System Transients Analysis Engineer

TerraPower; Bellevue (WA); On-site; USD 154,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Relocation assistance

PTO 21 days

Generous holiday schedule

Medical and wellness benefits

Job summary

TerraPower in Bellevue, WA is seeking a System Transients Analysis Engineer to advance the sodium-cooled Natrium program. You will develop RELAP5-3D models, craft plant-wide control strategies, and analyze thermal-hydraulic phenomena to support design and safety validation.

Responsibilities include transient analyses, one-dimensional hydraulic networks, and collaboration with safety, I&C, and design groups to enable robust reactor operations.

Qualifications

• B.S. or higher in nuclear, mechanical, or electrical engineering.
• Experience with system codes such as RELAP5 is a must.
• Strong thermal-hydraulic analytical skills and transient analysis capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop RELAP5-3D models for steady state and transient analyses.
• Develop plant-level control strategy and component-level controller.
• Perform calculations using first principles of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics.

Skills

Thermal-hydraulic analysis

One-dimensional networks

Technical writing

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

B.S. in nuclear/mechanical/electrical engineering

Tools

RELAP5-3D

ASME design/analysis

I&C modeling

Job description

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.

System Transients Analysis Engineer

TerraPower, LLC. is hiring a highly capable and motivated System Transients Analysis Engineer who is responsible for analyses with application to the TerraPower sodium‑cooled reactor program (Natrium). The candidate may also use software that combines control systems with thermal hydraulics for system or plant modeling. The candidate will interface and collaborate with the safety group, I&C group, and design group etc.

Responsibilities

• Develop RELAP5-3D models for steady state and transient one‑dimensional network hydraulic analyses.
• Develop plant level control strategy and component level controller.
• Perform calculations using first principles of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and thermodynamics to support and validate analysis results.
• Perform analysis of reactor normal operations, upset events, emergency events and faulted events to establish design, service, and test loadings and limits.
• Perform analysis of plant wide transients for evaluation of operation narratives and design solutions.
• Perform multiscale and multidisciplinary control analyses involving the thermal hydraulics of sodium, molten salt, and non‑condensable fluids.
• Integrate with other engineering groups performing aspects of component, system, fuel, and control system design and related thermal‑hydraulic testing.

Key Qualifications and Skills

• B.S. or higher degree in nuclear, mechanical, or electrical engineering.
• Experience with system codes such as RELAP5 is a must.
• Experience with ASME component design/analysis is highly desirable.
• Experience with modeling control systems and I&C is highly desirable.
• Experience with nuclear power plant design or operations is desirable.
• Experience developing new analytical methods is desirable.
• Strong thermal‑hydraulic analytical skills with one‑dimensional hydraulic networks analysis, system codes experience and transient analysis.
• Strong technical writing skills
• Strong communication skills
• The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect, and a desire to foster teamwork

This position is subject to qualification requirements in accordance with ANSI/ANS 3.1. Candidates must meet the minimum education and experience criteria applicable to the role, including relevant nuclear industry experience where required. Verification of data will be part of the hiring process.

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 0-10%

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: $153,862 – $205,149

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
  • Medical
  • Vision
  • Dental
  • Life and Disability
  • Gender Affimation 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

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