Nuclear Quality Engineer – Test Reactor Operations & Engineering

Idaho National Laboratory is seeking a  Nuclear Quality Engineer to support the Advanced Test Reactor’s (ATR) quality assurance and technical quality programs. This role provides Quality Engineering support across facility operations, engineering, maintenance, planning, projects, modifications, procurement, and outage execution, with responsibilities spanning design and quality requirements, work control, supplier and Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) activities, and Corrective Action Program (CAP) participation. The successful candidate will have opportunities to support a broad range of quality disciplines, including field execution, welding and NDE activities, and the ATR Inservice Inspection (ISI) Program. This position offers the opportunity to work throughout the lifecycle of complex nuclear facility activities while collaborating closely with Engineering, Planning, Work Control, Technical Quality, and other facility organizations to ensure applicable DOE and NQA-1 requirements are effectively implemented.

Our team works a  4x10  schedule located out of our Advanced Test Reactor’s (ATR) facility with every Friday off. 

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Engineering and research organizations to define and implement design and quality requirements, participate in design reviews, and implement applicable quality assurance procedures, methods, and inspection plans.

• Provide technical quality expertise and guidance to facility management, programs, projects, and internal/external customers to ensure applicable requirements are understood and implemented.

• Conduct and support quality assessments, surveillances, audits, readiness reviews, and commercial grade surveys to evaluate compliance and provide management visibility of organizational performance.

• Participate in continuous improvement activities and collaborate with INL organizations to improve quality processes, efficiency, and integration.

• Maintain required Quality Engineer qualifications, training, technical proficiency, and specialized certifications as applicable to assigned responsibilities.

• Review and approve applicable material requests, construction services, maintenance work orders, and other activities through Asset Suite, Ariba, or other established systems, as assigned.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Additional Duties in Specialized Areas of Focus: 

Nuclear Facility Quality Engineer – Advanced Test Reactor:

• Evaluate and verify quality-level determinations for structures, systems, components, items, and services to ensure appropriate classification and implementation of applicable quality requirements.
• Develop and/or review work and program-controlling documents for nuclear facilities.
• Develop and execute Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) plans and Receipt Inspection Plans (RIPs), and support supplier quality oversight activities including CGD surveys, source inspections, and supplier audits.
• Participate in the Corrective Action Program (CAP), including condition reporting, root cause evaluation support, and verification of corrective action effectiveness.
• Provide nuclear facility oversight and Quality Engineering support for operations, maintenance, modifications, projects, procurement, and outage execution.
• Review and approve welding data sheets in accordance with applicable specifications, procedures, drawings, and code requirements.
• Coordinate with Supply Operations to resolve inventory discrepancies involving quality-affecting or quality-controlled materials.
• Serve as the Quality Engineering representative on project teams supporting ATR infrastructure improvements, modifications, and other facility projects.
• Review work packages and perform field walkdowns to ensure applicable Quality, inspection, examination, hold-point, documentation, and work-readiness requirements are appropriately incorporated.
• Coordinate with Planning and Scheduling to ensure Quality Engineering, inspection, and NDE activities are appropriately planned and integrated into facility and outage schedules.
• Review Document Change Requests (DCRs), engineering documents, and associated implementation documentation to ensure applicable Quality requirements are identified and incorporated.
• Coordinate planning and execution of Quality Engineering activities supporting the ATR Inservice Inspection (ISI) Program, including integration of examination scope into outage work packages, schedules, and the IDDEAL tracking/reporting system in collaboration with Engineering, Planning, Work Control, and Technical Quality/NDE personnel.
• Provide Quality Engineering support for welding, NDE, inspection, and other Technical Quality activities, including interpretation and implementation of applicable codes, standards, procedures, and inspection requirements.

Mimimum Required Qualifications: 

• Level 2: Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or a technical field such as Chemistry, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Management, or a closely related degree and (2) years of experience or a Masters degree. In lieu of degree (8) years of professional level experience with successful completion of 80 semester credit hours of the technical portions of an engineering, engineering technology, or related science program.
• Level 3: Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or a technical field such as Chemistry, Engineering, Statistics, Operations Management, or a closely related degree and (5) years of experience or a Masters degree and (2) years of related experience. In lieu of degree (11) years of professional level experience with successful completion of 80 semester credit hours of the technical portions of an engineering, engineering technology, or related science program.
• Experience supporting nuclear quality, engineering, operations, maintenance, inspection, manufacturing, or other activities subject to a nuclear Quality Assurance Program.
• Must be able to obtain BEA Quality Engineer certification.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy “L” clearance, which requires US Citizenship..

Preferred skills and Experience:

• Quality Assurance or Quality Engineering experience within a nuclear, DOE, commercial nuclear, or other highly regulated environment.

• Experience with welding, NDE, inspection, fabrication, or other Technical Quality activities.

• Working knowledge of applicable AWS standards, ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, ASME B31 Codes, and related industry codes and standards.

• Working knowledge of consensus quality standards, including ASME NQA-1 and/or ISO 9001.

• Familiarity with applicable DOE regulations, orders, and directives.

• Experience with procurement quality, Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD), vendor data review, or receipt inspection activities.

• Experience with nuclear facility work control, maintenance, modifications, or outage execution.

• Strong technical writing, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, Planning, Procurement, and Quality organizations to implement quality requirements and achieve mission objectives.

Job Information:

• The pay range for this position is: Level 2 ($79,344 - 162,732) / Level 3 ($95,256 - $195,288). At Idaho National Laboratory compensation decisions are determined using factors such as education, relevant experience, and other credentials.
• Multi-Level: This is a multi-level posting and you will be placed at the appropriate level dependent on depth and breadth of proven experience and skills.
• TDP: This is a testing designated position; you will be required to submit to a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing throughout the term of your employment.

Benefits and Relocation

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401(k) with a 4.2% employer contribution and up to 4.8% match (regular positions) or self-contribute access (postdoctoral positions)
• Paid time off (personal leave)
• Employee Education Program (tuition assistance for eligible positions)
• Comprehensive Relocation Package
• Benefit eligibility subject to multiple factors, including employment status and position classification.

At this time, BEA will not sponsor any H1-B visas obtained outside of the United States of America (U.S.A.), including consular visas.

INL is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory dedicated to supporting the U.S. Department of Energy's mission in nuclear energy research, science, and national defense. With more than 6,300 scientists, researchers, and support staff, the laboratory works with national and international governments, universities and industry partners to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

INL Mission:

Our mission is to discover, demonstrate and secure innovative nuclear energy solutions, other clean energy options and critical infrastructure.

INL Vision:

Our vision is to change the world's energy future and secure our nation's critical infrastructure.

Selective Service Requirements:

To be eligible for employment at INL males born after December 31, 1959 must have registered with the Selective Service System (SSS). For more information see www.sss.gov.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Idaho National Laboratory (INL) is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer. It is the policy of INL to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodation:

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Other Information:

When applying to positions please provide a resume and answer all questions on the following screens. Applicants, who fail to provide a resume or answer the questions, may be deemed ineligible for consideration.