Manager, System Thermal Hydraulics Methods & Analysis

TITLE: Manager, System Thermal Hydraulics Methods & Analysis

LOCATION: Bellevue, WA, 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.

Manager, System Thermal Hydraulics Methods & Analysis

The System Thermal Hydraulics Methods & Analysis Manager reports directly to the Senior Manager, System Thermal Hydraulic Analysis. This position is focused on managing the thermal hydraulic performance analysis of various reactor core components, reactor structures, and nuclear island components. In this role, you will manage a dedicated team of thermal hydraulics engineers in support of TerraPower’s advanced nuclear reactor project. This position also supports the Senior Manager in project planning, scheduling, and reporting activities.

Responsibilities

- Manage the System Thermal Hydraulics Methods & Analysis team.

- Support the teams’ completion of thermal hydraulic analyses of reactor structures, systems, and nuclear island components to determine flow and heat transfer performance.

- Work with the Senior Manager to develop and maintain project schedules.

- Communicate the status of engineering and project priorities to the team, stakeholders, and management.

- Assure compliance with procedures, standards, and regulatory criteria.

- Work with the Senior Manager to develop strategy, manage budget, team goals, resource allocations and manage team performance.

- Manage the team’s development of required inputs and methodologies to establish systems models and thermal hydraulic loads for critical reactor components and interfaces.

- Leverages technical knowledge and experience to provide technical insights, mentorship and support high quality, clear work packages.

- Work with interdisciplinary teams of engineers to establish and optimize nuclear components design consistent with required functional and quality requirements.

- Support the development of methodologies including verification and validation test development.

- Identify, define and coordinate activities required for the successful design, analysis, and verification of reactor structures and components.

- Establish, review, approve, and maintain documents of computational methodologies, analysis results, and design solutions.

Key Qualifications and Skills

- B.S, M.S. or Ph.D. in Mechanical or Nuclear Engineering from accredited university. Aerospace Engineering will also be considered.

- Minimum of 10 years of experience in thermal hydraulic analysis with a B.S. degree, or 8+ years with an M.S. or Ph.D. degree with a demonstrated ability to produce a high-quality work product.

- Minimum of 3 years of experience in coordinating technical project teams with a demonstrated ability to meet project goals.

- Desired 2 years of experience in management of personnel. This includes resource loading, work planning, and career development.

- Experience interfacing with other engineering disciplines including design and test engineering teams.

- Proficient in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, thermal hydraulics methods and commercial CFD tools with emphasis on STAR-CCM+.

- Strong understanding of fluid mechanics, conduction, convection and radiation heat transfer, and high performance computing required to implement CFD methods.

- Candidate should have demonstrated experience in thermal hydraulic analysis of equipment or components. This may include steady state and transient flow distribution, heat transfer, and pressure drop. Knowledge of liquid metal heat transfer is desirable.

- Experience working under stringent quality assurance requirements such as NQA-1.

- The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.

- Actual position starting level and title will be determined based on assessment of qualifications.

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 and/or standing 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: 0-5%

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

Salary Range Level 11: $125,257 - $208,762

Salary Range Level 12: $169,922 - $235,464

- Typically, our employee salaries are within .90 – 1.0 of the mid-point of the posted salary band. Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected individual’s qualifications and experience. This range is specific to Washington State.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

- Competitive Compensation

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

- Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits

- Medical

- Vision

- Dental

- Life

- Life and Disability

- Gender Affirmation Benefits

- Parental Leave

- 401k Plan

- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

- 21 days of annually accrued PTO

- Generous Holiday Schedule

- 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/

Please visit www.terrapower.com to apply