Mechanical Engineer, Reactor Vessel Auxiliary Systems

Company Overview

Kairos Power is a new nuclear energy technology and engineering company whose mission is to enable the worlds transition to clean energy with the ultimate goal to dramatically improve peoples quality of life while protecting the environment. This goal will be accomplished through the commercialization of the fluoride-salt-cooled high-temperature reactor (FHR) that can be deployed with robust safety affordable costs and flexible operation to accommodate the expansion of variable renewables.

Job Summary

The Reactor Vessel Auxiliary Systems team is seeking a highly motivate Mechanical Engineer to join the growing Reactor Systems department where you will have the opportunity to work directly on the design testing and deployment of reactor internal components in a first-of-a-kind FHR. These reactor internals are essential for reactivity control and ensuring nuclear safety of the KP-FHR technology.

In this role you will manage and coordinate the detailed design of reactor internal components ranging from control rods to reactor instrumentation. The position requires a strong aptitude for mechanical design engineering analysis and high temperature materials under irradiation. You will be expected to regularly interface with multi-disciplinary teams including nuclear design reactor thermal hydraulics fuels and materials safety analysis remote handling testing and manufacturing. You will work closely with the Drive Mechanisms group and Reactor Vessel System team iterating on component design collaborating on design trades and deploying hardware for FHR demonstration reactors.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the mechanical design of reactor internal components for KP-FHR reactor vessel auxiliary systems.
• Design custom 3D models of components to be compatible with interfacing systems structures and components; support thermal stress and failure analyses; and aid in design for manufacturing and assembly reviews.
• Create and review engineering documentation such as mechanical drawings test plans memos specifications and technical reports.
• Independently perform engineering analyses such as thermal analyses structural analyses and failure mode and effects analyses or guide these analyses when performed by Kairos Power teams.
• Regularly interface and communicate component requirements with other disciplinary teams including nuclear design reactor vessel design safety analysis and manufacturing.
• Plan and work with testing teams on prototype development and qualification testing of reactor internal components.
• Maintain knowledge of and assess compliance with applicable codes and standards such as ASME ANSI ASTM and others.
• Engage with manufacturing and operations teams to support component fabrication assembly testing and operations.
• Perform design verification and validation activities to ensure component performance meets functional and safety requirements.
• Participate in hazard and failure analyses (HAZOP FMEA FTA) and incorporate safety insights into design iterations.
• Support supplier and vendor engagement including reviewing fabrication drawings manufacturing processes and inspection reports.
• Contribute to configuration management by maintaining design baselines revision control and traceability of changes.
• Assist in cost schedule and risk assessments related to mechanical design and testing activities.
• Participate in peer design reviews and technical audits to ensure compliance with quality and performance objectives.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelors or advanced degree in mechanical engineering nuclear engineering materials engineering or related field.
• 4 years of relevant industry or R&D experience in hands-on engineering design and deployment within the nuclear aerospace oil and gas chemical or power industries.
• Experience with design and manufacturing of nuclear reactor internals such as fuel and control rod assemblies.
• Experience in reactor component fabrication and life cycle management processes including equipment qualification in-service inspection and other programs.
• Experience in mechanical design and 3D CAD modeling (Solidworks or equivalent).
• Experience working to a quality standard such as ASME NQA-1 or ISO 9001.
• Experience in drafting fabrication and assembly drawings design for manufacturing and GD&T/ASME Y14.5.
• Familiarity with applicable codes and standards such as ASME B&PV Section VIII Division 1 and 2 and Section III Division 5.
• Experience with configuration management systems or PLM tools.
• Experience with prototype or test rig development for mechanical systems.
• Experience with design and analysis of high-temperature and/or molten salt-wetted components under irradiation is a plus.
• Experience using analytical methods and FEA simulations to perform thermal and stress analysis is a plus.
• Professional Engineer (PE) license or eligibility is a plus.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities:

• Proficiency in 3D CAD design (e.g. SolidWorks or equivalent) and engineering analysis tools for thermal and structural modeling.
• Knowledge of FEA and CFD methods and ability to apply results to mechanical design decisions.
• Strong understanding of mechanical design principles high-temperature materials behavior and corrosion mechanisms in irradiated or molten salt environments.
• Ability to interpret and apply industry standards and codes (ASME ANSI ASTM ASME BPVC).
• Knowledge of system safety and reliability analysis methods such as FMEA and HAZOP.
• Knowledge of configuration management and design control processes.
• Skill in design verification validation and qualification testing.
• Skill in collaborating with suppliers and manufacturers to ensure design integrity and code compliance.
• Ability to apply design for manufacturability and assembly (DFM/DFA) principles.
• Ability to apply systems-thinking to evaluate interdependencies across reactor subsystems.
• Strong analytical problem-solving abilities to resolve complex design issues efficiently.
• Flexibility to consistently deliver tangible results in a rapid and dynamic work environment.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills as well as strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others including engineers designers machinists fabricators technicians and operators in a multi-disciplinary project team environment.
• Self-motivated with strong time management skills and ownership mentality.
• Capability to mentor and train junior engineers and interns.
• Dedication to safety and risk management consistent with expectations of designing and deploying components that are critical to the safe operation of a nuclear reactor.

Physical Conditions:

• Adjusting moving transporting installing positioning or removing objects up to 30 pounds in all directions.
• Ascending or descending ladders stairs scaffolding ramps scissor lifts articulated boom lifts and the like.
• Remaining in a stationary position often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
• Working with hand tools to assemble equipment and hardware as necessary.

Environmental Conditions:

• General office environment.
• Laboratory environment.

Safety and PPE:

• Reading and interpreting hazardous warning signs.
• Reporting issues with equipment or unsafe conditions.
• Wearing proper PPE to include face mask face shields gloves safety shoes as required.

Travel:

• Some travel may be required (10%).

Additional Requirements:

• Occasionally requires schedule flexibility
• Occasionally requires extended hours to support launch and critical project timelines

The salary range for this position is $122300 to $143800 for employees working onsite at our Alameda CA headquarters. The range provided in this job posting represents the typical range or starting rate of candidates hired in California. Factors that maybe used to determine your actual salary may include your education experience knowledge skills ability and the market data for your work location and a comparison to other employees already in the role.

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About our Benefits

We know that we have some of the most talented and dedicated employees and we believe in rewarding them accordingly. If you work here full-time employees (excludes interns) expect to have access to the benefits below:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical dental and vision benefits for employees and their dependents
• Paid Vacation
• 401(k) and pre-tax health insurance dependent care and commuter benefits (FSA)

Kairos Power is committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects the communities where we do business. Kairos Power is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion gender gender identity or expression sexual orientation national origin genetics disability age or veteran status. We actively welcome people of different experiences abilities and perspectives.

Kairos Power participates in E-Verify.

Candidates only no recruiters or agencies please.

Note: You are applying for a position that is located in a facility that handles information that is subject to export control restrictions by the Department of Energy under 10 CFR Part 810. To work in this facility you need to be authorized by the Department of Energy to access Part 810-controlled information. Foreign nationals who are citizens of countries that are not on the Department of Energys general authorization list (link below) are not permitted to work in our facility unless the Department of Energy issues an export control license to the company to permit that individual to have access to Part 810-controlled information. The following questions are intended to determine the licensing requirements that may apply.