Manager, Fuel Fabrication

TerraPower.•Bellevue, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

TerraPower is a nuclear technology company focused on developing advanced nuclear reactors and innovations in medical isotopes. The company aims to raise global living standards through affordable, secure, and environmentally friendly nuclear energy. TerraPower is seeking highly motivated professionals interested in advanced nuclear reactor research and development and influencing change in the nuclear power landscape. The Fuel Fabrication Manager will oversee work scopes related to the fabrication of Natrium fuel, including facility construction, metallization of HALEU feedstock, and the fuel fabrication process. This role involves extensive interface with leadership and partners to ensure proper integration and on-time fuel load.

Requirements

10+ years of experience with B.S. degree in Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related field.
Strong preference for nuclear materials, metallurgy, or nuclear fuel cycle engineering.
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.
High degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly, and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.
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.

Nice To Haves

Relevant M.S. and Doctorate degrees may be credited for up to two or four years of experience respectively.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with testing and operations teams to ensure in-house laboratory and pilot-scale operations progress manufacturing maturity, including furnace casting, metallographic evaluation, sample preparation, and fuel material acceptance testing such as dimensional, chemical, and microstructural characterization.
Interface with reactor design, neutronics, thermal hydraulics, and safety analysis teams to ensure fuel material properties are adequately reflected in fuel fabrication efforts.
Serve as the engineering owner for fuel components from metal feedstock to final fuel assemblies.
Coordinate with Quality to ensure fuel fabrication deliverables meet quality requirements.
Serve as the TerraPower point of contact for NRC and/or DOE interactions related to fuel fabrication development, operations, supplier qualification activities, licensing, inspections, reportable events, and other topics.
Lead, mentor, and develop a team, with accountability for performance, goal setting, and career development.
Develop and execute staffing plans and succession strategies to support program scale-up and long-term operational continuity.
Maintain visibility on production status; identify and proactively mitigate schedule or quality risks across the supply chain.
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 or contractors for nuclear-grade component fabrication, including supplier qualification, source inspection, and NCR disposition.
Familiarity with engineering drawing standards, GD&T, material specifications (ASTM, ASME), and nuclear-grade procurement documentation requirements.
Support continuous learning and application of nuclear industry best practices to maintain the highest quality of engineering and proactively identify process change/enhancement opportunities.