Production Design Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

PNNL is seeking an experienced nuclear professional to support PNNL’s Tritium Technology Program Production Design task. The Production Design (PD) task is a large, multifaceted task that assures Tritium Producing Burnable Absorber Rods (TPBARs) are always ready and safe for irradiation in commercial nuclear reactors through NQA-1 level. The Production Design task is structured with seven sub-task leaders that oversee each of the major tasks and up to 50 engineers and scientists. In this role, the successful candidate is expected to work closely with the task manager and sub-task leads to: Successfully organize and execute TPBAR PD program activities Act as a delegate for the PD task manager as required Additional PD leadership responsibilities, as assigned Production Design task responsibilities include: Maintaining and improving the TPBAR design. This includes: Keeping a trained, certified PNNL workforce ready to support the TPBAR Updating a suite of calculations that demonstrate the TPBAR matches functional and design requirements. Creating and maintaining the package of TPBAR drawings and component specifications that are used by a variety of manufacturers to build components. Maintaining and improving the TPBAR component specifications ranging from raw material characteristics to mechanical property requirements. Preparing experimental test plans to verify and improve the TPBAR design. Working with vendors, fabricators, and commercial reactor staff to meet program needs. Communicating effectively between TPBAR stakeholders, including commercial nuclear reactor staff that irradiate TPBARs, manufacturers that supply components for TPBAR fabrication, the fuel vendor supplying the reactor, key TTP staff at PNNL, the Tritium Technology Program (TTP) leadership at PNNL, and the sponsor, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Assuring the accuracy and quality of the analytic methods going into PD analysis including nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, manufacturing engineering, thermal hydraulics, and safety analysis including Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) analysis. In this role, the candidate will be expected to gain experience and provide leadership with nuclear engineering analyses and in organizing NQA-1 tasks to assure program quality. Developing a comprehensive awareness of historical Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) and test activities, results, and conclusions. Attending meetings and traveling, including weekly TTP management meetings, traveling to NNSA-sponsored meetings, and traveling to TTP partners such as the reactor, fuel vendor, and manufacturers. Must be onsite at the Richland PNNL campus; remote work is not supported for this position.

Requirements

BS/BA and 7+ years of relevant experience OR MS/MA and 5+ years of relevant experience OR PhD with 3+ year of relevant experience
U.S. Citizenship
Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance
Ability to pass a Federal background investigation
Ability to pass pre-employment drug testing and post-employment random drug testing
Demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP)

Nice To Haves

Significant experience with nuclear engineering, manufacturing, and materials

Responsibilities

Successfully organize and execute TPBAR PD program activities
Act as a delegate for the PD task manager as required
Additional PD leadership responsibilities, as assigned
Maintaining and improving the TPBAR design
Keeping a trained, certified PNNL workforce ready to support the TPBAR
Updating a suite of calculations that demonstrate the TPBAR matches functional and design requirements
Creating and maintaining the package of TPBAR drawings and component specifications that are used by a variety of manufacturers to build components
Maintaining and improving the TPBAR component specifications ranging from raw material characteristics to mechanical property requirements
Preparing experimental test plans to verify and improve the TPBAR design
Working with vendors, fabricators, and commercial reactor staff to meet program needs
Communicating effectively between TPBAR stakeholders, including commercial nuclear reactor staff that irradiate TPBARs, manufacturers that supply components for TPBAR fabrication, the fuel vendor supplying the reactor, key TTP staff at PNNL, the Tritium Technology Program (TTP) leadership at PNNL, and the sponsor, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Assuring the accuracy and quality of the analytic methods going into PD analysis including nuclear engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, manufacturing engineering, thermal hydraulics, and safety analysis including Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) analysis
Gaining experience and providing leadership with nuclear engineering analyses and in organizing NQA-1 tasks to assure program quality
Developing a comprehensive awareness of historical Post Irradiation Examination (PIE) and test activities, results, and conclusions
Attending meetings and traveling, including weekly TTP management meetings, traveling to NNSA-sponsored meetings, and traveling to TTP partners such as the reactor, fuel vendor, and manufacturers