Principal Engineer – Seismic/CSA Integration & Oversight
Terrapower
Lead seismic design, analysis, and integration for advanced nuclear reactor projects
22 days ago ago
$169,922 - $279,158
Expert & Leadership (13+ years), Experienced (8-12 years)
Full Time
Bellevue, WA
Hybrid
Company Size
300 Employees
Service Specialisms
Nuclear Engineering
Energy Innovation
Research & Development
Sustainable Energy Solutions
Nuclear Power Plant Design
Sector Specialisms
Nuclear
Energy
Manufacturing
Construction
Engineering
Power
Industrial
Role
What you would be doing
cost studies
design reviews
code compliance
seismic modeling
ssi analysis
risk reporting
- Support cost studies and trade-off evaluations as the CSA/seismic SME, ensuring technical rigor while balancing constructability, schedule, and economic considerations.
- Interface across design disciplines (mechanical, I&C, nuclear safety, systems) to ensure seismic requirements, structural criteria, and performance expectations are clearly defined, properly allocated, and implemented across interfacing designs.
- Drive continuous improvement, applying nuclear industry best practices to seismic modeling, fragility methods, and structural qualification, while identifying opportunities for improved efficiency, quality, and integration.
- Ensure adherence to licensing and code requirements (ASCE, ACI, AISC, ASCE 4/7/43, NUREG guidance), verifying they are correctly integrated into CSA products and aligned with TerraPower’s licensing strategy.
- Provide continuous oversight of seismic design scope, covering building and structural systems, foundations, equipment supports, and integrated plant analyses such as soil–structure interaction (SSI), seismic fragility development, and PRA inputs.
- Lead and support design and integration reviews, chairing cross-functional resolution sessions for CSA/seismic challenges, and facilitating targeted technical forums (e.g., working groups, decision boards, digital/in-person reviews).
- Author, review, and refine plant- and system-level requirements and specifications, integrating seismic and structural criteria into design deliverables and ensuring seamless alignment with plant-level engineering.
- Surveil subcontractor performance, monitoring design deliverables, verifying compliance with technical requirements, and ensuring design processes and quality programs are properly implemented.
- Integrate seismic and CSA design information into licensing products, including regulatory submittals under the Licensing Modernization Project (LMP), ensuring design-basis alignment with licensing commitments.
- Develop, document, and implement seismic design bases and strategies, supporting both deterministic and probabilistic methods; apply risk-informed, performance-based methodologies (e.g., LMP, RIPB) to define design acceptance criteria for SSCs.
- Perform and guide SSI analyses using in-house SASSI tools; establish repeatable frameworks, workflows, and benchmarks that improve analysis efficiency and traceability across multiple structures.
- Report emerging technical risks to project and engineering management, providing timely recommendations for mitigation and escalation when needed.
- Coordinate and direct complex multi-system analyses, including SSI studies, seismic model development, external hazard characterization, and building seismic qualification, ensuring consistency with plant-level methodologies and licensing strategy.
What you bring
m.s. civil
12+ yrs
nuclear codes
probabilistic seismic
iso 9001
self-starter
- The successful candidate will possess a high degree of trust and integrity, communicate openly and display respect and a desire to foster teamwork.
- Education: M.S. degree in Civil engineering or equivalent or higher
- Ability to work independently and with minimum direction to solve challenging problems
- Experience with new nuclear power plant design projects
- Experience working projects with NRC or DOE regulations
- Motor Abilities: Sitting for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands)
- Special Senses: Visual and audio focused work
- 12+ years of civil/structural design and analysis and/or probabilistic risk assessment experience
- Experience working to quality standards on design activities, such as ASME NQA-1 or ISO 9001.
- Work Conditions: Stairs, typing/keyboard, standing and/or sitting working environment of >8 hrs./day
- Experience with risk-Informed performance based, and probabilistic methodologies for application to seismic design and analyses
- Ability to work on tasks that require a multi-disciplinary approach.
- Experience with structural design for complex external hazard loading such as seismic and aircraft impact
- Experience with nuclear codes and standards such as ACI 349, ACI 359, AISC N690, ASCE 4, and ASCE 43
- Travel required0-10%
- Experience with commercial codes and standards such as UBC, ACI 318, AISC 360 and ASCE 7
- Candidate must have strong analytical/problem solving skills
- Experience in a broad range of design and integration topics throughout a product lifecycle, including conceptual design, final design, and construction
- Physical exertion and/or requirements: Minimal, with ability to safely lift up to 25 pounds
- Ability to deliver projects that include many competing objectives and design constraints, with ability to resolve conflicts between objectives.
- Candidate must be a self-starter and possess ability to coordinate with internal and external engineering and design teams with minimal direction
- Excellent writing and communication skills
- Flexible Work Schedule
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Parental Leave
- 21 days of annually accrued PTO
- Typically, our employee salaries are within .90 – 1.0 of the mid-point of the posted salary band. Any salary offered within the posted salary band is based on market data and commensurate with the selected individual’s qualifications and experience.This range is specific to Washington State.
- Salary, eligible to participate in discretionary short-term incentive payments
- 10 paid holidays
- Comprehensive Medical and Wellness Benefits
- Life and Disability
- Gender Affirmation Benefits
- 401k Plan
- Professional and Educational Support Opportunities
- Relocation Assistance
- Competitive Compensation
- Generous Holiday Schedule
Information not given or found
Interview process
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Visa SponsorshipInformation not given or found
Security clearanceInformation not given or found
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Company
Overview
- Founded with a vision to revolutionize the nuclear energy sector and reduce global carbon emissions.
- Develops advanced nuclear reactors, such as Natrium, designed for clean, safe, and efficient energy generation.
- Focused on utilizing next-generation technology to solve the world’s energy challenges sustainably.
- Pioneers in the use of innovative fuel designs, including Natrium’s molten salt technology.
- Natrium reactor design offers unique features, like the ability to integrate with renewable energy sources.
- Supported by top-tier investors, including Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, to accelerate energy transition.
- Aims to deploy advanced nuclear reactors globally, contributing to a low-carbon future.
- Combines decades of expertise in nuclear engineering with cutting-edge technology to ensure safety and performance.
- Recent partnerships with governments and private sectors to bring next-gen nuclear solutions to market.
- Driven by a mission to deliver sustainable, carbon-free energy by using nuclear energy as a key solution.
- Committed to providing innovative, reliable, and scalable nuclear technology to meet the world’s growing demand for clean energy.
- Value collaboration and recognize that solving the energy challenges of today and tomorrow requires the collective efforts of diverse and dedicated people.
- Embrace transparency and integrity in every aspect of our work, ensuring accountability and fostering trust.
- Take pride in a culture of safety and innovation, continuously improving to create a world-class team focused on results.
2050
Net-Zero Target
Aim to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across operations.
- Contribute to the global transition to clean, carbon-free energy.
- Working toward deploying next-gen nuclear reactors with advanced fuel cycles.
- Natrium reactor complements renewable energy sources and reduces emissions.
- Technology aims to recycle spent nuclear fuel, reducing waste.
- The company fosters a diverse and inclusive environment where all team members are empowered to thrive.
- The company is committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and building teams that reflect a wide range of perspectives.
- The company is actively investing in gender equality within its teams, but specific gender-related statistics are not publicly disclosed.
- Tips: The company provides resources to support the professional growth of all employees.
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