A recent job posting from Microsoft seeks a nuclear technology expert to lead the company’s new energy initiative. This senior position, called “Senior Nuclear Technology Program Manager”aims to help Microsoft develop, mature and implement a global energy strategy focused on modular nuclear reactors and other microreactor designs.
New generation cloud and Artificial Intelligence models they require a huge amount of energyas the job ad explains through a quote from CEO Satya Nadella: «the next great wave of computing is being born with cloud models and artificial intelligence emerging as the new dominant platform».
The basis of Microsoft’s new global energy strategy will go through the modular nuclear reactors. These SMRs are smaller than conventional reactors and can be built in one place and then transported and installed at the final location.
SMRs are still in the prototype stage, but Microsoft is betting on them in the future, exploring the possibility of building their own own power generation facilities based on these designs. The person in charge that Microsoft is looking for will have the responsibility of leading the “technical evaluation” to integrate SMR and other microreactor designs into existing Microsoft Cloud data centers.
The ideal candidate must possess “prior experience in the energy industry, along with a deep understanding of nuclear technologies and regulatory affairs”. It should be remembered that locating nuclear facilities near data centers could raise security concerns. That’s why Microsoft is looking for someone with experience in the energy sector who can navigate regulatory hurdles.
The new manager will also need to be open-minded, as they will be responsible for identifying and collaborating with other groups to achieve common goals. Position responsibilities include a results-oriented approach, creating a “comprehensive” roadmap for SMR implementation, experience identifying cost savings opportunities, and establishing long-term strategic relationships with key suppliers and industrial groups.
For now, small modular reactors and other next-generation nuclear reactors are still in the prototype phase. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is a strong advocate of SMRs through his company, TerraPower. A spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that TerraPower “currently does not have any agreement” to sell their reactor designs to Microsoft.
The Redmond firm clearly aims to be one of the first to enter the emerging market for modular nuclear reactors. And not just fission. Earlier this year, the company reached an agreement with Helion Energy to develop a new functional fusion energy device within five years. Necessity forces. Data centers for Cloud services and new algorithms for next-generation AI consume a huge amount of energy.
