TITLE: Principal Radiochemist

LOCATION: Everett, WA, USA

TerraPower is a nuclear energy technology company based in Bellevue, Washington. At our core, we are working to raise living standards globally. The essential factor? Energy. In 2006, the company 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. TerraPower is committed to bringing sustainable, affordable and safe energy to address global issues. 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.

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. 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.

Principal Radiochemist

TPI seeks to support revolutionary radiotherapies for treatments of cancers, such as prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma by supplying radioisotopes that currently cannot be accessed in amounts required to develop medical treatments. The Principal Radiochemist will support TPI's efforts toward the long-term production of actinium 225, leveraging specific expertise and experience working with radionuclides at scales relevant to this goal.

This position interfaces with a dynamic interdisciplinary environment in which effective communication, team-work and collaboration is required, while maintaining composure to act safely, ensure quality of data, and enable timely decision-making. The position will require good judgement in ensuring regulatory compliance while delivering on commercial production and engineering design needs. The candidate must be capable of working closely with a focused and high achieving group, working with minimal day-to-day supervision, and relocating to the Everett, WA area.

Responsibilities

The Principal Radiochemist's primary responsibilities include:

* Propose, develop, and conduct radiochemistry experiments, including as Principal Investigator.

* Assist in radiochemistry laboratory and system development, including the design of flexible experimental chemistry capabilities to support TerraPower R&D activities.

* Provide radiochemistry support for the design, scale-up, start-up and ongoing production of radioisotopes.

* Assist in the development of novel projects related to TerraPower research emphasizing radioelements and nuclear technology.

* Interface effectively with TerraPower quality assurance disciplines as needed to ensure quality of experiments, analytical methods, and designs are maintained and continuously improved.

* Maintain laboratory procedures (e.g., calibration, analytical methods, notebook results preparation, usage documentation).

* Perform all work in compliance with site safety and radiation protection guidelines, including effective teamwork and communication with health physicists, authorized users and RSO.

* Emphasize safety in new and existing design and safe practices in all experimental activities

* Assist in the training, developing, and mentoring of employees.

* Lead and assist in ensuring organization, housekeeping and effectiveness of TerraPower R&D radiochemistry use areas and production facilities is maintained at a high standard at all times.

* Perform other general duties associated with position as member of radiochemistry team to ensure ongoing effectiveness and continuous improvement of TerraPower R&D efforts.

Key Qualifications and Skills

* A doctoral level (PhD) degree with at least 5 years experience in radiochemistry, chemistry, or equivalent with significant demonstrated hands-on laboratory experience and expertise in radiochemistry, radiochemical separations, and chemical synthesis.

* Extensive background in radiochemistry relevant to radiopharmaceuticals and isotopes relevant to the purification and production of actinium-225.

* Demonstrated experience coordinating and delivering on complex technical tasks requiring input from multiple stakeholders.

* Expertise in methods relevant to characterization of actinide compounds including alpha spectroscopy, gamma spectroscopy, ICP-OES, ICP-MS, spectroscopy (UV/Vis), chromatography (IC, HPLC, TLC), radiolabeling, and wet-chemistry techniques.

* Proficient in separation chemistry of lanthanide and actinide materials, and other radioisotopes.

* Proficient in activity, equilibrium, and kinetics calculations.

* Skills should include an understanding of radioisotope production processes and radiopharmaceuticals.

* Ability to structure and plan basic and applied research in the radiochemistry and other areas relevant to TerraPower.

* Experience leading the design and execution of complex experimental studies.

* Experience working and communicating productively in a multidisciplinary team including R&D, production, quality assurance, and engineering design functions.

* Experience working and handling a high level of radioactive materials within hot cells (preferable), glove boxes, fume hoods and on laboratory benchtops.

* Ability to understand requirements (regulations, codes and standards, etc.), incorporate them into TerraPower documents, and provide associated guidance to TerraPower personnel.

* Flexibility to work periodic off-hours in support of routine production.

* Experience demonstrating the highest standards with respect to safety and radiation protection in all work activities and familiarity with radiation protection and NRC standards.

* Strong organizational and communication skills including technical writing, presentation, and interpersonal 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 and standing for extended periods, bending/stooping, grasping/gripping, fine motor control (hands) included extended operations with telemanipulators.

* Physical exertion and/or requirements: Moderate, with ability to safely lift up to 15 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

* Position is based in Everett, WA and work on-site in a radiochemical production laboratory is required

* Travel required 0-15%

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

Job Type: Full-time

Salary Range L12: $163,702 - $226,844

Salary Range L13: $187,088 - $268,939

*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.

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

*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.

TerraPower Career and Benefits information: