TITLE: Safeguards / Non-Proliferation Engineer

LOCATION: Bellevue, WA

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.

Safeguards / Non-Proliferation Engineer

TerraPower's Molten Chloride Fast Reactor (MCFR) project is commercializing the technology to operate a fast-spectrum, chloride salt cooled molten salt reactor. TerraPower and its partners are building on the foundation of the MCFR technology development program, including chloride salt separate effects tests, the MCFR Integrated Effects Test (IET), and the progress on the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE) project.

The material fuel form and operational modes of a fast-spectrum, molten salt reactor, such as the MCFR, are outside the basis of established safeguards approaches. The material in a MCFR plant is continuously flowing and continuously changing composition due to breeding, depletion, and fuel salt polishing. Traditional item counting is not possible for MCFR reactors because the fuel salt is not quantized in discrete form. Addressing these inherent challenges and leveraging new opportunities are important parts of the development of domestic and international safeguards and non-proliferation approaches for the MCFR technology.

Responsibilities:

* Identify potential safeguards and non-proliferation challenges for an MCFR plant

* Develop and evaluate safeguards and non-proliferation strategies to ensure that nuclear material is not being diverted from MCFR plants and that the plants are not being misused to produce undeclared nuclear material

* Conduct background research considering beneficial emerging scientific and technical capabilities and approaches for safeguards and non-proliferation in MCFR plants

* Help to create the next generation of safeguards concepts, instrumentation and technologies to minimize risks associated with advanced reactors, such as the MCFR

* Integrate safeguards-by-design (SBD) and security by design (SeBD) into early-stage design and operational thinking for the MCFR demonstration reactor

* Advocate for safeguards and non-proliferation requirements and constraints in MCFR design activities

* Advise and educate MCFR team members about safeguards and non-proliferation considerations in plant design

* Develop a consensus for novel safeguards and non-proliferation strategies for MCFR plant applications. This includes working closely with stakeholders across the MCFR consortium and domestic and international stakeholders (e.g. DOE NNSA, IAEA, and NRC)

* Engage safeguards- and non-proliferation authorities to ensure they are aware of the MCFR design and reconcile any recommendations from such authorities

* Grow a multi-disciplinary team to develop the safeguards and non-proliferation strategies for MCFR technology

Key Qualifications and Skills

* Bachelors degree in engineering, science, or related fields with 2 years of meaningful experience; Masters or higher in engineering, science or nuclear non-proliferation related fields with 5 years of meaningful experience is preferred.

* Ability to apply existing and new safeguards and non-proliferation methodologies and approaches to a novel application

* Familiarity with domestic and international safeguards

* Familiarity with material balance areas (MBA) and Materials Control and Accounting (MC&A) programs

* Familiarity with safeguards for bulk handling facilities

* Familiarity with existing approaches to enhance proliferation resistance of the nuclear fuel cycle

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

* Experience in working in multi-disciplinary engineering teams to address engineering challenges

* Actual position starting level and title will be determined based on assessment of qualifications

* On-site arrangement is preferred, but remote work will be considered based on candidate assessment

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 and 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 50 pounds.

* Repetitive work: Prolonged.

* Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work and ability to perform role in personal protective equipment.

* Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standard and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day.

* Travel required: 10-20%

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: 120,672 - $201,119

Salary Range Level 12: $163,702 - $226,119

*Typically, our employee salaries are within .90 - 1.0 of the mid-point of the posted salary bands. 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

* Life and Disability

* Gender Affirmation 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

* Flexible Work Schedule

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