TerraPower

Principal/Senior Chemist

Everett, WA

full time

$125,257-$235,464

On-site

Nuclear Electric Power Generation

About This Job

TITLE:Principal/ Senior Chemist

LOCATION:Everett, 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 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.

Principal/Senior Chemist

Reporting to the Natrium Equipment Testing Manager, the Principal/Senior Chemist, located onsite at the Everett Test Lab (EVL), is responsible for performing relevant tests associated with developing technology for the Natrium reactor, in addition to providing ad hoc support to the testing teams for experiment design, troubleshooting, and analysis.

Responsibilities:

- Propose, develop, and conduct chemistry experiments and lead research campaigns focused on sodium and molten salt chemistry and reaction kinetics.

- Assist in chemistry laboratory and system development, including leading design efforts for flexible experimental chemistry capabilities to support TerraPower R&D activities.

- Provide chemistry support for the design, scale-up, start-up and ongoing testing for the Natrium reactor project.

- Maintain laboratory procedures (e.g., calibration, analytical methods, notebook results preparation, usage documentation).

- Perform all work in compliance with site safety and radiation protection guidelines, including effective teamwork and communication with health physicists, authorized users and RSO.

- Emphasize safety in new and existing design and safe practices in all experimental activities

- Assist in the training, developing, and mentoring of employees.

- Lead and assist in ensuring organization, housekeeping and effectiveness of TerraPower chemistry use areas and test facilities is always maintained at a high standard.

- Perform other general duties associated with position as member of testing and chemistry team to ensure ongoing effectiveness and continuous improvement of Natrium testing efforts.

- Recognize the need and recommend obtaining external subject matter experts and specialty resources.

- Resolve priority conflicts in conjunction with team leadership when issues arise that compete for resources. Elevate those that cannot be resolved to the Manager or Senior Manager level.

Key Qualifications and Skills:

- A doctoral level (PhD) degree with at least 5 years of post-doctoral or relevant industrial experience in radiochemistry, chemistry, or equivalent with significant demonstrated hands-on laboratory experience and expertise in chemistry, chemical separations, and analytical methods.

- Proficient in activity, equilibrium, and kinetics calculations.

- Expertise in analytical methods relevant to characterization including DSC, DSC-TGA, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, SEM, carbon/oxygen/nitrogen analysis with EMGA, and wet-chemistry techniques.

- Experience working with and handling materials within gloveboxes, fume hoods, and laboratory benchtops.

- Experience with radioactive materials (depleted uranium) a plus.

- Demonstrated experience coordinating and delivering on complex technical tasks requiring input from multiple stakeholders.

- Experience leading the design of, and in executing complex experimental studies.

- Ability to manage numerous competing priorities concurrently during a given work week and work with minimal direction to solve multi-disciplinary problems.

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

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. The 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 accommodation 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: 0-15%

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.