Director of Engineering

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 of Engineering

The Director of Engineering is a senior site leadership position responsible for the unified ownership, governance, and performance of the station’s engineering programs, including design, component, system, reactor, and program engineering for the Kemmerer Power Station (KPS) and reports to the Plant General Manager.

This role is the single-point accountable owner for these programs, ensuring compliance with federal regulations, NRC requirements, INPO guidelines, ANSI/ANS standards, and site policies. The Director of Engineering governs standards, policies, resources, and performance necessary to protect workers, the public, the environment, and plant systems.

The Director of Engineering serves as the senior site authority for Engineering management and is accountable to site leadership and regulators for program health, regulatory compliance, and long-term strategic capability in these disciplines.

Responsibilities

Program Ownership and Governance

• Owns and governs the station’s Engineering programs, including standards, policies, procedures, resource allocation, staffing models, and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure Design Engineering, System Engineering, and Fire/Aging Management Engineering activities are performed per regulatory requirements, quality assurance program requirements, and applicable procedures.

Executive Decision-Making and Authority

• Is the Design Authority for Kemmerer Power Station
• Has final approval authority for program standards, major policies, and procedures related to Engineering.
• Has authority to stop or restrict work on the basis of engineering analysis or related concerns.
• Governs staffing models, qualification requirements, and training standards for the engineering organization.

Integration and Strategic Leadership

• Ensures full integration of engineering requirements into operations, maintenance, engineering, work planning, and construction/startup activities.
• Provides executive-level technical and programmatic input to site leadership for engineering on plant risk, plant conditions, and operational decisions.
• Leads and coordinates responses of engineering support for plant events with emergency preparedness and site response organizations.

Operational and Resource Management

• Develop and manage budgets and long‑range resource plans for engineering programs, including personnel, equipment, and facilities.
• Owns performance monitoring, self‑assessment, and corrective action programs for engineering functions.

Regulatory Compliance and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serves as the primary site interface with regulatory agencies and oversight organizations on matters related to Engineering.
• Leads and supports audits, inspections, readiness reviews, and management assessments affecting Engineering programs.

Minimum Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science, or a related technical field.
• Minimum 10 years of experience at a nuclear power plant.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in management or senior technical leadership roles.
• Has performed supervisory or management activities at a nuclear power plant during an outage and at power.

Preferred:

• Advanced degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Professional Engineer Certification.
• Previously held a SRO License or SRO Certification.
• Experience governing engineering programs in Nuclear.
• Demonstrated track record of programmatic performance improvement and corrective action leadership.

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 0-5%
• Will be required to be a part of the Emergency Response Organization

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: $182,024 - $273,035
• 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 Wyoming 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 Affiliation 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: