Chief Nuclear Engineer

TITLE:Chief Nuclear Engineer

LOCATION:Bellevue, Washington, USA

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 private sector needed to take action and create energy sources that would advance global energy deployment. TerraPower’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. In addition, as a federal contractor, TerraPower has instituted an Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) in an effort to proactively recruit, hire, and promote women, minorities, disabled persons and veterans.

Chief Nuclear Engineer (CNE)

TerraPower is seeking a Chief Nuclear Engineer who provides comprehensive technical oversight and strategic direction for all engineering activities across the Natrium program, ensuring seamless integration of multi-disciplinary engineering efforts and maintaining the highest standards of technical excellence in Natrium reactor development and deployment. This position will work closely with other Natrium leadership and will report directly to the Natrium SVP.

Responsibilities

- Design Authority:

o Serves as the overall design authority for the Natrium technology

o Develop and maintain design authority capability

o Set and maintain the standard of excellence for nuclear safety in engineered products, processes and people.

- Strategic Leadership:

o Establish and maintain technical strategies in partnership with project leadership

o Represent engineering disciplines in decision-making and change control processes

o Drive integration and coordination across all engineering disciplines

o Provide senior level consulting support to multiple project design completion efforts and product development activities

o Provide technical advisement to TerraPower executive staff

- Technical Oversight:

o Provide comprehensive technical oversight across all engineering disciplines including mechanical, electrical, I&C, structural, nuclear, systems, and civil engineering

o Ensure technical consistency and integration across all engineering deliverables

o Approve highly cross-functional technical deliverables and resolve technical conflicts between disciplines

o Establish and maintain a network of subject matter experts across all engineering disciplines

o Develop and lead process for technical difference of opinion and arbitration

o Guide resolution of complex technical issues and risks critical to project success

- Team Management:

o Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Chief Engineers to provide design authority functions across all natrium technology areas with emphasis on nuclear safety, design product quality, and timeliness of delivery

o Foster collaboration and effective communication between engineering disciplines

o Coordinate resource allocation and workload balancing for Chief Engineers

- Stakeholder Management:

o Represents TerraPower in senior technical capacity facing significant external stakeholders such NRC, utilities, and major technology suppliers.

o Support licensing activities and regulatory interactions for all engineering disciplines

Key Qualifications and Skills

- Education and Experience:

o B.S. or higher in engineering from an accredited university (advanced degree preferred)

o Minimum 20 years of progressive engineering experience in the commercial nuclear power industry

o At least 10 years in senior engineering management roles with personnel responsibilities

- Technical Expertise:

o Comprehensive understanding of nuclear plant construction, commissioning, and operations

o Advanced knowledge of nuclear quality programs, design control, and configuration management

o Experience with new plant construction efforts, preferably including advanced reactor technologies

o Familiarity with the Licensing Modernization Project (LMP, NEI 18-04) framework

o Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and NRC interaction processes

o Experience with plant delivery and construction management interfaces

- Personal Attributes:

o High degree of trust, integrity, and professional ethics

o Exceptional communication skills with ability to interface effectively at all organizational levels

o Strong decision-making capabilities with sound technical and business judgment

o Ability to foster teamwork and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups

o Commitment to safety culture and technical excellence

o Strategic mindset with ability to balance long-term vision with near-term execution

o Results-oriented with strong accountability for deliverables

Job Functions

Job Functions are physical actions and/or working conditions associated with the position. These functions may also constitute essential functions for the job which the employee must be able to fulfill, with or without accommodation. Information provided below is to help describe the job so that the applicant has a reasonable understanding of the job duties/expectations. An applicant's ability to perform and/or tolerate these actions and conditions will be discussed and workplace accommodations may be made on a case-by-case basis following an individualized assessment of the applicant and other considerations, including but not limited to any governing safety standards.

- Motor Abilities: Sitting for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands)

- Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 25 pounds

- Repetitive work: Prolonged

- Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work

- Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day

- Travel required 5-10%

TerraPower’s technology is controlled for export by various agencies of the U.S. Government. TerraPower must evaluate applicants who are foreign nationals (other than asylees, refugees, or lawful permanent residents) in accordance with U.S. Government export control requirements. To facilitate TerraPower’s export control reviews, you will be asked as part of the application process to identify whether you are a U.S. Citizen or national, asylee, refugee, or lawful permanent resident of the United States. Government export authorization approval times vary. Based on the business needs for a particular position, TerraPower may not consider a foreign national from a country if it is impracticable to obtain timely Government export approval.

Job details

Job Type: Full-time

Salary Range Level 14:$216,695 -$325,042

Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications and experience. This range is specific to Washington State.

Benefits:

- Competitive Compensation

- Salary, eligible to participate in discretionary short-term incentive payments

- Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits

o Medical

o Vision

o Dental

o Life

o Life and Disability

o Gender Affirmation Benefits

o Parental Leave

- 401k Plan

- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

o 21 days of annually accrued PTO

- Generous Holiday Schedule

o 10 paid holidays

- Relocation Assistance

- Professional and Educational Support Opportunities

- Flexible Work Schedule

TerraPower Career and Benefits information: https://www.terrapower.com/contact-us/careers/