Nuclear Quality Engineer

Search Jobs - INL Professional Careers; Idaho Falls (ID); On-site; USD 79,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Nuclear Quality Engineer to work on the MFC Quality team on a 4x10 schedule at the MFC facility onsite in Idaho with Fridays off. You will implement QA procedures, develop inspection plans, conduct surveillance and audits, and provide technical QA expertise to program, project, and facility management across nuclear and non-nuclear facilities.

Key responsibilities include defining control plans with engineering, participating in design reviews, addressing

Qualifications

• BS in a technical field and 2+ years of related QA/QC experience.
• Level 3 requires BS with 5 years, or MS with 2 years, or PhD with 2 years of related QA experience.
• Experience in Nuclear QA/QC, engineering, operations, or manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Define features of design requirements for engineered control plans.
• Participate in design reviews to ensure sound engineering principles.
• Implement QA procedures and inspection plans with cost efficiency while meeting requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering to address nonconformances and disposition of nonconformances.
• Provide QA expertise to program, project, and facility management across nuclear and non-nuclear facilities.
• Conduct surveillance, audits, and quality assessments as part of continuous improvement.

Skills

Quality assurance

Auditing

Inspection planning

Nonconformance handling

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor of Science in technical field

Master's or PhD in related field

Tools

CGD plans

VDR

Ariba

BEA certification

Job description

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Nuclear Quality Engineer to work on our MFC Quality team. Our team works a 4x10 schedule located out of our MFC facility onsite in Idaho with every Friday off.

At Idaho National Laboratory, you'll implement quality assurance procedures, develop inspection plans, conduct surveillance and audit activities, address nonconformances, and provide technical quality expertise to program, project, and facility management across nuclear and non-nuclear facilities. Depending on your area of focus, you may support nuclear facility operations, research quality assurance, or fuels manufacturing while collaborating with design engineers, vendors, and external auditors to ensure Idaho National Laboratory's quality standards are consistently met.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with engineering/researchers to define key features of design requirements to be used in the development of engineered control plans.
• Participate in design reviews ensuring that sound engineering principles have been applied.
• Implement applicable quality assurance procedures, technical methods, control systems, protocols, procedures, and inspection plans in the most cost-effective manner while maintaining adherence to requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering to establish protocols for addressing nonconformances.
• Partner with system owners or other process owners to manage the disposition of nonconformances.
• Provide technical expertise, assistance, and advice to program, project, facility management, and personnel relative to quality compliance and implementation issues.
• Interact with facility senior management, as needed, on matters requiring coordination across organizational lines.
• Collaborate on solutions to resolve facility, program, or project compliance issues.
• Perform procurement engineering evaluations.
• Create inspection plans and receipt inspection instructions.
• Conduct quality assessments and surveillance activities.
• Participate in continuous improvement activities ensuring that INL quality-related processes are integrated.
• Interface with internal and external customers to ensure quality requirements are being met.
• Coach/mentor facility personnel through the application of subject matter expertise in the quality requirements for activities affecting quality in nuclear and non-nuclear facilities as identified by the Quality Assurance Plan.
• Provide surveillance, auditing, and reporting services for a given facility or scope of work assignment to ensure facility management has clear visibility and the opportunity to manage organizational performance.
• Facilitate and/or support external audits and/or commercial grade surveys of INL.
• Coordinate with engineering for commercial grade dedication plans and inspections for Quality Level 2 procurements.
• Conduct vendor data reviews (VDR).
• Maintain a complete understanding and application of principles, concepts, and practices required for delivering quality techniques and tools.
• Maintain required training and proficiency per training plan.
• May be responsible for Asset Suite/Ariba review and approval of material requests, construction services, and maintenance work orders.
• Maintain specialized certifications and training in areas like nuclear quality assurance, potentially including Lead Auditor certification (e.g., NQA-1 Lead Auditor certification).

Additional Duties in Specialized Areas of Focus:

Nuclear Facility Quality Engineer:

• Verify quality-level determinations.
• Develop and/or review work and program controlling documents for nuclear facilities.
• Develop Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) plans and perform CGD surveys of suppliers.
• Interface with research sponsors on INL quality processes.
• Host external auditors to support commercial grade dedication surveys of INL and readiness reviews to ensure contract requirements.
• Develop and review Work Control Documents.
• Maintain working and developmental knowledge and involvement in nuclear operations, maintenance, planning, and procurement.
• Provide nuclear facility oversight support.
  

Required:

• Level 2: Bachelor of Science and 2 years of experience, Master's, or PhD degree in technical field related to Quality (such as Chemistry, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Management)
• Level 3: Bachelor of Science and 5 years of experience, Master's and 2 years of experience, or PhD degree and 2 years of experience. Degree should be in technical field related to Quality (Chemistry, Engineering, or related field. Bachelor’s and. Master’s and 2 years of experience.
• Relevant experience commensurate with level.
• Experience in Nuclear Quality (QA/QC, engineering, operations, manufacturing, etc.).
• Must be able to obtain BEA Quality Engineer certification.
• Obtain and maintain an L level security clearance.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or Chemical Engineering degree.
• Work experience in Quality, System, Design, or Plant Engineering

Physical Requirements:

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to handle materials, manipulate tools, keyboard, and type, reach with hands and arms, and operate job-related equipment. May be exposed to heights, stairs, UV (sun exposure), and radiation work. May be exposed to hazards associated with equipment including ladders > 6 feet, machines/electrical hazards, lasers, and motor vehicle usage. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with people is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Working Conditions:

The work environment is an office environment. The noise level is generally moderate; however, exposure to loud noises may occur on occasion. Required to use protective clothing as work assignment dictates. May be exposed to discomforts associated with constant monitoring of computer video display screens. Intermittent exposure to stress due to human behavior and various responsibilities. Position requires working more than 8 hours/day and working alone.

Job Information:

• The pay range for this position is: Level #2 ($79,344 - $162,732) / Level #3 ($95,256 - $195,288). At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
• Multi-Level: This is a multi-level posting and you will be placed at the appropriate level dependent on depth and breadth of proven experience and skills.
• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.