Criticality Safety Engineer, Fuel

About TerraPower

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. Founded in 2006 by Bill Gates and a group of visionaries, TerraPower recognizes energy access as crucial to the health and economic well-being of communities. The company's mission is to be a world leader in new nuclear technologies while developing innovators and future leaders in the nuclear field. TerraPower's activities yield significant innovations in the safety and economics of nuclear power, hybrid energy, and medical applications for human health benefits.

TerraPower is seeking highly motivated and forward-thinking professionals interested in focusing on advanced nuclear reactor research and development, influencing change within the nuclear power landscape, and advancing the critical production of medical isotopes.

About the Role

The Criticality Safety Engineer is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining nuclear criticality safety analyses and controls supporting the fabrication of Natrium fuel. This role integrates criticality safety into facility and process design and involves process development, production readiness, technical documentation, and supplier coordination. Quality-driven execution for safety-critical components and fabrication processes is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop nuclear criticality safety evaluations for fuel fabrication process steps, fresh fuel receipt, storage, handling, inspection, and transportation operations.
• Perform criticality safety calculations using industry-standard computational tools (i.e., SCALE/KENO, MCNP, etc.) for Natrium fuel fabrication and related processes, including areas related to HALEU feedstock, fuel fabrication, and fresh fuel storage and transportation.
• Establish engineered and administrative controls to ensure subcriticality under normal, abnormal, and credible accident conditions.
• Develop and maintain Criticality Safety Evaluations, Criticality Safety Limits, and supporting technical documentation.
• Support design reviews to ensure equipment, storage configurations, fuel fabrication processes, and facility layouts satisfy criticality safety requirements.
• Evaluate design changes through engineering change processes and assess impacts to nuclear criticality safety.
• Support licensing activities by preparing technical reports, regulatory responses, and safety analyses for NRC review.
• Interface with fuel vendors and transportation organizations to support packaging, shipping, and receipt of fresh HALEU fuel.
• Support development of operating procedures, training materials, and operational readiness reviews.
• Participate in hazard analyses, design reviews, audits, and independent technical assessments.
• Support development of criticality safety programs consistent with ANSI/ANS-8 standards and applicable NRC regulations.
• Support continuous learning and application of nuclear industry best practices to maintain the highest quality of engineering design and proactively identify process change/enhancement opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Nuclear Engineering or a closely related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in nuclear criticality safety, reactor physics, fuel cycle engineering, or a related nuclear engineering field.
• Experience performing criticality safety analyses using Monte Carlo neutron transport methods.
• Working knowledge of nuclear cross-section libraries and uncertainty methodologies.
• Familiarity with NRC regulations applicable to criticality safety and fuel handling.
• Experience preparing technical reports and engineering calculations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate technical information across multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to work with minimum direction to solve challenging problems.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks concurrently during a given work week.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Ideal Qualifications

• Experience supporting advanced reactors, sodium-cooled fast reactors, or fuel cycle facilities.
• Experience with HALEU fuel systems.
• Experience with fast-spectrum criticality methodology.
• Proficiency with SCALE, MCNP, Serpent, or comparable neutron transport software.
• Familiarity with ANSI/ANS-8 criticality safety standards.
• Experience with nuclear industry manufacturing and operation, DOE and NRC regulations.
• Experience with NQA-1 / QL-1 standards or other highly controlled production standards.
• Strong understanding of nuclear safety culture.

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

• 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.

Pay

Salary Range: $131,828 - $171,205. 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, including eligibility to participate in discretionary short-term incentive payments.
• Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits:
  • Medical
  • Vision
  • Dental
  • Life and Disability
  • Gender Affirmation Benefits
  • Parental Leave
• 401k Plan
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO):
  • 21 days of annually accrued PTO
  • 10 paid holidays
• Relocation Assistance
• Professional and Educational Support Opportunities

Schedule

Full-time.