Principal Engineer, Safety Analysis

TerraPower•Bellevue, WA

About The Position

TerraPower is hiring a Principal Safety Analysis Engineer to perform safety analyses for the Natrium Demonstration reactor and support design transient analysis, Structures, Systems and Components (SSC) classification, analytical model and method development, uncertainty quantification, and sensitivity calculations. The role reports to the Manager, Transient Safety Analysis. The engineer will develop system models and analyze anticipated operational occurrences, design-basis events, and design-basis accidents. The position also supports integration of Licensing Basis Event analyses into licensing documentation and project design, contributes to safety-method development and software capabilities, and documents models and analysis results. The role includes assessing relevant plant-transient benchmark tests and reviewing other engineering analyses and design deliverables. Candidates must meet applicable ANSI/ANS 3.1 qualification requirements. The role involves export-control eligibility review. Travel is estimated at 0–10%.

Requirements

B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in nuclear engineering or another relevant engineering discipline.
At least 5 years of experience in the nuclear field.
Extensive experience in nuclear transient safety analysis, nuclear reactor system modeling, Best Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) analysis, and/or computer code development.
Extensive experience with nuclear safety-analysis software such as RELAP5, TRACE, TRAC, SAS4A/SASSYS-1, GOTHIC, MELCOR, SAM, or other nuclear system analysis software.
Knowledge of nuclear systems thermal-hydraulic fundamentals, reactor dynamics, and transient phenomena.
Knowledge of nuclear reactor core physics, including neutron transport theory and reactivity feedback.
Knowledge of nuclear reactor instrumentation and control systems and their modeling in safety-analysis computer codes.
Familiarity with nuclear design, regulatory requirements, and risk-informed, performance-based technology guidance for non-light-water reactors.
Understanding of NQA-1 requirements associated with analysis and software management, and experience working under a quality assurance program.
Experience working in multidisciplinary engineering teams to address engineering challenges.
Demonstrated strong quantitative, analytical, modeling, and reporting skills.
Ability to meet the minimum education and experience criteria applicable to the role, including relevant nuclear-industry experience where required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with transient and accident analyses for NRC submittals, such as Chapter 15 of a Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR).
Familiarity with EMDAP and Regulatory Guide 1.203.
Experience with sodium fast reactor (SFR) safety analysis or methods.
Experience with other reactor designs, such as light-water reactors (LWRs), may be considered when differentiating candidates.
Strong software engineering skills in a language such as Python, Fortran, or C++.

Responsibilities

Develop system models and perform safety analyses of Anticipated Operational Occurrences (AOOs), Design Basis Events (DBEs), and Design Basis Accidents (DBAs) for the Natrium Demonstration reactor.
Work with cross-functional teams to establish core and reactor SSC functional, performance, safety, and quality requirements and support overall design.
Integrate NEI 18-04 Licensing Basis Event analyses and findings into licensing documentation and project design activities.
Contribute to safety-method development, including code assessment, scaling analysis, and code verification and validation.
Develop and maintain documentation of model development and analysis results.
Review other engineering analyses and design deliverables, including ASME design transients.
Assess plant-transient benchmark tests, identify tests applicable to the Natrium reactor, and perform benchmark calculations.
Contribute to implementation of capabilities for transient and accident analysis in TerraPower’s software framework.