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.

Director, Nuclear Quality and Continuous Improvement

The Director, Nuclear Quality and Continuous Improvement has overall responsibility for the 10 CFR 50 Appendix B, NQA-1, and ASME Section III Quality programs for TerraPower. The Director is responsible for maintaining and growing their team through hiring/staffing the correct mix of skillset, experience and knowledge to implement and oversee the TerraPower Quality Programs. They are responsible for growing the personnel within their team through annual goal setting and monitoring, career growth opportunities and encouraging professional development. The Director will build communication among the departments including Engineering, Procurement, and Quality Assurance and educating all organizations of nuclear quality standards.

The Director should have QA management experience in NRC 10 CFR 50, Appendix B, ASME NQA-1, and ASME Section III regulated environments. Experience with industry codes, standards and guides such as ASME, AWS, AISC, ASTM, EPRI, NEI, ISO, NEC and IEEE are strongly desired.

Responsibilities

Develop and manage a highly effective team focused on meeting and defining quality requirements:
- Demonstrate visible, continuous leadership in the areas of safety and quality
- Identify and propose staffing needs, prepare job descriptions, interview candidates
- Set yearly goals, hold mid-year checks, and perform annual performance reviews
- Support employee professional development and career objectives
- Coach for performance
- Help resolve employee concerns
- Recommend promotions, transfers, and other staffing changes
Ensure the project and technical scope are being met while meeting quality requirements:
- Estimate effort and durations required for scheduled activities
- Participate and provide input and feedback to Pre-Job Plan (PJP) meetings
- Assign applicable personnel to activities
- Monitor and report status of activities
- Oversee partner and vendor technical work as required
- Approve timecards and contractor invoices
- Help develop and review statements of work with Procurement personnel for supplier technical activities
- Identify and communicate opportunities for work process improvements with department business manager
- Coach team members, including employees, partners and contractors on Nuclear Safety Culture, Procedural Use and Adherence expectations
- Develop and ensure growth opportunities for employees
Ensure the technical adequacy and quality of work products:
- Participate in Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA), Continuous Improvement, Lessons Learned/Operation Experience and Risk Management processes
- Review quality affecting procedures (engineering, procurement, document control, records, testing, etc.)
- Ensure compliance with TerraPower Engineering procedures and guidelines, including applicable quality standards
- Keep team technically synchronized with each other and within the project; help remove roadblocks, break down silos and promote resilience and resourcefulness
- Facilitate definition of technical interfaces/handoffs from other teams
- Keep senior managers, department directors, and lead technical staff informed of major emerging technical issues, while working to solving these problems with others
- Assist in the identification of regulations, codes and standards applicable to the work
- Ensure technical documents meet applicable regulatory guides, codes and standards
- Ensure design conducted in accordance with project requirements, configuration management and change control plans and practices.

Key Qualifications and Skills

S. engineering related discipline from an accredited university and 10+ years direct experience, or an M.S. or Ph.D. with commensurate experience.
12+ years’ experience in a Quality Assurance function with 5+ year as a Manager in a nuclear (NRC, DOE) Quality Assurance function preferred or in a regulated environment such as EPA, aerospace, or similar industries.
Experience successfully managing and leading a team of technical QA professionals.
Exceptional communication skills to integrate with a geographically and organizationally diverse Quality and engineering teams are required.
Experience managing projects executed under a high degree of regulatory oversight, with a preference for experience building Nuclear Power Plants.
Strong technical acumen, with the ability to understand complex technical concepts is highly desirable.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
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 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 hrs./day, visits to construction site include walking on uneven surfaces and wearing required PPE
Travel required 20-30%

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: $196,537 - $294,806

* We typically place offers in the lower to middle portion of the range to maintain internal equity and allow room for growth. Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected individual’s qualifications 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/