Sodium Pump Lead Engineer

Zap Energy • Everett, WA

2d

About The Position

Zap Energy is seeking a Sodium Pump Lead to support the Zap Modular Reactor (ZMR) program. The role is part of an integrated project team delivering a liquid metal-cooled fission reactor in support of Zap's integrated nuclear mission. The engineer will work with the high-temperature reactor and liquid metal cooling teams and address ill-defined, first-of-a-kind problems. Success requires strong teamwork.

The position leads design of primary and intermediate sodium pumps for experiments and the ZMR, develops pump performance envelopes used in plant analysis and safety analysis, and designs and qualifies liquid metal test loops. It also involves supplier collaboration, regulatory documentation and support, sodium-handling procedures and safety planning, and work within a graded quality assurance program. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer. Employment may be conditioned upon the ability to obtain export authorization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, or a related field from an ABET-accredited program.
• At least 8 years of experience in engineering and delivery of turbomachinery or complex systems, including nuclear reactors, flight vehicles, or industrial plants.
• Expertise in pump design and analysis according to ASME Codes & Standards.
• Expertise with ANSYS.
• Strong understanding of pump hydraulics, pump curves, and rotating equipment performance principles.
• Excellent technical writing skills and ability to clearly present complex information to internal and external stakeholders, including regulators.
• Currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with advanced non-water-cooled nuclear reactors or moving magnet pumps, annular linear induction pumps, or centrifugal pumps.
• Working experience with ASME BPVC Section III Division 5.
• Knowledge of modern software engineering practices and programming languages such as Python.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience with NQA-1.

Responsibilities

• Own the design of primary and intermediate sodium pumps, both small and large, for experiments and the ZMR.
• Perform first-principles calculations and CFD/FEA as needed.
• Develop pump performance envelopes for plant analysts, including pump coastdown and transition to natural circulation, as an input to safety analysis.
• Design, build, and commission liquid metal test loops to test and validate pumps.
• Run qualification test campaigns, measure pump curves and efficiency, and conduct endurance testing; use results to inform models and design changes.
• Work with suppliers on fabrication, inspection, cleaning, and acceptance testing of pump assemblies and loop components.
• Produce design documentation, requirements traceability, and verification and validation evidence for regulatory engagement, and support pre-application interactions.
• Write and maintain sodium-handling procedures and contribute to hazard analyses and emergency response planning.
• Perform work within a graded quality assurance program and identify and implement appropriately scaled solutions to improve execution efficiency, particularly for cross-organizational quality assurance functions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior