Senior Engineer, Core Thermal Hydraulics Methods and Analysis

TerraPower•Bellevue, WA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

TerraPower is a nuclear technology company focused on developing advanced nuclear reactors and medical isotopes. The Senior Engineer, Core Thermal Hydraulics Methods and Analysis will report to the Manager of Core Thermal Hydraulics Methods and Analysis. This role involves developing and applying thermal-hydraulic analysis methods, performing code validation, utilizing first-principles calculations, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to address reactor-core design challenges and support testing programs. The position requires providing technical recommendations through formal documentation and presentations, necessitating strong analytical skills, expertise with nuclear systems codes, and the ability to manage multiple complex tasks concurrently.

Requirements

Minimum of 6 years of related experience with Bachelor’s degree; or 3 years and a Master’s degree. PhD without commercial experience may be acceptable with relevant research or expertise.
Demonstrated ability to participate on a multi-disciplinary team of engineers.
Creative thinker with demonstrated strong analytical/problem solving skills.
Ability to work on multiple tasks concurrently during a given work week.
Excellent writing and communication skills.
High degree of trustworthiness and integrity, communicate openly and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.
Subject to qualification requirements in accordance with ANSI/ANS 3.1.
Meet the minimum education and experience criteria applicable to the role, including relevant nuclear industry experience where required.

Nice To Haves

Programming language proficiency in either python or C++.
Experience with a nuclear systems code, or subchannel analysis code (e.g. RELAP, SASSYS, GOTHIC, VIPRE-01).
Experience with analysis of nuclear reactor core subchannel analysis.
Experience with low Prandtl number heat transfer analysis.
Experience with high temperature thermal-fluid systems (e.g. sodium).

Responsibilities

Develop and apply thermal-hydraulic analysis methods, including steady state and transient one-dimensional network hydraulic analyses.
Perform computational analysis of in-core steady-state thermal hydraulic phenomena.
Conduct code benchmarking and validation analyses to support code qualification and methodology development.
Perform calculations using first principles of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics to support and validate analysis results.
Integrate with other engineering groups performing aspects of component, system, fuel, and control system analysis and related thermal-hydraulic testing.
Support development of testing programs needed for reactor core & components.
Support the technical decision to address the critical challenges in reactor core design.
Support the project planning and define the work scopes for the critical path of the project.
Work with cross-disciplinary teams to analyze the thermal and mechanical design considerations for the safety of the reactor and its components.
Provide technical presentations on analyses performed to the broader team.
Prepare informal and formal reports to document findings and make reasoned recommendations, and report to core thermal hydraulic team manager/lead.