Finland
Steady Energy reimagines proven nuclear technologies in a low temperature, low pressure SMR. It provides Steady Energy with the opportunity to build a 1:1 scale pilot plant with a mock-up nuclear core to validate as many predictions and calculation models as possible. The objective: demonstrate our ability to predict the behaviour of our future reactor. My mission is straight-forward - Define the tests to be performed, - Specify the requirements for the test performances, - Planify the test sequence, - Ensure smooth operation of the facility, including maintenances, - Maximise lesson learned about physical behaviour and organisational plant operation.
Promoted to this role, I still directly manage a couple engineers, and am responsible for smooth operations of 62 people joining forces from 16 specialties (from Chemistry to Procurement). My taking over the role came during the company’s financial struggle hurdled by partial activity (6 months at 60%). Nevertheless, I managed to: - Lead a path towards common and shared objectives, - Foster trust and clear communication across teams and their leaders, - Coordinate engineering disciplines, - Conciliate the CEO’s top-down approach with the technical teams’ bottom-up wishes, - Build and maintained a whole open point management system from scratch, - Schedule and budget the project, - Keep up with technical discussions to weigh in decisions.
In this first management role for me, I started with a team of 6 engineers and brought it up to 16 members. Our responsibility was to provide expertise in thermal-hydraulics studies through sizing and behavior modelling of the nuclear island. The success in this role was enabled by: - Carefully selecting engineers through hiring, onboarding and sometimes letting go, - Building mutual trust through examples and task delegations, - Projecting a strong sense of stability during the company’s financial uncertainties, - Honing team members reputation throughout the company, - Synching efforts, first, within the team, then, beyond with fellow managers, - Preparing the successors for my upcoming promotion. Through this role, the most valuable skill I learned was listening! A key skill for my next role.
After more than 5 years working on the EPR OL3 project, I transferred to Framatome on the EPR FA3 project with the goal to recreate the successes achieved in Finland. Dedicated to the control loop tests, we focus on the plant overall functions and check the ability of all the system to work as one. • Fine tune commissioning instructions and derisk tests using the simulator • Anticipate difficulties and justify changes to the back office in Paris • Lead tests in the main control room • Train fellow engineers through practical cases on the simulator
After several years with Engineering on the OL3 site, I join the Commissioning team for its last straight line to completion. I held two roles until the end of my delegation: • Commissining Phase Leader from 60% to 100% - Lifeline between the main control room and management - Track and adjust the test sequence following successes, difficulties and third party needs - Coordinate tasks and efforts from several teams to remain on schedule • Commissioning Engineer – Control Loop Tests - Lead and perform overall tests from the main control room, from final readiness to debriefing - Troubleshoot issues on the spot and during on-call duties
My second delegation on the OL3 EPR site is focused on the plant commissioning in its nuclear phase. I examine commissioning results and perform root-cause analyses to elaborate solutions and justify the new design to the customer and authority. The challenge is to allow the schedule to flow smoothly. A whole team is dedicated to this goal and I coordinate our efforts to achieve our target. Our role is also to reassure commissioning engineers by providing tailored calculations and present our expectations. For major tests, I punctually take part in their performances to ensure the behaviour match our expectations. Although competent on all NSSS matters, I specialize in the secondary circuit: SG level and pressure controls.
The experience I earned during my delegation to Finland have been valued. My deeper and wider knowledge of the EPR OL3 design enables me to take on the role of technical responsible: • Lead a team of junior engineers in thermal-hydraulic studies • Support the Engineering Discipline Leader in solving open points and reporting to management • Teach master classes in post-acciental operations and safety I&C
United Kingdom: Involved in the design of UK's future EPR at Hinkley Point, I provide the mechanical teams with hydraulic data for their calculations. After defining the worst case scenario for several transients (load monitoring, incidents and accidents), I model, compute and analyze these transients to build an engineering report for all actors on the project. South Africa: Areva built South Africa's Koeberg nuclear power plant and Eskom now wishes to replace its steam generators. My mission is to ensure the design of the new steam generators is safe and justify it meets all the required criteria. Finland: On the site of Olkiluoto 3 EPR, I support teams with my Nuclear Safety expertise.