Core Component Manufacturing Manager

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. 

Manager, Core Components Manufacturing  

TerraPower is seeking a Manager, Core Components Manufacturing to join the Natrium Fuel Design and Supply team. The Manager, Core Components Fabrication will oversee work scopes regarding the fabrication of core components and non-fuel assemblies. Additionally, this role will manage the shipping of the Natrium assemblies and associated shipping package design, development, licensing, and fabrication activities. The Manager, Core Components Fabrication will interface extensively with the Natrium Fuel Design and Supply leadership team to ensure proper integration between functional areas to support on-time fuel load.

Responsibilities: 

• Lead procurement and technical sourcing of safety-critical mechanical hardware for the reactor core, including structural components, internals, and custom fabricated assemblies.
• Translate reactor design requirements, specifications, and drawings into executable procurement packages, including bills of materials, material specifications, quality clauses, and acceptance criteria.
• Develop, document, and maintain manufacturing procedures. This includes work instructions, supplier process specifications, inspection plans, and acceptance criteria, to ensure consistent execution, regulatory compliance, and full traceability to core mechanical hardware.
• Build and scale the manufacturing engineering organization by defining roles and competencies, recruiting and onboarding engineers, and developing team capabilities to support increasing reactor hardware procurement and production demands.
• Evaluate and qualify suppliers based on manufacturing capability, technical competence, quality systems, schedule performance, and nuclear pedigree.
• Support supplier technical reviews, request-for-quotation (RFQ) development, bid evaluations, and source selection decisions.
• Support negotiation on technical and commercial terms with suppliers to achieve cost, schedule, and performance objectives while maintaining strict quality requirements.
• Resolve manufacturing and procurement issues such as nonconformances, deviations, material substitutions, and corrective actions.
• Oversee preparation and review of shipping package fabrication, inspection plans, material certifications, and documentation packages required for transport.
• Coordinate with supplier development and quality teams to conduct audits, process qualifications, and readiness assessments as it relates to manufacturing.
• Support development and maintenance of detailed schedules and risks for procured components, identifying supply chain bottlenecks and implementing mitigation plans.
• Drive design-for-manufacturing and design-for-procurement improvements to reduce cost, shorten lead times, and improve hardware reliability.
• Establish procurement metrics including supplier on-time delivery, cost variance, yield, and quality performance.
• Lead and mentor manufacturing and procurement engineers responsible for reactor core hardware acquisition and supplier management.
• Ensure all procurement activities are conducted in accordance with nuclear safety culture principles emphasizing integrity, traceability, configuration control, and quality.
• Support continuous learning and application of nuclear industry best practices to maintain the highest quality of engineering and proactively identify process change/enhancement opportunities.

Key Qualifications and Skills 

• Education: B.S. degree in Mechanical engineering, Manufacturing engineering, Nuclear engineering, or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum of 9 years of relevant experience; relevant M.S. and Doctorate degrees may be credited for up to two or four years of experience respectively.
• Minimum of 4 years of leadership experience for people management or leading major cross functional projects involving manufacturing
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Strong analytical/problem solving skills, creative thinker.
• 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.
• 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.
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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: $153,861 - $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.

Job Type:  Full-time

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/