MCFR Nuclear Safety Lead

TITLE:MCFR Nuclear Safety Lead

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.

MCFR Nuclear Safety Lead:

The Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) is slated to be the first ever liquid-fueled fast-spectrum reactor built and operated. MCRE is planned to be built at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and, as such, requires authorization from the Department of Energy (DOE) to operate. The MCRE safety case is working towards the development of a Preliminary Documented Safety Analysis (PDSA) to support the next phase of the authorization process. The MCRE project is also intended to increase confidence around the fundamental phenomena that contribute to the safety case of the commercial Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR).

The MCFR Nuclear Safety Lead will work across the design and testing team to mature the MCRE safety case and develop the MCFR commercial safety case. Specifically, this will require:

- Continued refinement of risk-informed performance-based (RIPB) safety case.

- Understanding DOE authorization & NRC licensing requirements and development of work along with documentation to support meeting them.

- Documentation of Systems, Structures, or Components (SSCs) safety classification.

- Overseeing and performing transient analysis of Safety Basis Events (SBEs) as needed.

- Novel methodology development to support safety analyses.

The MCFR Nuclear Safety Lead receives administrative and technical supervision from the Nuclear Safety Discipline Manager.

Responsibilities:

- Work with an interdisciplinary team of engineers to establish SSC functional, performance, safety, and quality requirements as well as support the overall design.

- Develop regulatory engagement topics for discussion with the DOE.

- Support NRC interactions where MCRE contributes to MCFR regulatory engagement.

- Develop and document novel safety analysis methodologies.

- Work with analysts to follow and implement software quality assurance into nuclear safety computer codes.

- Collaborate with safety verification and validation engineers to develop assessment bases (benchmark, identify applicable tests, etc.) and assess the evaluation model.

- Develop schedules and milestones to meet safety deliverables in support of DOE authorization.

- Develop Technical Safety Requirements (TSRs).

Key Qualifications and Skills:

- B.S. in engineering, with a minimum of 6 years of experience in the nuclear field; or M.S. with a minimum of 3 years’ experience; or Ph.D. with a minimum of 2 years’ experience. Actual position starting level and title will be determined based on assessment of qualifications.

- Knowledge of NRC and/or DOE safety basis requirements in support of nuclear facilities.

- Experience performing nuclear reactor safety analysis (e.g., transient, probabilistic risk assessment, source term dose/consequence, containment).

- Experience with Molten Salt Reactor or Sodium Fast Reactor safety analysis is highly desirable. Experience with other reactor designs can be considered when differentiating candidates.

- Knowledge of thermal-hydraulics, salt chemistry, risk/hazard analysis, and reactor dynamics is desired.

- Strategic thinking and cross discipline coordination in support of technology maturation

- Ability to interface with multiple project partners and identify the appropriate division of responsibility to optimize project performance.

- Experience working in multi-disciplinary engineering teams to address engineering challenges and communicate effectively across safety, testing, and design.

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

The Ideal Candidate:

- Experience implementing Risk-Informed Performance-Based Technology Inclusive Guidance for Non-Light Water Reactor Licensing Basis Development (NEI 18-04, NEI 21-07).

- Experience with advanced reactor safety analysis, especially fast spectrum systems and molten salt systems.

- Proven track record of leading multi-institution collaborations (national labs, universities, vendors, utilities, etc) on advanced-reactor research or methods development.

- Experience with mechanistic source term development for non-LWRs.

- Experience with safety analysis codes such as SAS4A/SASSYS-1, GOTHIC, RELAP5, TRACE, MELCOR, MACCS, RADTRAD, SAM, or equivalent.

- Experience with PRA software such as CAFTA, SAPHIRE, or equivalent.

- Understanding of NQA-1 requirements associated with analysis and software management as well as experience working under quality assurance programs.

- Familiarity with the implementation of NRC RG 1.203.

- Familiarity with nuclear design, regulatory requirements, model V&V, uncertainty quantification, and experimental scaling are all useful.

- Experience prioritizing R&D portfolios to close safety-case knowledge gaps.

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 hours/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:

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.

Benefits:

- Competitive Compensation

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

- Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits 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/