Nuclear Research Quality Engineer

At Idaho National Laboratory, you'll implement quality assurance procedures, develop inspection plans, conduct surveillance and audit activities, address nonconformances, and provide technical quality expertise to program, project, and facility management across nuclear and non-nuclear facilities.

Idaho National Laboratory is hiring a Nuclear Research Quality Engineer to work on our Environment, Safety, Health & Quality team. Our team works a 9x80 schedule located out of our Idaho Falls facility with every other Friday off.

• Collaborate with engineering/researchers to define key features of design requirements to be used in the development of engineered control plans.
• Implement applicable quality assurance procedures, technical methods, control systems, protocols, procedures, and inspection plans in the most cost-effective manner while maintaining adherence to requirements.
• Collaborate with engineering to establish protocols for addressing nonconformances.
• Provide technical expertise, assistance, and advice to program, project, facility management, and personnel relative to quality compliance and implementation issues.
• Interact with facility senior management, as needed, on matters requiring coordination across organizational lines.
• Perform procurement engineering evaluations.
• Create inspection plans and receipt inspection instructions.
• Conduct quality assessments and surveillance activities.
• Participate in continuous improvement activities ensuring that INL quality-related processes are integrated.
• Interface with internal and external customers to ensure quality requirements are being met.
• Provide surveillance, auditing, and reporting services for a given facility or scope of work assignment to ensure facility management has clear visibility and the opportunity to manage organizational performance.
• Conduct vendor data reviews (VDR).
• Review and approval of material requests, construction services, and maintenance work orders.
• Maintain specialized certifications and training in areas like nuclear quality assurance, potentially including Lead Auditor certification (e.g., NQA-1 Lead Auditor certification).

• Conduct vendor evaluations applying sound auditing methods ensuring their capability of meeting applicable standards and requirements (e.g., NQA-1, DOE, INL). Validate that vendors have an existing quality assurance plan, it is being followed and addresses INL's needs.
• Coordinate Commercial Grade Dedication (CGD) plans and perform CGD surveys of suppliers.
• Review and approve experiment characterization and post-irradiation examination.
• Review and approve contracts for quality assurance requirements.
• Responsible for the development and ownership of the Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP).
• Review and oversee nuclear fuel, equipment, experiment design, and fabrication.
• Conduct source verification and receipt of nuclear material and experimental fuel.
• Collaborate with design engineering and suppliers to ensure quality and manufacturability of designed items.
• Participate in design reviews.

• 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 related experience or a Masters degree or in lieu of degree High School and (8) years of relevant experience.
• 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 related experience or a Masters degree and (2) years of related experience or in lieu of degree High School and (11) years of relevant experience.
• Experience in Nuclear Quality (QA/QC, engineering, operations, manufacturing, etc.).
• 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.

• Expertise in nuclear-specific regulations, standards (e.g., 10 CFR 830, DOE, ASME NQA-1), and industry practices.
• Working knowledge of applicable industry Codes and standards, including: ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Codes, ASME B31.X codes, ASME Section III, V, VIII & XI, AWS D 1.1, and AWS D 1.6., and other national quality standards ASME Lead assessor qualification.
• Experience with nondestructive examination (NDE) techniques.

While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, bend, use hands to handle materials, manipulate tools, keyboard, and type, reach with hands and arms, and operate job-related equipment. May be exposed to heights, stairs, UV (sun exposure), and radiation work. May be exposed to hazards associated with equipment including ladders >

6 feet, machines/electrical hazards, lasers, and motor vehicle usage. The employee must…