Lead Engineer - Natrium Pump

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. 

Lead Engineer, Natrium Pump

The Lead Engineer, Natrium Pump reports to the Primary Heat Transport Manager and is focused on the design of the Primary Sodium Pump (PSP) and the Intermediate Sodium Pump (ISP). In this role, you will act as the design lead for sodium pumps, as well as contribute to the design of the primary heat transport system. This is an exciting role to direct the design and testing of the main heat transport pumps used in the Natrium Demonstration Project and comes with great responsibility. The successful candidate is one who takes ownership of the development of the PSP & ISP and utilizes a deep knowledge of pump hydraulic, mechanical, and motor design to drive technical issues to resolution. 

Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage technical requirements for the PSP & ISP. This responsibility will include preparing or reviewing the PSP & ISP design specifications and ensuring the correct application of ASME code rules to the design and fabrication of the component.
• Perform technical vendor oversight of PSP & ISP designer.
• Review and perform owners’ acceptance of vendor deliverables.
• Support the PSP & ISP design by performing thermal hydraulic or mechanical analyses using hand calculation or software-based methods.
• Lead design reviews for PSP & ISP.
• Assist with developing testing requirements, test specifications; provide technical oversight for testing related to the PSP & ISP.
• Work with other engineers on physical and fluid interface requirements and design.
• In addition to the role as Natrium Lead Pump Engineer, this engineer will occasionally support the primary heat transport system design by:
• Coordinating with other teams regarding the results of analyses, such as thermal, seismic, structural, pipe stress, heat transfer, and other analyses performed by others and integrate the results into plant design and operational decisions.
• Identify and ensure effective application of correct design codes into the design of plant systems such as ASME, ANS, ASTM, IEEE, NFPA, etc.
• Analyze and allocate regulatory criteria and standards to complex mechanical and process system design.
• Support planning efforts and maintain schedule adherence for design activities within a system, as well as their integration with an overall plant design delivery schedule.
• Interface with the design team to create and manage drawing packages of system designs, including but not limited to Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams (P&IDs), 3D models, and system interface drawings.
• Interface with design disciplines (such as mechanical, instrumentation and controls, civil, and nuclear) to identify and develop plant design information and specify system design and performance criteria.
• Establish and maintain system requirements and design basis documents for the primary heat transport system.
• Propose and initiate testing programs for plant system qualification, as needed.
• Provide Support and oversight during test execution, evaluation of test results, and reporting of test results.
• Generate design package for systems, sub-systems, and equipment designs including coordination of calculations, design reports, mechanical drawings, and engineering design specifications.
• Support licensing activities related to the Natrium demonstration project by assisting in the preparation of licensing submittals.

Key Qualifications and Skills

• B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline from an accredited university and 12+ years direct experience. Advanced degrees can be accepted in lieu of experience.
• Experience in centrifugal or axial pump design, preferably reactor coolant pump design.
• Experience applying ASME Section III Code design, preferably with rotating equipment.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience with pump testing or qualification programs.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience of electric motor operation and electromechanical concepts.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and presentation skills.
• Attention to detail and aspiration for technical excellence.
• Candidate must be a self-starter and possess ability to coordinate and lead a design team’s effort with minimal direction.
• Ability to handle projects that include many competing objectives and design constraints, with ability to resolve conflicts between objectives.
• Ability to work on simultaneous tasks that require a multi-disciplinary approach.
• Experience working to quality standards on design activities, such as ASME NQA-1.
• The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, able to communicate openly, and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.
• Actual position starting level will be determined based on assessment of qualifications.
• 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:$153,862 – $205,149

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/