Materials Engineer – Tribology

TITLE:                Materials Engineer – Tribology        

LOCATION:        Everett, 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.

Materials Engineer – Tribology

TerraPower, LLC is seeking a highly motivated Materials Engineer to support the engineering efforts of the Materials Development & Qualification team. This role will work as part of a high functioning team of engineers focused on development and qualification for next generation material and components for sodium cooled fast reactors. You will be responsible for conducting tribological testing in a liquid sodium environment to support the performance requirements of the Natrium Reactor. Your role will include testing the friction and wear performance of structural materials and coatings to provide key design data inputs for sodium fast reactor design.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct hands-on tribology testing and material characterization in a laboratory environment

• Assist with the design, fabrication, and operation of custom laboratory experiments

• Act as the custodian and expert operator of laboratory equipment (e.g., tribology rig, furnaces, polishing equipment, metallography equipment, SEM-EDS), developing procedures and training users to the procedures

• Perform material characterization including SEM-EDS for various materials

• Perform scientific analysis and generate test reports detailing tests and resulting data to document new knowledge related to materials performance and behavior

• Perform formal receipt inspections of incoming materials, update inventory, and physically maintain the controlled material storage area

• External procurements of materials, equipment, and testing services, including authoring procurement requisitions and managing supplier performance to plan

Key Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree with minimum 4 years of related experience; or a Master’s degree. A degree in Materials Science/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related technical discipline is required

• An understanding of tribology and surface engineering in non-lubricated environments is required

• Proficiency in operation, customization, and maintenance of tribological testing equipment

• Proficiency in experimental techniques for materials analysis such as optical microscopy, microhardness, profilometry, and SEM

• Demonstrated hands-on laboratory experience is required

• Metallography and SEM-EDS experience are required

• Lab management experience (e.g., maintaining spaces and/or equipment and training users) is preferred but not required

• Experience writing specifications for the procurement, fabrication, or testing of materials is desired

• Prior experience in materials testing and characterization for nuclear research or industry applications is desired but not required

• Proficiency in writing and producing technical documentation including test reports

• Experience working to quality standards such as ASME NQA-1 is preferred

• Ability to work with minimum direction to solve challenging problems

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

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 25 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.

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 9: $99,041 - $148,561

Salary Range Level 10: $113,605 - $170,408

*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

o Vision

o Dental

o Life

o Life and Disability

o Gender Affirmation Benefits

o Parental Leave

• 401k Plan

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

o 21 days of annually accrued PTO

• Generous Holiday Schedule

o 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/

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Last updated on Nov 6, 2024