Technical Lead, Electrical Systems

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. 

Technical Lead, Electrical Systems

The Technical Lead, Electrical Systems supports engineering and design collaboration and coordination between TerraPower’s Nuclear Island Systems headquartered in Bellevue, WA and the TerraPower EPC Contractor, located in Reston, VA, responsible for the physical arrangement and construction of the Natrium plant. The position also provides support to and  technical oversight of the EPC Contractor’s procurement activities.

This position supports and reports to TerraPower’s Manager, Electrical Systems Design.

The successful candidate will provide technical and administrative design support for engineering and design handoffs between TerraPower and our EPC partner and will support

technical oversight of procurement activities. The position supports interfaces across a broad range of disciplines, including mechanical, nuclear, electrical, and I&C. Support includes cross functional and inter-disciplinary integration, review of deliverables for technical accuracy and impact on engineering, design, and construction cost and schedule. The Technical Lead, Electrical Systems will work as part of a high performing team of engineers to support technical problem solving and critical schedule adherence to achieve project objectives.

Responsibilities

• Lead design activities by determining required activities (design, analysis, evaluation, modeling, etc.), specifying technical inputs/outputs to deliverables, assigning/requesting personnel to activities, and overseeing execution of technical work. Includes products such as procurement specifications, requirements documents, system design descriptions, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), calculations, and single-line diagrams. Identify and lead resolution of necessary engineering changes, optimization opportunities, and resolution/closure plans
• Review engineering work products, particularly those created to support the Natrium electrical system design and development, but also the electrical system interfaces. Ensure that deliverables supporting electrical systems are accurate and follow the appropriate engineering procedures and processes. Mentor less experienced engineering staff
• Manage the technical and organizational handoffs to and from the electrical systems, facilitate the efficient communication of inputs/outputs/status to other organizations, and coordinate with other organizations to obtain required interface information. Establish and maintain processes and information sets to define interfaces
• Provide technical direction related to the electrical systems to partners, subcontractors, and suppliers. Act as the engineering reviewer of supplier submittals to ensure accuracy, quality, adherence to requirements, etc. Coordinate with procurement and supplier project engineers to manage scope and ensure deliverables are received on time
• Provides expert knowledge and a central point of information for licensing content preparation, review, and lifecycle needs, such as Operating License Application (OLA) section input management, section review, Requests for Additional Information (RAIs) information gathering and response development, etc.
• Demonstrate visible, continuous leadership in the areas of safety and quality. Act and advocate for the prompt identification, characterization, and resolution of challenges to personnel, nuclear, and radiological safety. Identify and implement the appropriate project quality standards to the design, delivery, and management of all attributes of the Natrium electrical system design
• Own individual activities in the Integrated Master Control Schedule (IMCS) and act as activity owner to project schedule management processes. Identify sub-tasks of the overall activity and manage execution of the overall activity to completion. Update start and completion dates on project reporting periodicities. Where conflicts in priorities and/or resources exist, evaluate and advocate for effective resolutions to management and other technical leads to arrive at achievable solutions
• Act as Technical Representative for select contractor and/or staff augmentation staff. Identify and assign tasks, indoctrinate into project processes, and manage work activities according to chartered scope

Key Qualifications and Skills

• B.S. degree in Engineering or equivalent, advanced degree a plus and will count toward years of experience
• A minimum of ten (10) years of direct experience with proven electrical systems skills
• Previous experience with nuclear plant electrical systems design and familiarity with Class 1E standards including but not limited to IEEE 308, IEEE 323, IEEE 344, IEEE 379, IEEE 383, IEEE 384, and IEEE 741
• Familiarity with implementing design control and development in accordance with nuclear power plant quality assurance (e.g. 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, ASME NQA-1).
• Demonstrated experience in conduct or project management of engineering activities in the nuclear field including systems engineering
• Strong understanding of configuration management principles, as well as knowledge of design control application on nuclear or similar complex industrial applications.
• Strong understanding of technical schedule management, including project reporting, schedule development, logic sequences and fragnets, and resource forecasting.
• Excellent technical writing, communication, and presentation skills
• Attention to detail and aspiration for technical excellence
• Candidate must be a self-starter and possess ability to coordinate and lead a design team’s effort with minimal direction
• Ability to handle projects that include many competing objectives and design constraints, with ability to resolve conflicts between objectives
• Experience with Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or equivalent project management tool.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel) and Adobe Professional
• Experience with software tools used to develop design deliverables (e.g. ETAP, AutoCAD Standard, AutoCAD Electrical, or SolidWorks), desired but not required.
• The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect, and a desire to foster teamwork
• Actual position starting level and title will be determined based on assessment of qualifications

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: $138,685 - $208,027

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 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

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