Senior Engineer, Thermal Hydraulic Test

TerraPower•Everett, WA

About The Position

TerraPower is seeking a Senior Thermal Hydraulic Test Engineer to design and conduct thermal-hydraulic tests supporting analysis for the Natrium Demonstration Plant. Reporting to the Manager of Thermal Hydraulic Testing, the successful candidate will support testing activities including planning, conducting tests, reviewing documents, engaging with external vendors, and generating documents. The role also involves thermal-hydraulic analysis, calculations, integration with other engineering groups, and code benchmarking and validation. The position is subject to qualification requirements in accordance with ANSI/ANS 3.1, including applicable education and experience criteria and relevant nuclear industry experience where required. Verification of data will be part of the hiring process. TerraPower is a nuclear technology company based in Bellevue, Washington. Its work includes advanced nuclear reactor research and development, nuclear energy and related sciences, hybrid energy, and medical isotope applications. The company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The role involves prolonged sitting and repetitive work, bending or stooping, grasping or gripping, fine motor control, visual- and audio-focused work, stairs, and typing or keyboard use. Physical exertion is minimal, with the ability to safely lift up to 25 pounds. The work may involve a standard and/or sitting work environment for more than eight hours per day. Travel is 0–10%.

Requirements

Master’s degree in an applicable field of engineering.
Strong thermal-hydraulic analytical skills, including one-dimensional hydraulic network analysis, system codes, and transient analysis.
Experience working in a laboratory environment.
Experience with post-processing and documenting experiments.
Ability to work with a multidisciplinary team of engineers.
Ability to handle projects with multiple objectives and resolve conflicts between objectives.
Ability to work on multiple tasks concurrently during a given work week.
Excellent writing and communication skills.
Safety-consciousness.
Ability to work with minimum direction to solve challenging research and development problems.
Trustworthiness and integrity, open communication, respect, and a desire to foster teamwork.
Meet applicable ANSI/ANS 3.1 education and experience qualification criteria, including relevant nuclear industry experience where required.

Nice To Haves

Three or more years of relevant experience in a testing or research and development environment.
Experience with multiple types of testing, including R&D, acceptance, validation, and qualification.

Responsibilities

Develop and apply thermal-hydraulic analysis methods, including steady-state and transient one-dimensional network hydraulic analyses.
Perform first-principles heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics calculations to support and validate analysis results.
Analyze reactor normal operations, upset events, emergency events, and faulted events as defined in ASME BPVC Section III to establish design, service, and test loadings and limits.
Perform multiscale and multidisciplinary neutronics and control analyses involving the thermal hydraulics of sodium, molten salt, and non-condensable fluids.
Integrate with engineering groups working on component, system, fuel, and control system design and related thermal-hydraulic testing.
Perform code benchmarking and validation analyses to support code qualification and methodology development.
Support thermal-hydraulic testing activities, including planning, testing, document review, engaging with external vendors, and generating documents.
Post-process and document experiments.