior Manufacturing Engineer, Fuel

TerraPower is seeking a Fuel Manufacturing Engineer to join the Natrium Fuel Design and Supply team. The Fuel Manufacturing Engineer will perform work scopes for the fabrication of Natrium fuel, including the construction of the fabrication facility, metallization of HALEU feedstock for use in fuel fabrication, and the fuel fabrication process. The engineer will support process development, production readiness, technical document, supplier coordination, and quality driven execution for safety critical components.

Responsibilities

Develop processes, procedures, and scaling needed for full commercial scale and viability of fuel fabrication. Assess pre-production and qualification needs

Produce manufacturing related documentation to support planning and execution of hardware delivery

Lead non-conformance evaluations and corrective actions related to fuel fabrication

Review engineering drawings for manufacturability to ensure designs are optimized for supplier manufacturing processes to reduce complexity, cost, and cycle time

Coordinate and utilize input from engineering and project teams to procure and produce equipment and components.

Generate technical documents in support of purchase requisitions

Review and approve supplier technical submittals

Ensure vendor work complies with engineering drawing, specifications, safety, quality, and other requirements

Work within controlled quality environments supporting configuration management, material traceability, and nuclear safety culture expectations

Support continuous learning and application of nuclear industry best practices to maintain the highest quality of engineering design and proactively identify process change/enhancement opportunities.

Key Qualifications and Skills

B.S. degree in Mechanical engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Chemistry, Nuclear, or equivalent preferred

Minimum of seven years of manufacturing experience, with at least two years in fuel or fuel adjacent areas; relevant M.S. and Doctorate degrees may be credited for up to two or four years of experience respectively

Excellent writing and communication skills

Strong analytical/problem solving skills, creative thinker

Ability to work with minimum direction to solve challenging problems

Ability to work on multiple tasks concurrently during a given work week

Excellent attention to detail

The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly, and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork

The Ideal Candidate

Demonstrated technical expertise in metallic nuclear fuels, such as alloy casting process development or fuel material characterization, especially as it pertains to fast reactor metal fuel qualification

Experience managing or technically directing vendors for nuclear-grade component fabrication

Familiarity with engineering drawing standards, GD&T, material specifications, and nuclear-grade procurement documentation requirements

Experience in the nuclear industry and with core assemblies

Experience with nuclear industry manufacturing and operation, DOE and NRC regulations

Experience with developing manufacturing roadmaps from material to component to assembly with considerations for scalability

Experience with manufacturing methodology of first article productions and qualification

Experience with NQA-1 / QL-1 standards or other highly controlled production standards

Strong understanding of nuclear safety culture.

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: $138,685 - $208,027

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.

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/