RAC Integrated Analysis Senior Engineer

TerraPower LLC.•Bellevue, WA

5d•$138,685 - $208,027•Onsite

About The Position

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 company’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. RAC Integrated Analysis Senior Engineer TerraPower, LLC. is seeking a Lead Engineer supporting the Natrium Demonstration Project. This role will support the ongoing design and delivery of the Natrium Reactor Air Cooling System (RAC). The Reactor Air Cooling System uses natural convection to continuously remove heat, providing a passive, always‑on way to keep the reactor safely cooled without relying on pumps or operator actions. The RAC Integrated Analysis Senior Engineer should have expert knowledge of thermal-hydraulic modeling, model scaling, prototype testing, and model validation. This role will champion and drive completion of the integrated Natrium decay heat removal analysis, including analysis, testing, verification, and validation of the complete decay heat removal scenario. You’ll collaborate with project managers, design engineers, analysts, test engineers, and other engineering specialties in a high-performing, multi-disciplinary environment to deliver the Natrium Reactor Air Cooling System. Join us in this high impact role to help advance a first-of-a-kind nuclear reactor towards commercial development.

Requirements

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering or related discipline from an accredited university
10+ years of relevant experience
Demonstrated experience in thermal-hydraulic / thermal fluid modeling, scaling, testing, and validation
Experience working to quality standards on design activities, such as ASME NQA-1 or ISO 9001.
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 work within a design team 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.
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.

Nice To Haves

Experience Level may be partially substituted for advanced degree depending on position relevance
Demonstrated experience in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools (e.g. Fluent, Star-CCM+) or transient safety analysis tools (e.g. RELAP5-3D, GOTHIC) is preferred but not required
Previous experience with nuclear reactors or similar technologies is highly desired.
Professional engineering licensure is desired but not required for this position.
Experience in originating and developing technical documentation to support system architecture is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee development and execution of thermal hydraulics analyses for reactor systems, including: Steady-state and transient system behavior, Accident and off-normal condition evaluation, Core thermal margins and safety limits
Establish and maintain the thermal hydraulics analysis basis, including assumptions, methodologies, and acceptance criteria.
Establish analysis criteria, including: regulatory criteria, regulatory standards, functional criteria, performance criteria, and failure mode and effects.
Serve as the central integrator of thermal hydraulics results across internal engineering teams, suppliers, national labs, and research partners
Ensure consistency of boundary conditions, inputs, and assumptions across models and organizations.
Drive alignment across multidisciplinary engineering teams (nuclear, thermal hydraulic, mechanical, instrumentation and controls, civil-structural) to define and refine system requirements
Prepare complete analysis packages, addressing all relevant phenomena to ensure nuclear safety
Perform independent verifications of models and software tools, develop multi-disciplinary margin evaluations, lead and author topical reports for licensing applications, and integrate testing and other validation methods into system fluid thermal models
Manage technical interfaces with suppliers, including review and verification of deliverables.
Prepare engineering change packages including calculations, design reports, design drawings, and design specifications
Promote continuous learning and application of nuclear industry best practices
Interface with and support licensing activities needed to obtain both the construction and operating licenses for the reactor systems
Participate in project design reviews at project milestones and periodic assessment points to verify compliance and completeness of design.
Provide subject matter expertise on fluid flow, heat transfer, and reactor system response.